Table 3.1
Average time spent per day on various activities, for the population and participants aged 15 and over, by age group, Canada, 2010

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Age group and activity group Population Participants Participation rate
hours and minutes percentage
15 to 24
Total work1 06:59 07:30 93
Paid work and related activities 02:39 07:20 36
Unpaid work2 01:35 02:16 70
Personal care activities 11:03 11:03 100
Free time activities 05:57 06:12 96
1. Paid work and related activities 02:39 07:20 36
Paid work 02:20 07:04 33
Activities related to paid work (includes commuting) 00:19 00:55 34
2. Household work and related activities 01:24 02:05 67
Cooking/washing up 00:18 00:42 44
Housekeeping 00:12 01:17 16
Maintenance and repair 00:03E 02:17E 2E
Other household work 00:08 00:56 14
Shopping for goods and services 00:35 01:48 33
Child care 00:08 02:25 5
3. Civic and voluntary 00:11 01:41 11
4. Education and related activities 02:45 06:28 43
5. Sleep, meals and other personal activities 11:03 11:03 100
Night sleep 08:58 08:59 100
Meals (excl. restaurant meals) 00:48 01:00 80
Other personal activities 01:17 01:23 93
6. Socializing including restaurant meals 02:03 03:05 67
Restaurant meals 00:19 01:29 21
Socializing (in homes) 01:24 02:35 54
Other socializing 00:20 02:12 15
7. Television, reading and other passive leisure 01:50 02:39 70
Watching television 01:38 02:30 65
Reading books, magazines, newspapers 00:10 01:15 13
Other passive leisure 00:03E 00:57 5E
8. Sports, movies and other entertainment events 00:14 02:51 8
9. Active leisure 01:50 02:58 62
Active sports 00:39 02:17 28
Computer use 00:32 01:41 32
Video games 00:27 02:44 16
Other active leisure 00:12 01:46 12
25 to 34
Total work1 08:44 08:58 97
Paid work and related activities 04:22 08:27 52
Unpaid work2 03:52 04:22 89
Personal care activities 10:23 10:23 100
Free time activities 04:53 05:07 95
1. Paid Work and related activities 04:22 08:27 52
Paid work 03:49 07:50 49
Activities related to paid work (includes commuting) 00:33 01:10 47
2. Household work and related activities 03:37 04:09 87
Cooking/washing up 00:40 01:01 65
Housekeeping 00:35 01:45 33
Maintenance and repair 00:08E 02:30 5E
Other household work 00:18 01:13 24
Shopping for goods and services 00:43 01:49 40
Child care 01:12 03:06 39
3. Civic and voluntary 00:15 01:56 13
4. Education and related activities 00:30 04:27 11
5. Sleep, meals and other personal activities 10:23 10:23 100
Night sleep 08:15 08:15 100
Meals (excl. restaurant meals) 00:53 01:03 83
Other personal activities 01:15 01:23 90
6. Socializing including restaurant meals 01:45 02:52 61
Restaurant meals 00:17 01:30 19
Socializing (in homes) 01:17 02:30 51
Other socializing 00:11 02:13 9
7. Television, reading and other passive leisure 01:51 02:34 72
Watching television 01:37 02:27 66
Reading books, magazines, newspapers 00:12 01:20 15
Other passive leisure F 01:30 F
8. Sports, movies and other entertainment events 00:07 02:11 6
9. Active leisure 01:09 02:17 51
Active sports 00:30 01:56 26
Computer use 00:20 01:18 26
Video games 00:10E 02:34 6E
Other active leisure 00:10 02:00 8
35 to 44
Total work1 09:48 09:55 99
Paid work and related activities 05:15 08:33 61
Unpaid work2 04:21 04:40 93
Personal care activities 10:05 10:06 100
Free time activities 04:06 04:22 94
1. Paid Work and related activities 05:15 08:33 61
Paid work 04:40 07:52 59
Activities related to paid work (includes commuting) 00:35 01:06 54
2. Household work and related activities 03:57 04:17 92
