Comparable time use statistics : main results for Spain, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland : February 2006.
Date: 2006-04-11
Institutions: Eurostat
Subjects: EU statistics, leisure, national statistics, rest period, working time

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ISSN 1725-065X

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Comparable time
use statistics

Main results for Spain, Italy,
Latvia, Lithuania and Poland
February 2006

E U R O P E A N
C O M M I S S I O N

THEME
Population
and social
conditions

 
 
 
Acknowledgements: Eurostat thanks the participating countries for the
production of the time use statistics. Eurostat also thanks all the countries
who were involved in the Pocketbook How Europeans spend their time -
Everyday life of women and men and in the working paper Comparable time
tables from 10 European countries, as well as
use statistics - National
Statistics Finland and the Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia, since the
present working paper is based on these publications.

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92-79-01682-2

ISBN
ISSN 1725-065X

©

European Communities, 2006

Preface 

Time  Use  Surveys  fill  a  number  of  gaps  in  the  statistical  information  available  in  the  social 
domain.  For  instance,  they  unveil  gaps  between  women  and  men  correlated  to  existing 
differences in their position on the labour market and their participation in education, cultural 
activities and other spheres of life. In particular, Time Use Surveys provide knowledge about 
the  possibilities  of  reconciling  professional  and  family  life  –  statistics  about  the  division  of 
gainful and domestic work between women and men. Data on voluntary work, care, mobility 
and leisure time can also be produced from Time Use Surveys. 

This working paper presents comparable time use statistics collected for Spain (ES), Italy (IT), 
Latvia (LV), Lithuania (LT) and Poland (PL). This document completes the previous working 
paper  on  time  use  presenting  comparable  statistics  for  10  European  countries  (Belgium, 
Germany,  Estonia,  France,  Hungary,  Slovenia,  Finland,  Sweden,  the  United  Kingdom  and 
Norway) which was published in March 20051.  

The aim of this working paper is to make available for further analysis some comparable data 
produced  by  these  five  countries  who  conducted  a  Time  Use  survey  more  recently  (2002-
2004). The survey methods that have been used follow closely the Guidelines on Harmonised 
European  Time  Use  Surveys  published  in  September  20002.  Therefore,  the  results  are 
considered to be comparable. Information on how to prepare comparable tables in compliance 
with Harmonised European Time Use Surveys (HETUS) guidelines is also included. 

The working paper includes the tables produced by national statistical agencies in Spain, Italy, 
Latvia, Lithuania and Poland. These tables cover information on the time use for a broad range 
of  activities  of  social  life  for  several  demographic  and  socio-economic  groups  as  well  as 
information on methodological aspects of TUS. The time use data sources are included as well. 

We  have  a  great  pleasure  to  present  this  work,  and  we  hope  this  paper  will  contribute  to  the 
comparability  of  time  use  statistics  and  compliance  with  the  HETUS  guidelines  as  well  as 
promote the use of time use data to describe different spheres of social life. 

Antonio Baigorri 
Head of Unit, Eurostat 
Labour Market Statistics 

1Eurostat Working paper Comparable time use statistics - National tables from 10 European countries is available at the following address:
http://epp.eurostat.cec.eu.int/portal/page?_pageid=1073,46587259&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL&p_product_code=KS-CC-05-001
2http://epp.eurostat.cec.eu.int/portal/page?_pageid=1073,1135281,1073_1135295&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL&p_product_code=KS-CC-
04-007

3

                                                
CONTENTS

Preface .........................................................................................................................................3

Contents ......................................................................................................................................4

I National time use data for international comparisons .........................................................5 

Data sources, reference years and sample sizes ....................................................................5

II Comparable Time Use Tables available in the working paper ..........................................5 
Tables provided by national statistical agencies3 ..................................................................5

Description of the indicators ..................................................................................................6

Activity classification..............................................................................................................6

III Methodology for Comparable Time Use Tables – Instructions .......................................7

Main structure of time use activities ......................................................................................7

Detailed activity classification ...............................................................................................7

Location classification ...........................................................................................................9

Background variables ............................................................................................................9

Comments on national time use data tables ...........................................................................9

For further information............................................................................................................10

3

National tables by country for ES, IT, LV, LT and PL are available at the following address: 

http://forum.europa.eu.int/Public/irc/dsis/tus/library?l=/comparable_statistics&vm=detailed&sb=Title999999999

