Experimental statistics
Time use survey - ex
Time use survey
Summary
Time use surveys provide information about how the population uses its time. Results can be used for guiding public policy and planning. In 2023 and 2024, Statistics Iceland, along with the Prime minister’s office, prepared a time use survey for Iceland. Statistics Iceland was in charge of data collection, processing and disseminating results. Data was collected in November 2023, while the first results were published in September 2024.
Description
Statistics Iceland performed a time use survey in November 2023. The survey was a sample survey were the time use of individuals residing in Iceland was estimated. Time use was measured as 27 categories: 1) Working in paid job or income generating activities; 2) Making goods for own household or family use; 3) Helping people unrelated to me or volunteer work; 4) Preparing and serving food or finishing after meals for own household or family members; 5) Cleaning own or family dwelling; 6) Maintaining and making repairs in family dwelling, furniture or household vehicles; 7) Cleaning and care of clothing; 8) Managing own household or family; 9) Paying bills, filling out applications or doing other paperwork for own household or family; 10) Taking care of pet of own household or family; 11) Shopping products for your own household or family; 12) Observing products for your own household or family; 13) Taking care of or assisting children in the household or family; 14) Taking care of or assisting adults in the household or family; 15) Studying; 16) Socializing and communication; 17) Participated in community event, civic and related responsibilities, or religious practices; 18) Attended cultural, entertainment and sports events; 19) Participating in hobbies, games, or other pastime activities; 20) Participating in a sport or exercise; 21) Reading for leisure; 22) Watching TV, listening to music, radio or streaming; 23) Sleeping; 24) Eating or drinking; 25) Personal hygiene and care; 26) Traveling to and from places; 27) Other.
The response rate of the survey was very low and therefore it was not possible to present the results unless for a single background variable at a time and by combining time use categories into seven activities.
The results show how different groups of people living in Iceland spend their time.
Objectives
Objectives The main goal of the time use survey was to gain information on which activities the population of Iceland spent their time on. Based on that, it would be possible to examine how different groups use their time, e.g. the sexes, age groups, income groups, different households, etc. The results are expected to be useful for public policy, planning, general discussions and for further research.
Time use survey
Updated: 27 September 2024
Statistics Iceland conducted its first time use survey in November 2023. The preparations for the survey were carried out in cooperation with the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour while Statistics Iceland was responsible for data collection, processing, analyzing and publishing of the final results.
Among the results of the survey was that individuals aged 18 and over, spent on average 3.3 hours per day on various leisure activities, for example watching TV, listening to music, reading for pleasure or working on their hobbies.
On average, people slept for a little less than 9 hours per day and used approximately 1 hour per day taking care of someone else, including taking care of a child in the household, another grown individual or helping someone unrelated or as a volunteer.
The results of the survey indicate that women felt more stress than men, although the differences were minor, on average the stress was 4.4 for men on a scale from 0 – 10 and 5.18 for women. Work was the main stressor for women (25.2% chose it as the main stressor) and financial worries the second (17.3%). Financial worries were the most frequently chosen stressor for men (31.2%) followed by work (22.2%).
It is important to keep in mind that the response rate of the survey was very low, or 17.7%
Sex
On average men used a higher portion of their time for study, work, travel and other, or approximately five hours per day while women used roughly four and a half hours for the same purpose daily. Women participated more in social activities compared with men, were they spent about 96 minutes per day on social activities while men spent 54 minutes per day.
Age categories
Individuals 70 years or older used approximately 4.5 hours per day for various types of leisure but those aged 30 – 54 used less than three hours for the same purpose. Running the household was also a heavy time burden for the oldest age group who used approximately 4.4 hours daily for that. The youngest age group (18 – 29 years-old) used around 102 minutes for running their households.
About the survey
The Icelandic time use survey was administered from 9 – 23 November 2023. The sample size was 5,000 individuals, 18 years or older with a registered domicile in Iceland, selected randomly from the Icelandic national registry of individuals. Each sampled individual was assigned two days at random, one weekday and one day during a weekend. Participants were asked to register their activities over these two days.
Data was collected via a web questionnaire. Sampled individuals were sent an introductory letter via mail and telephone calls were made to increase the response rate two days after their reference period was over. A link to the web questionnaire and a password were sent electronically via Ísland.is. Additionally, text messages were used to remind the sampled units at the beginning of their reference day and at the end of the same day.
The final sample of the survey was 4,966 individuals. Usable responses were 878 which constitutes a response rate of 17.7%. Due to the very small size of the group of individuals with neutral gender registration it was only possible to produce figures for men and women when the results were broken down by sex.
The time use survey was done in cooperation with the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour which is responsible for matters of equality. Previous research has shown that unpaid household and care duties are more frequently done by women. Measures of time use give a better understanding of the quality of life in society and how circumstances differ for various groups. Furthermore, the results can be used in policy work for the government.
The plan is that data and research like the Icelandic time use survey can give further information about the sexes and be the bases for high quality policy.
Among the goals of the time use survey was to measure the amount of unpaid household and care duties and estimate the division of unpaid contribution of the sexes and use the results for policy in the areas of equality, family affairs, social conditions and generally for statistics on living conditions and equality.
Statistics
Metadata
Metadata (in Icelandic) is available on Statistics Iceland’s website. Information is also available in a published report (also in Icelandic) by Statistics Iceland and the Prime minister’s office about the preparations of the survey.
For further information please contact+354 528 1100. E-mail: upplysingar@hagstofa.is