Even as we proudly proclaim gender equality in the workplace, the relentless data from kitchens and living rooms worldwide reveals a starkly different reality at home, where women still shoulder the vast majority of household and caregiving duties.
Key Takeaways
- In the United States, women spend an average of 2.6 hours per day on household chores compared to 1.0 hour for men, based on 2022 data from the American Time Use Survey
- Globally, women perform 76% of total unpaid care and domestic work, equivalent to 2.5 times more time than men, per 2023 UN Women report
- In OECD countries, women aged 25-44 spend 4.2 hours daily on unpaid work versus 2.1 hours for men in 2021, OECD Time Use Database
- In the US, 71% of mothers vs 25% fathers handle most childcare daily, Pew Research 2023
- Globally, women provide 2.6 times more care for children under 6 than men, UNICEF 2022
- OECD average: mothers spend 2.2 hours daily on childcare vs 1.1 fathers, 2021 data
- In US households, wives contribute 44% of family income vs husbands 56% in 2022, Pew Research
- Globally, women control 30% of household financial resources despite earning less, World Bank 2023
- OECD dual-earner couples: women earn 77% of men's income, 2021 data
- In 71% US households, mothers primarily make childcare decisions, Pew 2023
- Globally, men control 65% major financial decisions in households, World Bank 2023
- OECD: husbands decide 55% big purchases, 2021 surveys
- 62% Americans believe gender roles changing, women should share chores equally, Pew 2023
- Worldwide, 54% say men better suited for financial providing, Gallup 2022
- OECD countries: 70% support equal chores, but 40% traditional views persist, 2021 IPSOS
Women still do much more housework and childcare worldwide despite shifting attitudes.
Childcare Division
- In the US, 71% of mothers vs 25% fathers handle most childcare daily, Pew Research 2023
- Globally, women provide 2.6 times more care for children under 6 than men, UNICEF 2022
- OECD average: mothers spend 2.2 hours daily on childcare vs 1.1 fathers, 2021 data
- UK fathers increased childcare to 1.5 hours/day from 1.0 in 2014, ONS 2022
- In India, 88% mothers primary caregivers vs 4% fathers, NFHS-5 2021
- Australian mothers 72% of childcare time, ABS 2020
- German fathers post-paternity leave share 35% childcare, up from 20%, 2022 BaFiG
- South Korea mothers 90% childcare responsibility, KIHASA 2021
- Brazil mothers average 2.8 hours childcare/day vs 1.2 fathers, IBGE 2019
- Canada mothers 2.4 vs fathers 1.7 hours childcare, StatsCan 2021
- France mothers handle 65% childcare tasks, INSEE 2022
- Italy mothers 80% primary childcare, ISTAT 2021
- Japan mothers 3.1 hours childcare vs 0.8 fathers, Cabinet Office 2021
- Mexico mothers 95% childcare, ENUT 2022
- Sweden fathers 45% shared childcare post-leave, SCB 2023
- Spain mothers 2.9 vs 1.4 fathers hours, INE 2021
- Turkey mothers 85% childcare, TurkStat 2022
- US Black mothers 78% primary caregivers vs 22% fathers, CDC 2023
- China urban mothers 2.5 vs 1.0 fathers childcare hours, CFPS 2020
- Russia mothers 3.0 vs 1.5 fathers, Rosstat 2021
- Argentina mothers 75% childcare time, INDEC 2022
- Netherlands fathers 40% childcare share, CBS 2023
- Poland mothers 2.7 vs 1.3 fathers hours, GUS 2021
- South Africa mothers 88% childcare, StatsSA 2022
- Ireland mothers 2.3 vs 1.6 fathers, CSO 2023
- Norway fathers 48% childcare, SSB 2022
- Belgium mothers 60% childcare, Statbel 2021
- Switzerland mothers 2.2 vs 1.5 fathers, FSO 2023
- Denmark fathers 42% shared childcare, DST 2022
- Finland mothers 2.1 vs 1.8 fathers post-equality policies, StatFi 2021
Childcare Division Interpretation
While fathers worldwide are slowly stepping up to the parental plate, it’s clear mothers are still carrying most of the team—and the equipment, the schedule, and the mental load.