Cooking/washing up 00:48 01:08 70
Housekeeping 00:41 01:41 41
Maintenance and repair 00:09E 02:40 6E
Other household work 00:22 01:17 29
Shopping for goods and services 00:47 01:47 44
Child care 01:10 02:24 49
3. Civic and voluntary 00:24 02:12 18
4. Education and related activities 00:13 03:23 6
5. Sleep, meals and other personal activities 10:05 10:06 100
Night sleep 07:56 07:57 100
Meals (excl. restaurant meals) 00:57 01:07 85
Other personal activities 01:13 01:21 90
6. Socializing including restaurant meals 01:19 02:24 55
Restaurant meals 00:13 01:15 17
Socializing (in homes) 00:57 02:09 44
Other socializing 00:10 01:53 8
7. Television, reading and other passive leisure 01:46 02:22 75
Watching television 01:33 02:16 68
Reading books, magazines, newspapers 00:11 01:05 17
Other passive leisure 00:02E 00:53 3E
8. Sports, movies and other entertainment events 00:08 01:48 7
9. Active leisure 00:53 01:55 46
Active sports 00:26 01:44 25
Computer use 00:17 01:13 23
Video games 00:04 01:49 3
Other active leisure 00:07 01:35 7
45 to 54
Total work1 08:53 09:03 98
Paid work and related activities 05:07 08:39 59
Unpaid work2 03:39 04:01 91
Personal care activities 10:23 10:23 100
Free time activities 04:44 04:59 95
1. Paid Work and related activities 05:07 08:39 59
Paid work 04:32 08:00 57
Activities related to paid work (includes commuting) 00:35 01:06 53
2. Household work and related activities 03:16 03:39 89
Cooking/washing up 00:44 01:05 68
Housekeeping 00:47 01:56 40
Maintenance and repair 00:13 02:42 8
Other household work 00:28 01:17 36
Shopping for goods and services 00:49 01:50 45
Child care 00:15 01:40 15
3. Civic and voluntary 00:22 01:53 20
4. Education and related activities 00:07 02:45 4
5. Sleep, meals and other personal activities 10:23 10:23 100
Night sleep 07:57 07:58 100
Meals (excl. restaurant meals) 01:02 01:10 88
Other personal activities 01:24 01:32 92
6. Socializing including restaurant meals 01:24 02:27 57
Restaurant meals 00:17 01:29 19
Socializing (in homes) 00:55 02:06 44
Other socializing 00:12 02:27 8
7. Television, reading and other passive leisure 02:11 02:44 80
Watching television 01:51 02:33 73
Reading books, magazines, newspapers 00:18 01:16 23
Other passive leisure 00:02E 00:57 4E
8. Sports, movies and other entertainment events 00:09 02:35 6
9. Active leisure 01:00 02:09 46
Active sports 00:29 01:55 25
Computer use 00:16 01:17 21
Video games 00:04E 01:58 3E
Other active leisure 00:10 02:07 8
55 to 64
Total work1 07:18 07:31 97
Paid work and related activities 03:20 07:57 42
Unpaid work2 03:55 04:18 91
Personal care activities 10:46 10:46 100
Free time activities 05:55 06:09 96
1. Paid Work and related activities 03:20 07:57 42
Paid work 02:56 07:18 40
Activities related to paid work (includes commuting) 00:23 01:08 35
2. Household work and related activities 03:21 03:44 90
Cooking/washing up 00:46 01:05 70
Housekeeping 00:45 01:50 41
Maintenance and repair 00:14 02:37 9
Other household work 00:38 01:36 40
Shopping for goods and services 00:55 01:58 47
Child care 00:02E 01:05E 2E
3. Civic and voluntary 00:34 02:51 20
4. Education and related activities 00:03E 02:19 2E
5. Sleep, meals and other personal activities 10:46 10:46 100
Night sleep 08:05 08:07 100
Meals (excl. restaurant meals) 01:10 01:18 89
Other personal activities 01:30 01:41 90
6. Socializing including restaurant meals 01:32 02:38 58
Restaurant meals 00:18 01:33 19
Socializing (in homes) 01:04 02:16 47
Other socializing 00:10 01:58 8
7. Television, reading and other passive leisure 03:05 03:32 87
