People living in Delhi dedicate more hours to work and employment-related activities than those in any other part of the country, according to a new report released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.
The Time Use Survey states that, on average, individuals in India spend 455 minutes a day—just over 7.5 hours—on tasks related to their employment. However, for Delhi residents, this figure rises significantly to 571 minutes, or nearly 9.5 hours a day. This includes not only time spent working but also commuting to and from the workplace.
The report also provides comparisons with other states. In Haryana, people spend around 493 minutes (approximately 8.2 hours) on employment, while in Tamil Nadu, the average stands at 484 minutes (about 8 hours). Meanwhile, in states like Odisha, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan, individuals spend close to seven hours daily on work-related tasks.
The report draws attention to gender disparity in work hours as well. Uttar Pradesh showed the highest gap, with women spending 72 per cent less time at work than men. Bihar followed closely, with women working 71.6 per cent fewer minutes than men.
Delhi and Kerala showed a more balanced distribution, with only a 22 per cent difference in working hours between men and women. Goa reported the smallest gender gap in the country, with just an 8 per cent difference in time spent on work.
The data also highlights a rural-urban divide. In rural areas, individuals aged 15 to 59 spend an average of 424 minutes per day on employment-related activities, whereas in urban regions, the time increases to 494 minutes.
