The Ministry of Development Planning and Statistics (MDPS) has recently released the results of “Time Use Survey” conducted for the first time in the State of Qatar, and carried out by the Ministry from September 20th, 2012 to September 19th, 2013. The sample size of the survey was 16574 persons (Qatari and non-Qatari).      The survey focused on the activities carried out by individuals (15 years and above) during the day (24 hours), including type of indoor and outdoor activities. The types of activities and duration of time can be used for social and economic analysis, such as economic contribution of women, value of domestic production, informal sector, and length of time for recreational and cultural activities. The Survey aims primarily at identifying quality of life - or public welfare - in the State of Qatar. It also aims at identifying activities that individuals engaged in, including paid or unpaid business activities, household work, taking care of family members -including children and the elderly - as well as recreational activities such as watching TV, using the Internet and other similar activities. The survey reviewed three methods for measuring the time spent in different activities: 1. Time spent in carrying out various activities; this refers to 24 hours activities of the entire population (15 years and above), including those who are not engaged in activities. The survey results show that the average time spent by Qatari men (15 years and above) to meet their personal needs (sleeping, personal care, and eating) is 10 hours and 51 minutes daily (45% of time spent on total activities), while Qatari women spend 11 hours and 42 minutes in the same activities (49% of Qatari women time) . The results also showed that the average time spent by Qatari men who are engaged or not engaged in income-generating activities during the day was 3 hours and 49 minutes (16% of the time used for the total activity) while working and non-working Qatari women spend two hours (8%). Qatari men spend one hour and 50 minutes ( 8% of total activities) in household work and shopping, while Qatari women spend 3 hours and 19 minutes in the same activity (14%). The results showed that the time allotted for education and learning during the day is around one hour and 6 minutes (5% of Qatari males’ total activities), while Qatari women spend one hour and 10 minutes (5% of total activities). In recreational and cultural activities, including watching TV, reading books, surfing the internet, travelling, spending free time on hobbies, and visiting relatives, Qatari men spend 5 hours and 32 minutes (23% of total activities) , while Qatari women spend 5 hours and 3 minutes ( 21% of total activities). The average time Qatari men spend in praying during the day was around 52 minutes (4% of total activities), while Qatari women spend 46 minutes (3% of total activities). The time use survey indicates interesting result in terms of nationalities (Qataris and non-Qataris), as it shows that Qatari individuals spend an average of two hours and 52 minutes (11.9% of total activities) in different income generating activities, while non-Qataris spent 6 hours 42 minutes (27.9% of total activities). Qataris spend two hours and 37 minutes (10.9% of total activities) in household activities, while non-Qataris spend two hours and 5 minutes (8.7% of total activities). Qatari men spend an average of one hour and 8 minutes (4.7% of total activities) in education and learning, while non-Qataris spend 25 minutes (1.7% of total activities). The survey results show that there is some convergence in personal needs, such as sleeping, personal care and food intake, as the average of time use in these activities was 11 hours and 18 minutes for Qataris ( 47.1% of total activities), and 10 hours and 51 minutes for non-Qataris (45.2% of total activities). The survey shows a large discrepancy between Qataris and non-Qataris in recreational and cultural activities, as Qataris spend about 5 hours and 17 minutes daily in these activities (22% of total activities), while non-Qataris spend 3 hours and 31 minutes (14.6% of total activities). With regard to the time spent in daily prayers, the survey result show that Qataris spend 49 minutes (3.4% of the total activities), while non-Qataris spend 28 minutes (1.9% of total activities). Read more