The graph illustrates the percentages of elderly US citizens who spent their leisure time on various activities from 1980 to 2010. Overall, it is clear that activities such as hiking and watching TV were popular among older individuals, while the reverse was true for going to theatres.
In the 1980s, watching TV was the most common activity among the elderly, constituting 60% of their leisure time. This figure rose steadily to 70% in the 2000s before experiencing a slight dip to around 65% by 2010. Hiking, conversely, saw a dramatic increase, rising from 20% in 1980 to 80% by 2010, making it the most favored leisure activity.
As for reading and surfing the internet, both showed upward trends, albeit varying degrees. Reading was the third most common activity in 1980, at 30%. It then decreased significantly to 20% by 2000 before rising to 60% in 2010. Starting at 5%, the figure for surfing the internet saw a relatively stable growth to 15% in 2000 and then climbed to 50% by the end of the period. In contrast, the only activity that decreased over the given timeframe was going to the theatre, which accounted for 50% in 1980 before declining slightly to 45% by 2010, making it the least popular choice among American elderly citizens.