American Time Use Survey

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Charts by Topic: Older Americans

Employed individuals age 65 and over spent 2.5 fewer hours on average engaged in leisure time than those who were not employed. Those who were not employed spent most of their additional leisure time watching TV (1.2 hours) and relaxing and thinking (0.5 hour). (Data are from the 2006 survey).

For Americans age 55 and over, average time spent working decreased with age, while leisure and sleep time increased. Individuals ages 55 to 64 spent 3.1 more hours working than individuals age 75 and over. Those age 75 and over spent 2.4 more hours in leisure and 0.8 more hour sleeping than those ages 55 to 64. (These data are four-year averages for 2003 to 2006).

Individuals age 65 and over who did not live with a spouse or unmarried partner spent 10.0 hours of their waking non-work time alone, compared to 5.3 hours for those who lived with a spouse or unmarried partner. Those who did not live with a spouse or unmarried partner spent more time with other family members (0.7 hour), friends (0.3 hour), and other non-relatives (0.5 hour) than those who lived with a spouse or unmarried partner. (These data are four-year averages for 2003 to 2006).