Leisure Time Monitor 2021: Germans' favourite leisure activities 

The BAT Foundation for Future Studies presented the "Leisure Time Monitor 2021" at an online press conference on 16 September 2021. For the survey, which has been conducted regularly since 1986, more than 3,000 people aged 18 to 74 were surveyed in August 2021 by the Gesellschaft für Konsumforschung (GfK) on a representative basis about their leisure behaviour as well as on the special topics of "Leisure in times of coronavirus" and "What's fun in leisure time". In addition, one of the 100 leisure activities surveyed was selected for the first time and analysed in detail:

• THE MOST FREQUENT LEISURE ACTIVITIES OF FEDERAL CITIZENS: Internet takes top spot
• LEISURE ACTIVITIES BEFORE AND DURING PANDEMIA: Significantly more activities within the home
• FUN FACTORS IN LEISURE: Social activities are the most fun
• LEISURE ACTIVITY "SPENDING TIME IN NATURE": More often in the future

Almost exactly 30 years ago, in August 1991, the World Wide Web was introduced to the public for the first time. While in the early years it was still a gimmick for a few, it is now the most common leisure activity for German citizens: 97 per cent use the internet regularly (at least once a week).

"The appeal of the internet is unbroken. It promises knowledge, entertainment and distraction, offers (apparent) anonymity, equality and control, is almost omnipresent and fascinates almost all citizens," says Professor Dr Ulrich Reinhardt, Scientific Director of the Foundation for Future Studies.

This is followed by other media-related leisure activities such as watching TV, using the computer, listening to music, using a smartphone, making phone calls, listening to the radio or using social media services.

In addition, many Germans regularly indulge their thoughts, laze around and sleep in. Around two thirds of Germans spend their free time with friends and family, do something with their partner, talk about important things or meet up for coffee.

Activities outside the home are relatively rare. Only going for a walk, spending time in nature and doing something for their health are regularly practised by the majority of the population.

Data as table

The most common leisure activities of German citizens: The internet can defend its top position — Out of every 100 respondents, the following are listed as regular leisure activities (at least once a week):

Using the internet	97
Television	88
Using a PC / Laptop	85
Listen to music	83
Reading / writing emails	82
Use your smartphone (not make phone calls)	75
Listen to the radio	75
to follow his thoughts	69
Talk about important things	68
Making phone calls (from home)	66
Spending time with your partner	64
Use social media services	62
Coffee / Cake	61
Lounging / Doing nothing / Chilling	60
Making calls on the go	56
Sleep in	56
Go for a stroll	55
Spending time in nature	55
Do something for your own health	51

Download chart:PNG

The restrictions and uncertainty caused by the coronavirus pandemic continue to influence Germans' leisure behaviour. Leisure time mainly takes place within their own four walls. Compared to the time before the pandemic (2019), activities such as watching streaming services, engaging in artistic endeavours or playing board games have doubled - video games and online shopping services are even used three times more frequently. However, people also go for walks, work in the garden or play sport much more often.

On the other hand, people are much less likely than two years ago to make phone calls, meet up with family or neighbours, spend time in clubs, at regulars' tables and at sporting events as well as attending further education courses. The biggest decline of all activities can be seen in the leisure activity "taking care of oneself in peace and quiet".

"Working from home and the closed-door scheme are reducing stress levels and physical exertion in leisure time, as well as the need to leave the house with a fresh shave and haircut. Accordingly, people are less likely to take care of themselves in peace and quiet or relax in the bathtub - because it's simply not necessary," says Prof Ulrich Reinhardt.

Data as table

The winners in the 2-year comparison — Out of every 100 respondents, the following are named as leisure activities:

	2019	2021	Change from 2019 to 2021 in percentage points
Weekly activities
Stream series or movies	23	45	+22
PC / Laptop	64	85	+21
playing video games	9	27	+18
Pursuing a personal hobby	31	49	+18
Go for a stroll	38	55	+17
online shopping	8	23	+15
Use your smartphone (not make phone calls)	61	75	+14
Lounging / Doing nothing / Chilling	47	60	+13
Meeting with family	16	29	+13
to do sports	36	44	+8

Download chart:PNG

Data as table

The losers in the 2-year comparison — Out of every 100 respondents, the following are listed as leisure activities:

	2019	2021	Change from 2019 to 2021 in percentage points
Weekly activities
Take time to pamper yourself	59	34	-25
Mobile phone calls	78	56	-22
read newspaper	66	44	-22
Making phone calls from home	87	66	-21
Listen to the radio	89	75	-14
Driving around the area	37	25	-12
Further education	21	12	-9
Meeting with the grandchildren / grandparents	18	11	-7
Meeting with neighbors	41	34	-7
Pub/bar visit	11	6	-5

Download chart:PNG

Leisure and fun are often equated in the general understanding. However, there is often a large gap between the actual leisure activity and its fun factor. Spending time with a partner or friends, spending time in nature, spontaneous activities, eating out and sleeping in or pursuing a hobby - the vast majority of Germans enjoy all of these things.