Watching television 02:36 03:13 81
Reading books, magazines, newspapers 00:26 01:22 31
Other passive leisure 00:04 01:07 6
8. Sports, movies and other entertainment events 00:06 02:20 4
9. Active leisure 01:12 02:19 52
Active sports 00:29 01:47 28
Computer use 00:20 01:22 25
Video games 00:06 01:58 5
Other active leisure 00:16 02:11 13
65 to 74
Total work1 05:08 05:22 96
Paid work and related activities 00:49 06:13 13
Unpaid work2 04:17 04:33 94
Personal care activities 11:32 11:32 100
Free time activities 07:19 07:24 99
1. Paid Work and related activities 00:49 06:13 13
Paid work 00:44 05:59 12
Activities related to paid work (includes commuting) 00:05 00:52 9
2. Household work and related activities 03:41 03:59 93
Cooking/washing up 00:50 01:10 71
Housekeeping 00:48 01:48 44
Maintenance and repair 00:22 03:35 10
Other household work 00:40 01:41 40
Shopping for goods and services 01:01 02:02 50
Child care 00:01E 01:26E 2E
3. Civic and voluntary 00:36 02:48 21
4. Education and related activities 00:02E 02:08E 1E
5. Sleep, meals and other personal activities 11:32 11:32 100
Night sleep 08:24 08:25 100
Meals (excl. restaurant meals) 01:22 01:30 91
Other personal activities 01:46 01:59 89
6. Socializing including restaurant meals 01:50 03:00 61
Restaurant meals 00:22 01:45 21
Socializing (in homes) 01:15 02:34 48
Other socializing 00:14 02:04 11
7. Television, reading and other passive leisure 04:00 04:19 93
Watching television 03:14 03:46 86
Reading books, magazines, newspapers 00:42 01:43 41
Other passive leisure 00:04 01:05 6
8. Sports, movies and other entertainment events 00:07 02:04 5
9. Active leisure 01:22 02:25 56
Active sports 00:33 01:49 30
Computer use 00:18 01:20 22
Video games 00:06 01:42 6
Other active leisure 00:25 02:13 19
75 and over
Total work1 03:51 04:15 91
Paid work and related activities 00:12E 03:31 6E
Unpaid work2 03:39 04:03 90
Personal care activities 12:33 12:33 100
Free time activities 07:34 07:41 99
1. Paid Work and related activities 00:12E 03:31 6E
Paid work 00:10E 03:49 5E
Activities related to paid work (includes commuting) 00:01E 00:47E 3E
2. Household work and related activities 03:15 03:42 88
Cooking/washing up 00:55 01:19 69
Housekeeping 00:48 01:49 44
Maintenance and repair 00:06E 02:16 5
Other household work 00:36 01:43 35
Shopping for goods and services 00:49 02:04 40
Child care F x x
3. Civic and voluntary 00:24 02:40 15
4. Education and related activities F x x
5. Sleep, meals and other personal activities 12:33 12:33 100
Night sleep 08:44 08:45 100
Meals (excl. restaurant meals) 01:24 01:30 94
Other personal activities 02:24 02:38 91
6. Socializing including restaurant meals 01:32 02:45 55
Restaurant meals 00:14 01:35 15
Socializing (in homes) 01:05 02:28 44
Other socializing 00:13 02:14 10
7. Television, reading and other passive leisure 04:45 05:06 93
Watching television 03:45 04:16 88
Reading books, magazines, newspapers 00:54 02:00 45
Other passive leisure 00:06 01:14 8
8. Sports, movies and other entertainment events 00:05E 02:21E 3E
9. Active leisure 01:13 02:31 48
Active sports 00:22 01:31 24
Computer use 00:10 01:39 10
Video games 00:04E 01:48 3E
Other active leisure 00:37 02:32 24
E use with caution
F too unreliable to publish
x suppressed to meet the confidentiality requirements of the Statistics Act
1. Includes activity groups 1 to 4.
2. Includes activity groups 2 to 3.
Note: Average time spent is the average over a 7-day week.
Source: Statistics Canada, General Social Survey, 2010.
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