---
title: "Women in Moldova shoulder most unpaid domestic work "
url: https://radiomoldova.md/p/88592/women-in-moldova-shoulder-most-unpaid-domestic-work
published: 2026-10-31T06:00:00Z
language: en
author: "Nicoleta Borodin"
section: "Social"
source: radiomoldova.md
---

# Women in Moldova shoulder most unpaid domestic work 

> Women in Moldova spend an average of 4.6 hours a day on unpaid domestic and care work, 1.8 hours more than men, according to 2025 data released by the National Bureau of Statistics.

![](https://storage.radiomoldova.md/images/decc732f-6963-46d9-8de5-c0f70fb208ff.jpg)

Women in Moldova spend an average of 4.6 hours a day on unpaid domestic and care work, 1.8 hours more than men, according to 2025 data released by the National Bureau of Statistics.

**Women account for the bulk of unpaid domestic work**

Women aged 15 and older are significantly more involved in unpaid household and care activities than men, with a participation rate of 94.2%, compared with 82.6% among men.

Across the population, unpaid domestic and care work takes an average of 3.8 hours a day. Among those who perform these activities, the daily average rises to 4.3 hours.

Participation is slightly higher in rural areas, at 89.4%, compared with 88.2% in urban areas. Among participants, the average time spent on these activities is 4.3 hours in rural areas and 4.2 hours in urban areas.

People aged 25 to 34 record the highest participation rate, at 91.8%. They also spend the most time on unpaid domestic and care work, averaging five hours a day.

**Women spend more time cooking and cleaning, while men handle more repairs**

Preparing and serving meals is the most common household activity among both women and men. However, the female participation rate is almost twice as high, at 86.9%, compared with 44.2% among men.

Women are also more involved in cleaning and maintaining homes, doing laundry and looking after clothing. Men participate more frequently in outdoor cleaning, minor repairs and the maintenance of buildings, vehicles and household equipment.

Women who perform these activities spend an average of 1.9 hours a day preparing and serving meals and 1.5 hours cleaning and maintaining their homes. Men, meanwhile, devote around 1.6 hours to outdoor cleaning and maintenance.

**People aged 65 and over spend more time on household chores**

The time devoted to domestic work increases with age. People aged 15 to 24 spend an average of three hours a day on these activities, compared with 4.2 hours among those aged 65 and over.

The older age group also records a high participation rate, with 91.1% engaging in unpaid household activities.

Domestic work is performed throughout the week, although people spend slightly more time on it during days off. The average is 3.8 hours on weekdays and 4.1 hours on days off, among those participating in these activities.

The Time Use Survey was conducted between July and December 2025 as an additional module of the Labour Force Survey, covering households across the Republic of Moldova.

It examined both domestic and care activities performed as a person's main activity and those carried out simultaneously with other activities.

Translation by **Iurie Tataru**

**RELATED COVERAGE**

* [Moldova time-use survey reveals deep systemic gender gaps](https://moldova1.md/p/78573/moldova-time-use-survey-reveals-deep-systemic-gender-gaps)

* [Moldova gender pay gap widens to 15% in 2025](https://www.moldova1.md/p/83893/moldova-gender-pay-gap-widens-to-15-in-2025)

* [Moldova’s gender equality index hits 61 as traditionalist views surge](https://www.moldova1.md/p/70491/moldova-s-gender-equality-index-hits-61-as-traditionalist-views-surge)

* [Moldova’s gender equality laws fall short in practice](https://moldova1.md/p/88652/moldova-s-gender-equality-laws-fall-short-in-practice)

* [Family burnout: The toll of financial stress on Moldovan couples](https://www.moldova1.md/p/88303/family-burnout-the-toll-of-financial-stress-on-moldovan-couples)