4

I National time use data for international comparisons 

The data originate from national time use surveys conducted in Spain (ES), Italy (IT), Latvia 
(LV), Lithuania (LT) and Poland (PL) between 2002 and 2004. In March 2005 was published 
the  working  paper  presenting  comparable  time  use  data  for  10  European  countries  (Belgium, 
Germany,  Estonia,  France,  Hungary,  Slovenia,  Finland,  Sweden,  the  United  Kingdom  and 
Norway –data from 1998-2002)4. The aim of this working paper is to make available for further 
analysis  some  comparable  data  produced  by  these  five  countries  who  conducted  a  Time  Use 
survey more recently. Note that the time use survey methods follow closely the Guidelines on 
Harmonised  European  Time  Use  Surveys  published  in  September  20005  and  therefore,  the 
results are considered to be comparable. 

Time  Use  Surveys  provide  statistics  on  the  division  of  gainful  and  domestic  work  between 
women and men, and on their participation in education, cultural activities and other spheres of 
life  (voluntary  work,  care,  mobility,  leisure  time  …).  A  representative  sample  of  individuals 
completes a diary during one weekday and one weekend day distributed over the whole year. 

Data sources, reference years and sample sizes

Fieldwork period 

Age of 
population 
covered 

Sample size 
(Number of 
respondents) 

Size of 
population, 
1,0006

Comments 

Spain (ES) – Instituto Nacional de 
Estadistica 

Italy (IT) – Instituto Nazionale di 
Statistica 

October 2002 –September 
2003 

April 2002 - March 2003 

Latvia (LV) – Central Statistical 
Bureau of Latvia 

February - August 2003, 
October –November 2003 

Lithuania (LT) – Statistics Lithuania 

January-December 2003

Poland (PL) – Central Statistical Office 

1.06.2003-31.05.2004

10 - 

3 - 

10 - 

10 - 

15 - 

46 774 

37 636 

55 760 

56 805 

3 804 

2 115 

4 768 

20 264 

3 454 

30 904 

One day was 
surveyed. 

One day was 
surveyed. 

II Comparable Time Use Tables available in the working paper 

Tables provided by national statistical agencies

The following tables, provided by national statistical agencies from ES, IT, LV, LT and PL, are 
available: 

A. Main structure of time use of the employed by sex 
B. Time use of population by age and sex 
C. Participation in activities of population by age and sex 
D. Location and mode of transport of population by age and sex 

National tables by country for ES, IT, LV, LT and PL are available at the following address: 
http://forum.europa.eu.int/Public/irc/dsis/tus/library?l=/comparable_statistics&vm=detailed&sb=Title99

4 Working paper Comparable time use statistics - National tables from 10 European countries is available at the following address:
http://epp.eurostat.cec.eu.int/portal/page?_pageid=1073,46587259&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL&p_product_code=KS-CC-05-001
5 http://epp.eurostat.cec.eu.int/portal/page?_pageid=1073,1135281,1073_1135295&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL&p_product_code=KS-
CC-04-007
6 Source: Population statistics

5

 
 
 
                                                
Description of the indicators

Most of the national time use tables show average time spent on an activity in minutes per 
day  (or  hours  and  minutes  per  day).  The  average  time  is  an  average  for  the  whole  group  of 
persons that is investigated and an average across the whole year. This means that all persons 
are included, whether they have performed this activity or not, and that all days of the week, as 
well  as  working  and  holiday  periods  are  included.  Although  the  average  time  is  an  abstract 
measure  and  does  not  describe  concrete  everyday  life  at  the  individual  level,  it  is  a  proper 
indicator  of  time  use  at  the  aggregate  level  and  allows  comparisons  between  countries  and 
population groups. 

Table C shows the proportion of people who spent any time on the activity. This measures 
the  proportion  of  persons  who  perform  the  activity  on  an  average  day.  It  does  not  give 
information  about  how  many  persons  perform  the  activity  in  general,  or  how  many  persons 
perform the activity every day. 

The indicator Average time by those who spent any time on the activity is not included but 
it  can  be  calculated  as  follows:  Average  time  by  those  who  spent  any  time  on  the  activity  = 
(average time per day / proportion of people who spent any time on the activity) * 100. 

One has to bear in mind that the results are estimates and that sampling errors affect them. For 
small  groups  of  individuals  the  errors  may  be  large.  Therefore,  the  comparisons  should  be 
cautious since differences observed are not always significant. Moreover, only main activities are 
analysed  and  some  activities  might  sometimes  not  be  exactly  coded  the  same  way  from  one 
country  to  another.  Finally,  some  national  data  were  rounded,  which  might  explain  small 
discrepancies.

