Shortage of men in Latvia leads women to hire “husbands for an hour”

A severe shortage of men in Latvia has led women to increasingly turn to “husbands for an hour” services to help with household tasks, The Post reports.

According to a recent Eurostat report, Latvia has 15.5% more women than men—more than three times the European Union average. Among those over 65, women outnumber men two to one, notes World Atlas. The result: finding eligible men is becoming nearly impossible.

Dania, who works at festivals, told The Sun, “There’s nothing wrong with this… but for a normal balance, it would be nice to see more men to flirt with or just chat. It would make things a lot more interesting.” Her friend Zane added, “That’s why all my friends moved abroad and found boyfriends there.”

To fill this “male void,” women like Dania increasingly use services that allow them to hire a “husband for an hour” to help with home chores.

The platform Remontdarbi.lv lets clients book such a “husband” online or by phone, with the worker arriving within an hour—a slightly more personal version of TaskRabbit.

Although it might sound like the premise of an adult film, platforms like Komanda24 have surged in popularity in Latvia. For a few euros, women can hire “Men with Golden Hands” for plumbing, carpentry, repairs, or TV installation—all without awkward flirting or dates.

When the “husband for an hour” arrives, he handles everything: painting walls, fixing curtains, and other household tasks, helping women cope with the country’s male shortage.

Why such a sharp gender imbalance? Experts cite men’s shorter life expectancy due to health issues and lifestyle choices. “Men are about three times more likely to smoke—31% of men smoke compared to 10% of women. Men are also slightly more likely to be overweight or obese: 62% of men versus 57% of women,” reports World Atlas.

The idea of renting a husband is gaining traction beyond Latvia. In 2022, mother-of-three Laura Young went viral after renting out her husband James to other women for household work for extra pay. Their profitable business, Rent My Handy Husband, covers all household jobs: repairs, painting, decorating, tile and carpet installation.

James, 42, was fully booked for November, charging $44 per hour and about $280 per day. The couple says demand is so high that they sometimes have to turn down requests.