The line chart illustrates the proportion of older Americans engaging in four different leisure activities between 1990 and 2020.
Overall, participation in all listed activities increased over the thirty-year period. The most striking trend was the dramatic rise in internet use, which started as the least popular activity but saw the largest growth.
Watching TV remained the most popular activity throughout the period, rising steadily from 45% in 1990 to 55% in 2020. Similarly, reading also saw a consistent increase, beginning at 30% and reaching 37% by the end of the period. Gardening followed a comparable pattern, growing from 20% to 30% over the same decades.
In contrast, internet use experienced a far more significant surge. Starting at a mere 2% in 1990, it climbed to 8% in 2000 and then jumped considerably to 18% in 2010. By 2020, participation in internet use reached 35%, making it the second most common leisure activity among older Americans.