While the popular image of the average Australian is of someone surfing, camping in the bush, or maybe even riding a horse in the outback, the reality is somewhat different. An analysis by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) of how people spent their leisure time in 2024 reveals a nation of couch potatoes—watching TV or streaming content was the most-reported free time activity, with 62 percent of people switching on for an average of 2 hours and 55 minutes a day.
In what will be no surprise to most people, the data also shows people are feeling under increasing time pressure, with more than a third of women (36 percent) and 30 percent of men reporting they “always or often” feel rushed.