Activity classification

The harmonised European time use activity coding list was based on international practices and 
previous classifications used in Europe. The coding system and index were tested and revised 
on the basis of time use pilot surveys in 18 countries. The final system was completed in 2000. 

The  European  activity  coding  list  allows  several  groupings  of  activities  depending  on  the 
purpose  of  the  analysis.  This  follows  theories  and  traditions  based  on  the  extent  of  time 
commitment  and  not,  for  example,  subjective  needs  fulfilled  by  the  activity.  Domestic  work 
implies  that  there  is  a  task  that  must  be  carried  out.  This  is  why,  for  example,  gardening  is 
domestic work and not a free time. This is also why, for example, walking the dog is primarily 
grouped in domestic work even if it is also analysed in the context of exercise. 

Time use activities are categorised into six basic groups for the simplified classification: 
• Gainful  work,  study  includes  time  spent  on  main  and  second  jobs  and  related  activities, 
breaks  and  travel  during  working  hours,  and  on  job  seeking.  The  time  spent  on  study  at 
school and during free time is combined with gainful work. 
• Domestic  work  includes  housework,  child  and  adult  care,  gardening  and  pet  care, 
construction and repairs, shopping and services, and household management. 
• Travel  includes  commuting  and  trips  connected  with  all  kinds  of  activities,  except  travel 
during working hours. 

6

• Sleep includes sleep during night or daytime, waiting for sleep, naps, as well as passive lying 
in bed because of sickness. 
• Meals, personal care includes meals, snacks and drinks, dressing, personal hygiene, making 
up, shaving, sexual activities and personal healthcare. 
• Free time, unspecified time use includes all other kinds of activities, e.g. volunteer work and 
meetings,  helping  other  households,  socialising  and  entertainment,  sports  and  outdoor 
activities, hobbies and games, reading, watching TV, resting or doing nothing. 

In  European  time  use  surveys,  main  and  simultaneous  activities,  social  context  (other  persons 
present) and location were reported in the diary in temporal order at ten-minute intervals. In the 
tables  provided,  only  main  activities  are  considered;  simultaneous  activities  are  not 
analysed.  This  means  that  activities  frequently  done  simultaneously  with  other  activities  are 
under-reported. These are, for example, childcare, watching television, reading, socialising and 
doing handicrafts. 

III Methodology for Comparable Time Use Tables -Instructions 

The  methodology  for  producing  comparable  time  use  data  tables  slightly  differs  from  the 
instructions  proposed  in  the  Guidelines  2000.  Along  with  the  instructions  used  for  preparing 
comparative tables, the respective chapters in the HETUS Guidelines 2000 are referred to. 

Main structure of time use activities (Table A)

Main activity groups 

HETUS codes 

1 Sleep

01 

2 Other personal care

000, 02, 03 

3 Employment

4 Study

5 Domestic work

1 and 911, 912 

2 

3 

6 Free time and unspecified 

4-8, 995, 998, 999 

7 Travel 

9 (except 911-912 and 995, 998, 999) 

(See HETUS Guidelines 2000, Annex VIII for activity classification to be used for Basic tables) 

Detailed activity classification (Tables B, C)

ACTIVITIES

PERSONAL CARE TOTAL 

SLEEP  
EATING   
OTHER PERSONAL CARE 
EMPLOYMENT TOTAL  

MAIN AND SECOND JOB  
ACTIVITIES RELATED TO EMPLOYMENT  

CODES

000 -- 039 

01 
02 
000, 03 
100 – 139, 911, 912 

11, 12, 911, 912 
100, 13 

7

 
STUDY TOTAL  

SCHOOL OR UNIVERSITY TOTAL  
CLASSES AND LECTURES  
HOMEWORK   
OTHER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES  

FREE TIME STUDY  
DOMESTIC TOTAL  

FOOD PREPARATION   
DISH WASHING  
CLEANING DWELLING  
OTHER HOUSEHOLD UPKEEP  
LAUNDRY  
IRONING  
HANDICRAFT AND PRODUCING TEXTILES  
OTHER CARE FOR TEXTILES  
GARDENING  
TENDING DOMESTIC ANIMALS  
CARING FOR PETS  
WALKING THE DOG  
OTHER GARDENING AND PET CARE  
CONSTRUCTION AND REPAIRS  
SHOPPING AND SERVICES  
CHILDCARE TOTAL  

