Time spent on leisure and sports

Americans are estimated to spend 5.1 hours per day per capita on leisure and sports activities in 2025, representing a marginal increase of 0.4% over the previous year. This trend signals a modest rebound from the declines experienced in the immediate aftermath of the pandemic. The breakdown of this leisure time demonstrates that television remains the dominant activity at 3 hours daily, while socializing and sports each contribute over an hour combined. The time distribution for leisure varies considerably according to demographic factors such as age, gender, the presence of children, and employment status; for example, older Americans and men generally report more leisure time.

Between 2020 and 2025, time spent on leisure and sports exhibited a slight downward trend before stabilizing and beginning to rise again in 2025. After peaking in 2020 at over 5.6 hours per day due to pandemic-related unemployment and stay-at-home directives, leisure time declined as the economy reopened and employment rebounded. In 2021, average daily leisure hours fell sharply by 6.1%, returning to 5.3 hours and continuing to decrease until settling at 5.1 hours in 2024. This trajectory corresponds closely with improving labor market conditions, as higher employment reduces available time for leisure activities. Macroeconomic trends, including rising labor force participation and increased in-person work and schooling, further contributed to the contraction in leisure time during this period. However, wage pressures and trends toward more flexible work arrangements began moderating this decline, supporting the modest 0.4% increase projected for 2025. Additionally, increasing technology adoption and evolving content platforms have facilitated alternative leisure activities that can be integrated into shorter downtime periods, somewhat cushioning the reduction in traditional leisure hours.

By the end of the current period, leisure time for Americans remains below pandemic peaks but appears stabilized compared to earlier years. The modest increase expected in 2025 reflects a normalization in daily routines, the partial persistence of remote or hybrid work, and overall economic recovery enabling some additional leisure allocation. These trends are important for downstream industries that rely on consumer discretionary time and spending, particularly as demographic and workplace shifts continue to reshape the landscape of recreational activities in the United States.