Women in the US spend more time with children than men do, across all ages

In the United States, women spend more time with children than men. This is true for adults of any age.

The difference is especially large for people in their 20s and 30s. For example, at age 35, women spend an average of five hours per day with children, while men spend around three hours. (Considered here are people’s children, step and foster children, grandchildren, and other family members under 18.)

Although the gap is smaller for older people, even in later life, women spend more time with children than men.

This gap reflects traditional gender roles, where women do more childcare and less paid work. But it also has broader implications: women spend less time with friends and alone than men, which may affect their social connections, leisure, and well-being.

This data comes from the American Time Use Survey by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Learn more about how men and women spend their time throughout life →

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This page was imported from Our World in Data. “Women in the US spend more time with children than men do, across all ages” by Bastian Herre, Tuna Acisu, published by Our World in Data under CC BY 4.0. Changed here: set as a page, its interactive charts shown as pictures. Data from third parties keeps its own licence.

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