PHYSICAL CARE AND SUPERVISION OF CHILD  
TEACHING, READING AND TALKING WITH CHILD  
OTHER CHILDCARE  
OTHER DOMESTIC WORK   
VOLUNTEER WORK AND HELP TOTAL  

ORGANISATIONAL WORK  
INFORMAL HELP TO OTHER HOUSEHOLDS  
LEISURE TOTAL  

RELIGIOUS ACTIVITIES  
OTHER PARTICIPATORY ACTIVITIES  
SOCIAL LIFE TOTAL  

SOCIALISING WITH FAMILY  
VISITS AND FEASTS  
TELEPHONE CONVERSATIONS  
OTHER SOCIAL LIFE  

ENTERTAINMENT AND CULTURE  
RESTING  
SPORTS AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES TOTAL  

WALKING AND HIKING  
SPORTS  
PRODUCTIVE EXERCISE  
SPORTS RELATED AND UNSPECIFIED  

ARTS  
COMPUTER AND VIDEO GAMES  
OTHER COMPUTING  
OTHER HOBBIES AND GAMES  
READING BOOKS  
OTHER READING  
TV AND VIDEO  
RADIO AND MUSIC  
UNSPECIFIED LEISURE  
TRAVEL TOTAL  

TRAVEL TO/FROM WORK  
TRAVEL RELATED TO STUDY  

8

200 – 221 

21 
211 
212 
210, 219 
22 
300 – 391 

310, 311, 312, 314, 319  
313  
321 
320, 322-329  
331 
332 
333 
330, 339 
341 
342 
343 
344  
340, 349 
35 
36 
380-389 
381 
382, 383 
380, 384, 389 
300, 37, 39 
41, 42 

41 
42 
400, 430 – 832, 998 

432 
400, 430-431, 439  
510-519 
511 
512, 513 
514 
510, 519 
52  
53 
600-631 
611 
610, 612—619 
62 
600, 63 
71 
733 
722 - 725 
720, 721,726,729, 730-732, 734, 739 
812 
810, 811, 819 
82 
83 
500, 700, 800, 998 
900, 901, 913—982 

913 
921, 922 

 
DOMESTIC TRAVEL TOTAL  

TRAVEL RELATED TO SHOPPING  
TRANSPORTING A CHILD  

TRAVEL RELATED TO VOLUNTEERING AND HELP  
TRAVEL RELATED TO LEISURE  
UNSPECIFIED TIME USE  

931—939 
936 
938 
941-942 
943, 951, 952, 961, 971, 981, 982 
995, 999 

Location classification (Table D)

LOCATIONS

HOME  
WEEKEND HOUSE  
WORKING PLACE OR SCHOOL  
OTHER PEOPLE’S HOME  
RESTAURANT, CAFE OR PUB  
TRAVEL TOTAL  
ON FOOT  
BICYCLE  
PRIVATE CAR, MOTORCYCLE, VAN  
PUBLIC TRANSPORT  
OTHER OR UNSPECIFIED TRAVELLING MODE  

OTHER OR UNSPECIFIED LOCATION  

Background variables

Age (Tables B, C, D) 

10 years old and older. 

CODES

11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
20—40 
21 
22 
23-25 
30-39 
20, 29, 40 
00, 10, 19 

The following age groups are used: 10-14 (years old), 15-24, 25-44, 45-64, 65 and over, 20-
74. 

Employment status (Table A) 

Employed are defined by ILO definition.  

(HETUS Guidelines 2000, Annex III, Individual Questionnaire I 2=1 or I 3=1)  

The estimates should refer to the whole year. 

Comments on national time use data tables

Some imprecision might arise from rounding the data both in calculating the participation rate 
and the average time spent on activities. Totals might not always equal exactly the sum of the 
subcategories, mainly because of rounding. 

When analyzing the data, attention should be paid to the age limits presented in the tables. The 
age of the population covered is 10 years or more, except for Poland (15 years or more). 

Aggregates of the activities and activity groups are also shown in the tables and are emphasized 
by bolded style text and text in italic style. 

Abbreviations: 

0        should be considered as negligible 

:         means not available or not reliable 

9

 
 
 
 
For further information

Eurostat Working paper Comparable time use statistics - National tables from 10 European 
countries, March 2005 

Eurostat  Pocketbook  How  Europeans  spend  their  time  -  Everyday  life  of  women  and  men, 
July 2004 

Eurostat Working paper Guidelines on harmonised European time use survey, October 2004

10