Forget overtime: DOSM reveals Malaysians devote 21.7pc of their day to unpaid household chores

PUTRAJAYA, July 2 — Malaysians spend more than five hours a day on unpaid household chores and caregiving, with adults in their prime working years shouldering the biggest share of domestic responsibilities, according to the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM).

Chief Statistician Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin said Malaysians spend 21.7 per cent of their day, or an average of five hours and 12 minutes, on unpaid domestic and care work.

Findings from the National Household Indicators Survey (NHIS) 2025 showed that those aged between 45 and 54 devote the most time to unpaid work at five hours and 43 minutes a day, followed by the 25 to 44 age group (five hours and 35 minutes) and those aged 55 to 64 (five hours and 31 minutes).

In contrast, individuals aged between 15 and 24 spend the least amount of time on unpaid work, averaging three hours and 53 minutes a day.

“This reflects the greater domestic and caregiving responsibilities typically borne by people in the middle stages of life,” he said in a statement today.

Mohd Uzir added that Malaysians also spend more time on unpaid domestic and care work than the average in member countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

The survey found that Malaysian women spend an average of six hours and seven minutes a day, or 25.5 per cent of their daily time, on unpaid domestic and care work, compared with about 17 per cent in OECD countries.

Men, meanwhile, devote 18.1 per cent of their day to such work, compared with around nine to 11 per cent internationally.

“These findings show that the burden of unpaid work remains high in Malaysia for both men and women, with women continuing to shoulder a greater share of the responsibility,” he said.

The survey also found that persons without disabilities spend an average of five hours and 12 minutes a day on unpaid work, compared with two hours and 59 minutes among persons with disabilities (PwDs).

“Although persons with disabilities spend less time on unpaid work, they remain actively involved in domestic and caregiving activities, underscoring the need for a more inclusive social support system,” he said.

Mohd Uzir said the findings provide an important basis for strengthening policies on social development, work-life balance and gender equality, while recognising the value of unpaid domestic and care work in enhancing the well-being of the people and boosting national productivity. — Bernama