The line graph illustrates the proportion of elderly people in the United States engaging in five different leisure activities from 1980 to the present.

Overall, watching TV consistently remained the most popular pastime among the elderly, while hiking experienced a dramatic increase to become the leading activity in recent years. In contrast, theatre attendance fluctuated, and internet usage, though starting from a negligible base, rose sharply.

In 1980, around 60% of older Americans watched TV in their free time, followed by 50% attending theatre. Hiking and reading were considerably less popular, with only 20% and 30% participation respectively, while internet use was minimal at 5%. Over the next three decades, watching TV grew steadily to peak at 70% in the 2000s before slightly declining.

Hiking, however, underwent the most remarkable change, climbing from just 20% in 1980 to 80% in the 2010s, surpassing all other activities. Reading showed fluctuations, dipping in the 2000s but recovering strongly to 60% by the 2010s. Similarly, internet usage surged to 50% in the final decade, whereas theatre attendance dropped initially before stabilising at around 45%.