Press Release on Time Use Survey Preliminary Results
(May, 1999 - May, 2000)

The Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics implemented the first ever Time Use Survey in Palestine. The Survey covered people aged 10 years and above living in the Palestinian Territory. The data was collected on a daily basis over the period of one year. The fieldwork started on 8/5/1999 and ended on 7/5/2000. The sample size was 4019 households, and the percentage of the completely and partial completely filled questionnaires was 91.6%, whereas less than 1.5% refused to fill the questionnaires.

The collected data provides important information on the social status of Palestinians and is therefore essential for decision and policy making in Palestine. The survey provides data on the nature of activities performed by the Palestinians in their daily life, productive, paid and unpaid activities. Also the domestic and maternal and child care, as well as other related activities such as watching TV or listening to the radio.

The Individuals spend their time as follows:

Personal care activities (sleeping, eating, and body care) are in the first place in the individuals daily activities. It takes 45% of males time compared with 48% of females time. Leisure time (reading, watching TV, listening to music, sports, social activities and visits) are in the second place in average of 23% for males and 22% for females. Work comes in the third place for males, in average males spend 21% of their daily time in work compared with 2% only for females. For females, household activities and care for the family are in the third place. Such activities consume 20% of females time compared with 3% only of males time. Educational activities are in the fourth place in average of 7% of both sexes time. In general very few members of the Palestinian society spend time in voluntary activities (society service and helping other) in average of less than 1% of both males and females time spend in such activity.

The average time spent on employment in establishments is 7 hours and 31 minutes (7 hours and 39 minutes for male and 6 hours and 17 minutes for females). 24.6% of the people who filled in the questionnaires are employed in establishments, 43.9% for males and 5.2% for females.

For individuals aged 15 years and over, the average time spent on employment in establishments is 7 hours and 33 minutes (7 hours and 44 minutes for male and 6 hours and 18 minutes for females). 29.2% of the people who filled in the questionnaires are employed in establishments, 52.2% for males and 6.2% for females.

The average time spent on primary production activities (not for establishments) is 3 hours and 23 minutes. (4 hours and 15 minutes for males and 2 hours for females). The percentage of people spending time on the primary production activities is 7.6%. (9.3% for males and 5.9% for females).

The average time of people performing activities concerning household maintenance, management and shopping for the own household is 3 hours and 16 minutes. (1 hour and 20 minutes for males and 4 hours and 7 minutes for females). About 65.2% of persons practice cooking and preparing meal activities (39.8% for males and 90.9% for females). The average time spent on child, patient and elderly care for household members is one hour and 51 minutes (59 minutes daily for males and 2 hours and 12 minutes for females)

The average time spent on learning activities is 6 hours and 57 minutes. (6 hours and 47 minutes for males and 7 hours and 8 minutes for females). The percentage of people spending time on learning activities is 23.2%. (23.6% for males and 22.7% for females). The percentage of people spending time on reading activities is 11.8%. (9.5% for males and 14.1% for females).

On the average, Palestinian spends 11 hours and 7 minutes on personal care activities such as sleeping, eating and drinking. Males spend 10 hours and 50 minute on these activities and females spend 11 hours and 25 minutes. 55% of the people spend time on religious activities (49% for males, 61% for females).

The average time spent on mass media use activities such as reading newspapers, watching TV and video is 2 hours and 37minutes. (2 hours and 28 minutes for males and 2 hours and 47 minutes for females).

It is found that 58% of the Palestinian people travel on foot, 53% of males and 67% of females. In the West Bank, the percentage of people travelling on foot is 60%. (53% of males and 71% of females). In Gaza Strip the percentage is 57%. (53% of males and 62% of females).