Germans devote more than two hours daily to television viewing.
Get the lowdown on how Germans spend their leisure time and why streaming and TV take up a significant chunk of it.
Quick Facts:- Germany's Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) is the go-to source for employment and time-use data, including leisure activities.- Leisure activities, excluding unpaid work and sleep, consume an average of 5.5 hours daily in Germany.- A whopping one-third of leisure time, approximately two hours and seven minutes, goes to TV and streaming.
Dive Deeper:
TV and streaming have become the heart of Germans' leisure time, taking up a massive 33% of their daily downtime, reports the Federal Statistical Office. The latest time-use survey conducted in 2022 revealed this trend, even amidst the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The survey covered individuals aged ten and above.
A total of one and a quarter hours daily are spent on socializing, including social media and cafe visits. Cultural activities like music, reading, and movies add up to around 53 minutes daily. Sports and smartphone/computer use exclude communication and total 30 minutes each.
Volunteer work, gardening, DIY tasks, and pet care are not classified as leisure activities in the survey and fall under unpaid work. Sleep is also not considered leisure time.
During weekends and holidays, Germans tend to allocate more leisure time, amounting to 7 hours and 45 minutes, while weekdays see less, with an average of 5 hours and 26 minutes. The figures are averages, taking into account age groups, genders, and employed or unemployed individuals.
The Rise of Streaming and TV:
Although the Federal Statistical Office primarily focuses on general leisure time patterns, recent trends show a significant shift towards internet-based leisure activities like streaming. The Foundation for Future Studies claims that in recent years, the internet has overtaken television as the most frequently used leisure medium in Germany. This shift, however, is not explicitly detailed in Destatis' official statistical releases.
Work-Life Balance:
Employment often takes precedence over leisure time in Germany, according to Destatis, making it hard for many to strike a balance between work and relaxation.
Looking Ahead:
For the latest and most precise figures on TV versus streaming time use in Germany, consulting the most recent Destatis "Zeitverwendungserhebung" (Time Use Survey) would provide the best insights. However, this data is not currently available.
Community policy could be enhanced to promote vocational training as an alternative leisure activity, potentially reducing the amount of time Germans spend on streaming and TV. Home-and-garden activities, such as gardening or DIY projects, are not classified as leisure activities in the current time-use survey, but could be incorporated into vocational training programs, enriching individuals' lifestyle and skillset.
