Indians value family time most in 15-nation survey, but children want more of it
Representative image: towbar / Pixabay
Varkey Foundation's survey of October 12, 2026: 84% of Indian Gen Z call family time very important, the highest of 15 nations, but only 22% of children are satisfied.
What Happened
Indian families value time together more than families in any other country in a new 15-nation study, yet Indian children are the least satisfied with how much quality time they actually get. The Family First Global Survey, released by the Varkey Foundation on Monday, October 12, 2026, found that 84 percent of Indian Gen Z respondents call time with their family very important, the highest share among the countries surveyed. At the same time, only 22 percent of Indian children said they were satisfied with the amount of quality family time they have, the lowest figure in the study. The survey questioned children, parents, young adults and grandparents, with fieldwork in January and February 2026.
Key Facts
- The survey covers 15 countries and four generations: children, parents, Gen Z and grandparents.
- 84 percent of Indian Gen Z say family time is very important, the highest of any country; Nigeria came second with 81 percent.
- Only 22 percent of Indian children are satisfied with the quality family time they get, the lowest of all countries surveyed.
- 76 percent of Indian children say they would like to spend more time with their grandparents, the highest share globally.
- 85 percent of Indian parents see their own parents at least once a week and 65 percent every day, both the highest in the survey.
- 82 percent of Indian grandparents say family time is very important, also the highest globally.
Why It Matters
The findings capture a tension many Indian households will recognise. Family remains central to how Indians of every age see their lives, and the survey shows that strongly: young adults, parents and grandparents in India all rank family time higher than their counterparts abroad. Daily contact between generations is also more common in India than anywhere else in the study.
Yet the children in those same homes say they are not getting enough of it. Wanting family time and getting it are clearly different things. Long working hours, commutes in growing cities, coaching classes and exam pressure, and screens that pull every member of the family into a separate world all compete for the same evening hours. The survey found that 23 percent of Indian Gen Z say school, activities or expectations take time away from family life "a lot" or "all the time".
Sunny Varkey, who founded the foundation, said economic pressures, conflict, distance between relatives and changes in technology all make it harder for families to spend meaningful time together. The survey also introduces what the foundation calls a Family Bonding Index, which scores countries on the strength of family connections. Indian parents and grandparents were also among the most likely to see benefit in government action on children's screen use and online safety.
| Indian group | Finding |
|---|---|
| Gen Z | 84% say family time is very important (highest) |
| Children | 22% satisfied with quality family time (lowest) |
| Children | 76% want more time with grandparents (highest) |
| Parents | 65% see their own parents every day (highest) |
| Grandparents | 82% say family time is very important (highest) |
For parents, the message is less about quantity than quality. Living under one roof, or meeting grandparents every day, does not by itself mean children feel they are spending real time with the adults around them. Shared meals without phones, a regular weekly outing, or simply sitting with a child while they talk about their day are the kinds of habits that turn being in the same house into time together. The strong wish of Indian children to see more of their grandparents is also worth noting at a time when more families are moving to cities and abroad.
Impact
Short-term: The figures give parents, schools and policymakers a fresh data point on how Indian children experience family life, and are likely to feed debate about screen time, homework loads and working hours.
Long-term: If the gap between valuing family and spending time together widens, it may affect children's wellbeing and the bond between grandparents and grandchildren. The foundation plans to use its index to track how family bonds change across countries over time.
Who is affected: Indian children and teenagers; young adults; working parents; grandparents, especially in joint or nearby families; schools and coaching centres; and policymakers working on children's online safety.
Key Takeaway
Indians value family time more than anyone in a 15-country survey, but Indian children are the least satisfied with how much quality family time they actually get.
Questions and Answers
What is the Family First Global Survey?
It is a study released by the Varkey Foundation on October 12, 2026 that asked children, parents, Gen Z and grandparents in 15 countries about family bonds. It includes a new Family Bonding Index that scores countries on the strength of family connections.
How did India rank on family time?
India ranked highest on valuing family time: 84 percent of Indian Gen Z and 82 percent of Indian grandparents called it very important. But only 22 percent of Indian children were satisfied with the quality family time they get, the lowest of all countries.
Do Indian children want more time with grandparents?
Yes. 76 percent of Indian children said they would like to spend more time with their grandparents, the highest share of any country in the survey.
What keeps families from spending time together, according to the survey?
Sunny Varkey pointed to economic pressures, conflict, distance between relatives and technology. Among Indian Gen Z, 23 percent said school, activities or expectations take time away from family life a lot or all the time.
Disclaimer: Prepared by the Peepals newsroom from publicly available sources with AI assistance. Information is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication and may change. Images may be representative. Not professional advice. Report an error via our contact page.
Sourced and fact-checked by the Peepals Global Editorial Team
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