Discussing labor division before marriage helps clarify unpaid work responsibilities

According to the 2024 National Time Use Survey, men spend an average of 1 hour and 52 minutes per day on unpaid activities such as housework and caring for family, while women spend 3 hours and 29 minutes. Since the survey does not break down data by marital status, there are no official figures on how much housework increases after marriage; the gender gap observed can only serve as an upper limit. In reality, couples can negotiate a different division of labor altogether before getting married.

There is no monetary cost. Spend one or two hours before marriage to reach a clear agreement on how household chores, childcare, and elder care — all unpaid tasks — will be divided between partners, then follow that plan. The real challenge lies in having the conversation, not in avoiding it.

The 2024 National Time Use Survey tracks unpaid labor, which includes housework and family care. On average, people who perform such tasks spend 2 hours and 45 minutes daily on them; men dedicate 1 hour and 52 minutes, women 3 hours and 29 minutes. The proportion of individuals engaging in unpaid labor each day is 67.5% among men and 83.9% among women. Nationwide, residents spend an average of 1 hour and 17 minutes daily on housework; among those who actually do it, the average rises to 1 hour and 59 minutes — a decrease of 28 minutes compared to 2018. Time spent caring for family averages 30 minutes per day; for those involved, it reaches 1 hour and 46 minutes. In 2018, men spent 45 minutes on housework and 17 minutes on childcare, while women spent 2 hours and 6 minutes on housework and 53 minutes on childcare.

Both surveys analyzed data only by gender, urban/rural residence, and age; marital status was not considered. Consequently, no official statistics exist on how much housework increases after marriage; the gender disparity can only be used as a rough upper bound. These figures represent national averages, but couples are free to negotiate a division of labor that suits them — and that is precisely the value of having this discussion.

国家统计局 (2024). 第三次全国时间利用调查公报（第二号、第三号）. https://www.stats.gov.cn/sj/zxfb/202410/t20241031_1957216.html、https://www.stats.gov.cn/sj/zxfb/202410/t20241031_1957215.html；国家统计局 (2019). 2018 年全国时间利用调查公报. https://www.stats.gov.cn/sj/zxfb/202302/t20230203_1900224.html