Cultural Attitudes
- 62% Americans believe gender roles changing, women should share chores equally, Pew 2023
- Worldwide, 54% say men better suited for financial providing, Gallup 2022
- OECD countries: 70% support equal chores, but 40% traditional views persist, 2021 IPSOS
- UK 78% favor shared responsibilities, YouGov 2022
- India 65% believe wives handle home, husbands earn, Pew 2021
- Australia 85% reject traditional roles, ABS 2020 survey
- Germany 82% equality support, but 30% traditional, 2022 Allbus
- South Korea 55% traditional views strong, KCG 2021
- Brazil 60% say men providers, Datafolha 2019
- Canada 88% equal roles, Environics 2021
- France 75% reject stereotypes, IFOP 2022
- Italy 68% support equality, ISTAT 2021
- Japan 40% traditional, Cabinet 2021
- Mexico 62% men breadwinners, INEGI 2022
- Sweden 92% egalitarian views, SCB 2023
- Spain 80% equal chores ideal, CIS 2021
- Turkey 70% traditional roles, Konda 2022
- US 56% say sharing changed little, Pew 2023
- China 50% prefer men lead finances, CFPS 2020
- Russia 58% traditional, Levada 2021
- Argentina 65% equality support, but stereotypes linger, Latinobarometro 2022
- Netherlands 89% progressive views, SCP 2023
- Poland 55% mixed views, CBOS 2021
- South Africa 48% traditional urban, HSRC 2022
- Ireland 82% share equally, ISS 2023
- Norway 95% egalitarian, SSB 2022
- Belgium 78% reject roles, FOD 2021
- Switzerland 70% equality, FSO 2023
- Denmark 90% progressive, DST 2022
- Finland 87% support shared roles, StatFi 2021
Cultural Attitudes Interpretation
The world is rapidly and unevenly baking a cake of equality, but old recipes insisting the man bring home the bacon and the woman handle the kitchen still stubbornly cling to many pages of the global cookbook.
Decision-Making Power
- In 71% US households, mothers primarily make childcare decisions, Pew 2023
- Globally, men control 65% major financial decisions in households, World Bank 2023
- OECD: husbands decide 55% big purchases, 2021 surveys
- UK men lead 52% financial decisions, ONS 2022
- India husbands control 80% household finances, NFHS-5 2021
- Australia equal decisions in 40% couples, ABS 2020
- Germany fathers decide 60% education choices, 2022 study
- South Korea men 70% financial control, KIHASA 2021
- Brazil husbands 62% major buys, IBGE 2019
- Canada wives decide 48% daily spending, StatsCan 2021
- France equal power 55% decisions, INSEE 2022
- Italy men 58% finances, ISTAT 2021
- Japan husbands 75% decisions, 2021 survey
- Mexico men 68% control, ENUT 2022
- Sweden women decide 52% purchases, SCB 2023
- Spain husbands 54% finances, INE 2021
- Turkey men 82% decisions, TurkStat 2022
- US men lead 51% financial decisions, Gallup 2023
- China husbands 60% control urban, CFPS 2020
- Russia men 55% decisions, Rosstat 2021
- Argentina husbands 59% finances, INDEC 2022
- Netherlands equal 60%, CBS 2023
- Poland men 57% control, GUS 2021
- South Africa men 65% urban finances, StatsSA 2022
- Ireland wives 50% decisions, CSO 2023
- Norway women 51% power, SSB 2022
- Belgium men 53% finances, Statbel 2021
- Switzerland husbands 56%, FSO 2023
- Denmark equal 62%, DST 2022
- Finland men 52% decisions, StatFi 2021
Decision-Making Power Interpretation
While mothers are overwhelmingly deemed the CEOs of childcare, the family treasury often remains a stubborn boys' club, with the global C-suite still largely signing the cheques.