However, these activities are practised relatively rarely. Not even one in two people regularly dedicate themselves to their personal hobby or spontaneously practise something. Only around one in six meet up with friends regularly and only one in three make time for intimacy at least once a week.

Conversely, only around one in two people actually enjoy the internet, the TV programme and PC or mobile phone use. When it comes to the most common leisure activities, only listening to music scores well and is equated with fun by almost two thirds.

There are also major differences between the sexes. Men have significantly less fun making phone calls, reading books, going shopping or doing handicrafts. Women have less fun visiting amusement arcades, gyms, pubs, churches or sporting events.

A long-term comparison between 1986 and 2021 shows a decline in citizens' satisfaction with their leisure time. Whereas 35 years ago, two thirds of all leisure activities were still associated with fun by a majority of people, this figure has now fallen to just over a third of all activities.

The fun factor has increased for only six leisure activities, most strongly for spending time with animals (+25 PP), reading books (+28 PP) and going to concerts (+35 PP). Within a generation, many people have lost their enjoyment of going to the theatre (-44 PP), dancing (-42PP) and doing sport (-40PP).

Prof Ulrich Reinhardt: "A large number of leisure activities are pursued out of habit, a sense of duty or boredom, which leads to a loss of enjoyment, experience, satisfaction and a sense of well-being. Many people also don't make enough (free) time for activities with a high fun factor."

Data as table

There are often big differences between usage and enjoyment. The internet can defend its top position — Of every 100 respondents, those who regularly engage in the activity say that the activity is a lot of fun:

	regularly pursue the activity	Activity is fun
Spending time with your partner	64	75
sex	35	71
Spending time in nature	55	70
Do something spontaneously	43	69
Sleep in	56	68
weekend trip	2	68
Make a day trip	6	68
Working with animals	37	67
pursuing a personal hobby	49	66
Going out to eat / Visiting a restaurant	10	66
Meeting up with friends at home	17	64
Listen to music	83	64
Doing something outside the home with friends	15	64
Playing with children / doing something with children	26	64
Outing with grandchildren/grandparents	11	62
Lounging / Doing nothing / Chilling	60	61
Attend rock/pop concerts	1	60

Download chart:PNG

More and more people in Germany are seeking a balance to sitting at home and spending time in nature. Whether on walks, jogging, cycling or hiking, whether during the week, at the weekend or on holiday, whether in the forest, by the water or in their own garden: the desire for more contact with nature in their leisure time is of central importance to many German citizens.

More than one in two people say they spend time in nature regularly - at least once a week. Within the population, it is mainly women, rural dwellers, couples and the formally educated who make time for this activity.

In the ranking, the fun factor of "spending time in nature" is even in third place. And when asked which activity they would like to do more often in the future, this activity also came out on top.

The reasons for the longing for nature are complex and range from the desire to slow down, the search for beauty or adventure to an even greater awareness of nature through public discussions.

"The more technical developments characterise everyday life, the greater the desire for a natural contrast. This balancing act between technology on the one hand and nature on the other will continue to have a major influence on our leisure behaviour in the future," Prof. Ulrich Reinhardt is certain.

Data as table

Spending time in nature: More than half of all people spend time in nature at least once a week — Out of every 100 respondents, this is how often they spend time in nature:

Daily	17
Several times a week	25
At least once a week	12
Several times a month	21
At least once a month	6
Several times a year	10
Rare	9

Download chart:PNG

Data as table

Spending time in nature — Out of every 100 respondents, at least one person spends time in nature per week:

All respondents	54
Women	59
Men	50
Under 34 years	55
35-54 years	52
Over 55 years	57
country	65
metropolis	43
Married	59
Single	49
Higher education	59
Less educated	49

Download chart:PNG

Data as table

Three out of four citizens are willing to accept restrictions — Out of every 100 respondents, the following statement is agreed with:

	I am prepared to accept restrictions in my consumption and lifestyle habits if this ensures the long-term preservation of nature and the environment.	I want to retain my freedom and independence and enjoy life, even if this has a lasting negative impact on the environment.
2018	71	29
2021	73	27
Young adults (18-24 years)	77	23
Singles (25-49 years)	68	32
Couples (25-49 years)	70	30
Families (25-49 years)	74	26
Young seniors (50-64 years)	65	35
Retirees (+65 years)	83	17

Download chart:PNG

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.

Number and representation: Over 3,000 people aged 18 to 74 in Germany
Period of the survey: August 2021
Method: CAWI
Survey institute: Gesellschaft für Konsumforschung (GfK), Nuremberg