Leisure Monitor 2015

The BAT Foundation for Future Issues is presenting its "Leisure Monitor 2015" today, August 27, 2015, in Berlin. For the annual study, over 2,000 people aged 14 and over were interviewed in person, representing a cross-section of the population, about their leisure activities.
Core results:

• Watching television remains the most popular leisure activity, followed by listening to the radio and using the telephone.
• The internet's triumphant march continues: 99 percent of the younger generation (up to 24 years old) and also a third of retirees (over 65 years old) are regularly online.
• Within the population, the greatest differences are seen in income: Low earners (up to €1,500 monthly net household income) are, for example, significantly more spontaneous, while higher earners (over €3,500) spend more time with their families.
• High cultural activities, voluntary work and clubs have to worry about the future – more than half of the population say they never pursue them.
• Germans' leisure desires: spontaneity, relaxation and sociability.

In 1981, the BAT Foundation for Future Issues conducted its first study of the leisure activities of the German population. At that time, 67 percent of the population stated that they regularly watched the three channels of the public broadcasting corporations. This result placed television consumption fourth in the ranking of the most frequent leisure activities. Reading newspapers, handicrafts, and gardening occupied first, second, and third place, respectively.

With the introduction of private television (1984), television consumption increased steadily, and by 1990 it had reached the top spot with 90 percent. This has remained unchanged since then, even 25 years later. Television remains unchallenged in first place among the most frequent leisure activities of German citizens, now at 97 percent. 

Listening to the radio and making phone calls from home now occupy second and third place, activities that were also very popular in previous decades. Advanced to fourth place is the internet, that with it For the first time, it ranks higher than reading the newspaper in the list of most frequent leisure activities. lies.

Prof. Dr. Ulrich Reinhardt, Scientific Director of the BAT Foundation, summarizes the results as follows: „"The dominance of the media continues. This is complemented by regenerative activities and social activities, which, however, are increasingly losing ground to the top spots."“

The development of the internet is impressive: While in 1998 only three percent of German citizens were regularly online, and even in 2010 the majority of the population did not regularly surf the internet, the situation has since changed dramatically. Almost three quarters of Germans (73 percent) regularly use the internet. In just five years, the number of internet users increased significantly by 25 percentage points.

Among 14- to 24-year-olds, 99 percent are now online. And thus, comprehensive coverage is virtually achieved. But 86 percent of the middle generation (25-49 years) also cannot and do not want to do without the internet. And even more than seven out of ten young seniors (50-64 years) are now regularly online.

Only the large group of retirees is (still) relatively reserved – "only" 35 percent of those over 65 currently surf the internet regularly. But even in this age group, the number of users is rising steadily: Within five years, it has more than doubled (14% to 35%).

• A similar increase, albeit at a lower level, was seen in music listening. Music streaming services and free internet radio stations, which can be received anywhere via smartphone, are now prompting broad segments of the population to listen to music.
• German citizens are using their Leisure time to take care of oneself or the garden – with the former being practiced primarily by women.
• In contrast to previous years, German citizens are taking less time to meet up with friends at home. However, they currently maintain social contact more often via social media channels. Playing with children is also less frequent, which can be explained, among other things, by a lower birth rate and the fact that high school graduation is now only 12 years old. Newspaper reading and DVD watching are also declining – both are increasingly shifting to internet-enabled devices, where users can decide for themselves when and where they consume content.
• Furthermore, the classic shopping spree is also taking place less frequently. Online shopping is increasingly replacing the stroll through downtown shops. And while five years ago almost two-thirds took the time – alone or together – to drink a cup of coffee, today only a slight majority indulges in this luxury.