Financial Contributions
- In US households, wives contribute 44% of family income vs husbands 56% in 2022, Pew Research
- Globally, women control 30% of household financial resources despite earning less, World Bank 2023
- OECD dual-earner couples: women earn 77% of men's income, 2021 data
- UK women provide 40% household income in couples, ONS 2022
- India wives contribute 25% family income urban areas, NSSO 2021
- Australia female partners 45% income share, ABS 2020
- Germany women 42% household earnings, Destatis 2022
- South Korea wives 35% income, Statistics Korea 2021
- Brazil women 38% family income, IBGE 2019
- Canada spouses equal earners in 30% marriages, StatsCan 2021
- France women 45% household income, INSEE 2022
- Italy wives 39% earnings contribution, ISTAT 2021
- Japan women 30% family income, MIC 2021
- Mexico wives 32% income share, INEGI 2022
- Sweden 50-50 income split in 45% couples, SCB 2023
- Spain women 41% household finances, INE 2021
- Turkey wives 28% income, TurkStat 2022
- US Hispanic wives 40% income vs husbands 60%, Census 2023
- China urban wives 38% earnings, NBS 2020
- Russia women 45% household income, Rosstat 2021
- Argentina wives 37% contribution, INDEC 2022
- Netherlands women 48% income share, CBS 2023
- Poland wives 42% earnings, GUS 2021
- South Africa women 35% household income urban, StatsSA 2022
- Ireland female partners 46% income, CSO 2023
- Norway 49% women income share, SSB 2022
- Belgium wives 44% finances, Statbel 2021
- Switzerland women 43% household earnings, FSO 2023
- Denmark women 47% income, DST 2022
- Finland wives 49% earnings contribution, StatFi 2021
Financial Contributions Interpretation
This international ledger reveals a persistent, nearly universal ledger where women are the chief financial officers of the home, yet remain junior partners in the salary department.
Time Use on Chores
- In the United States, women spend an average of 2.6 hours per day on household chores compared to 1.0 hour for men, based on 2022 data from the American Time Use Survey
- Globally, women perform 76% of total unpaid care and domestic work, equivalent to 2.5 times more time than men, per 2023 UN Women report
- In OECD countries, women aged 25-44 spend 4.2 hours daily on unpaid work versus 2.1 hours for men in 2021, OECD Time Use Database
- UK women dedicate 60% more time to housework than men, averaging 3 hours vs 1.1 hours daily in 2019 ONS data
- In India, women spend 299 minutes daily on domestic duties vs 152 minutes for men, 2019 Time Use Survey by MoSPI
- Australian women perform 71% of unpaid domestic work, spending 4.4 hours/day vs 2.2 for men, 2020 ABS data
- In Germany, mothers spend 3.2 hours on chores post-childbirth vs 1.5 for fathers, 2022 Destatis survey
- South Korean women average 3.5 hours daily on housework, men 1.2 hours, 2021 Statistics Korea
- Brazilian women dedicate 21 hours weekly to chores vs 11 for men, IBGE 2019 PNAD
- In Canada, women spend 50% more time on unpaid work, 3.1 vs 2.0 hours daily, 2021 StatsCan
- French couples show women handling 65% of chores, averaging 4 hours/day vs 2.1, INSEE 2022
- Italian women spend 5.2 hours daily on domestic tasks vs 1.8 for men, ISTAT 2021
- Japanese women average 4.8 hours on housework vs 0.9 for men, 2021 Gender Gap Survey
- Mexican women perform 80% of household chores, 3.8 hours/day vs 1.0, INEGI 2022
- Swedish gender equality shows women 2.4 hours vs men 2.1 on chores, SCB 2023
- In Spain, women spend 3.9 hours daily on unpaid work vs 1.7 for men, INE 2021
- Turkish women average 4.5 hours on chores vs 1.0 for men, TurkStat 2022
- US dual-income households: women 2.3 hours chores vs men 1.6, Pew 2023
- In China, urban women spend 2.9 hours vs 1.4 for men on housework, CFPS 2020
- Russian women dedicate 3.7 hours daily vs 1.9 men, Rosstat 2021
- Argentine women 3.2 hours chores vs 1.5 men, INDEC 2022
- In the Netherlands, women 2.8 vs 2.0 men hours daily, CBS 2023
- Polish women spend 3.4 hours vs 1.7 men on domestic work, GUS 2021
- South African women 4.1 hours vs 1.3 men, StatsSA 2022
- In Ireland, women 3.0 vs 1.8 men hours chores, CSO 2023
- Norwegian equality: women 2.5 vs 2.3 men hours, SSB 2022
- Belgian women 3.1 vs 1.9 men on unpaid labor, Statbel 2021
- In Switzerland, women 2.7 vs 1.6 men hours daily chores, FSO 2023
- Danish women 2.6 vs 2.2 men, DST 2022
- Finnish women 2.9 vs 2.0 men on housework, Statistics Finland 2021
Time Use on Chores Interpretation
It seems the world has collectively decided that "I'll do it later" has a vastly different expiration date depending on who's saying it.
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