Mexico in Numbers: How do Mexicans spend their time?

Every five years, Mexico's national statistics agency INEGI conducts the National Survey on Time Use (ENUT). The most recent survey took place in 2024 and involved more than 32,000 homes. The survey's results were published in August 2025. This report explores some of the key findings from the ENUT, shedding light on how Mexicans allocate their time.

Males and females aged 12 and over participated in the survey. On average, Mexican workers dedicate 59.6 hours per week to paid and unpaid labor, including domestic chores, caregiving, and volunteering. Women, however, work 61.1 hours per week, while men average 58 hours per week. Women spend approximately 39.7 hours per week on domestic tasks and volunteering, compared to men's 18.2 hours.

The gender gap in domestic, caregiving, and volunteering work exceeds 21 hours per week. In communities with fewer than 10,000 residents, the gender gap in such activities widens further, reaching 26.4 hours.

Hidalgo state sees the highest average weekly work hours, with individuals working 65.6 hours weekly, six hours more than the national average. Conversely, Chihuahua state has the lowest average work hours, with individuals working 54.5 hours weekly, which is 5.1 hours below the national average. On average, women in Mexico sleep 53 hours per week, equating to about 7.5 hours per night. Men sleep slightly longer, averaging 52.1 hours per week, or roughly 7.4 hours each night.

When not working or sleeping, Mexicans engage in various activities. On average, women spend 8.6 hours per week eating, 6.7 hours on bathing, dressing, and personal grooming, 5.4 hours on personal healthcare, and 4.1 hours on prayer, meditation, and rest. Men devote 8.2 hours per week to eating, 5.6 hours to personal grooming and care, 6.1 hours to health care, and 4.6 hours to prayer, meditation, and rest.

The most common "free time" activity for both genders is using mass media, including internet browsing, social media, watching TV, listening to music, and reading. Women spend an average of 15.1 hours weekly on mass media, while men engage in such activities for 15.7 hours weekly. The second most popular free-time activity is spending time with friends and family, which women and men both dedicate an average of 7.8 hours and 7 hours per week, respectively.

For women, sports and physical exercise rank third, with an average of 4.7 hours per week spent on these activities. Men follow closely behind, spending 5.4 hours weekly on sports and exercise, although this ranks fourth for them.

Interestingly, men's third most popular leisure activity is "participation in games and hobbies," averaging 6.1 hours per week, while women's third preference is 4.1 hours of games and hobbies. These insights highlight how Mexicans allocate their time, revealing distinct patterns that may surprise many.