The leisure activities of German citizens differ in numerous areas. Whether between genders, the population in East or West Germany, young or old – significant differences can be observed everywhere. However, no comparison group shows such clear deviations as within the income groups. This analysis can be summarized in the following ten key findings:

1. Lower-income German citizens are significantly more likely to engage in regenerative leisure activities.
2. Those with higher incomes show a significantly higher use of new media.
3. The higher the income, the more often people can afford leisure activities that cost money.
4. Conversely, the lower the income, the higher the use of free or low-cost leisure activities.
5. Higher earners spend more time with their partner or children than lower earners. However, this finding needs to be considered in a more nuanced way, as the percentage of people in committed relationships and with children is higher within the higher-earning group. In contrast, virtually no differences are discernible in all other family activities, such as visiting parents or grandparents, caring for relatives, or family outings.
6. The situation is different when it comes to meeting up with friends. Higher earners do things outside the home with friends more often than lower earners. Lower earners, on the other hand, meet their friends more frequently at home, for example, to cook together. 
7. Those who earn more are more physically active – whether in the gym or swimming pool, jogging or in club sports.
8. Low-income earners spend more time on individual tasks and change their activity less frequently. 
9. Whether museum or theatre, rock concert or sporting event, cinema or amusement park: both high and popular cultural activities are clearly the domain of the well-to-do.
10. Spontaneity and short-term planning have significantly more space in low-income households.

10 activities, the higher earners significantly more often to work as a low-income earner	10 activities, low-income earners significantly more often as a high earner
Spending time with your partner	Spontaneously do whatever you feel like doing
Eating out/Restaurant visit	Afternoon nap
Internet	Laziness/Doing nothing
Computer	Sleep in
Museum/Art Exhibition	Stroll
to do sports	Handicrafts
Erotica/Sex	Meeting/chatting with neighbors
Watch the sporting event	Pursue thoughts
Opera/Theatre/Ballet	Take time to pamper yourself
voluntary task	Cooking at home with friends

The majority of German citizens hardly ever visit a variety of seemingly popular leisure venues such as theaters, gyms, or clubhouses, and the use of e-books or video games must also be realistically assessed. Furthermore, the results regarding volunteer work are very sobering: Three out of five Germans never volunteer in their free time. 

A year-on-year comparison of the "leisure blacklist" reveals both continuity and change. For example, in 2004, people rarely engaged in handicrafts, camping, or playing video games. However, in 2004, the majority of Germans also wanted nothing to do with the internet or wellness offerings, activities that are currently enjoying increasing popularity. High culture has reason to worry about the future: While in 2004 "only" 45 percent of citizens never went to the theater, the opera or a classical concert, by 2015 this figure had risen to 54 percent.

Reinhardt added: „"The reasons for this development include the 'aging' visitor structure, the costs and the competition from other leisure activities."‚ 

Within the population, there is a particular need for more spontaneity, relaxation, and social interaction. Around two-thirds of Germans would like to be able to spontaneously do exactly what they feel like doing more often and sleep in more often. But more trips, meetings with friends, and personal activities such as "doing something for one's own health" and simply doing nothing are also high on the wish list.

Significant differences exist within the population, particularly between the sexes. Here Women express significantly more leisure-time wishes than men.. Besides stereotypical activities such as reading, wellness, shopping or making phone calls Women are disproportionately likely to desire more social and cultural activities. These range from going to the cinema or theatre, to visiting museums or amusement parks, to activities with family or friends.

Men, on the other hand, appear more satisfied. and only mention an above-average desire for more frequent activity in a few areas – including attending sporting events, do-it-yourself, video games and DVD movies, sports activities and regular meetings, as well as sex and club activities.

Conclusion of the Scientific Director of the BAT Foundation: „"Many Germans don't structure their leisure time according to their personal needs. This is the only way to explain why, among the top 10 activities that people would like to do more often, only one is actually practiced by the majority: spending time with their partner. Most people would prefer to be actively involved rather than passively sitting in front of the television, and would rather meet up with others than just talk to them on the phone or email them. And they would like to do things spontaneously more often, so as not to simply let their free time slip away in the routine of everyday life."“

On our themed website www.freizeitmonitor.de you can now find all the results of the study in detail. You can also analyse the data interactively and individually, including the export of all graphics and charts.

Technical data of the investigation

Number and representation: Germany, approx. 2,000 people aged 14 and over
Survey period: July 2015
Survey institute: Society for Consumer Research (GfK)