U.S. video gaming audiences 2021, by age group

Video gaming is no longer a hobby exclusively enjoyed by the young. As generations have grown up with video games a normal part of life, the age of the average gamer also increases. During a 2021 survey, 38 percent of video game players still come from the 18 to 34 age demographic, and seven percent are 65 years and older.

Time spent gaming

In 2018, Americans aged between 15 to 19 years spent 49 minutes on gaming or leisurely computer use during an average weekday, and more than 90 minutes doing so during weekends or holidays. The age demographic which devoted the least amount of time to gaming was the 45 to 54 years category. Members of this age demographic spent an average of just 10 minutes playing on the computer during the week and only 22 minutes during weekends and holidays. In a further survey, some 11.6 percent of respondents in the U.S. admitted to playing video games for more than 20 hours a week, while another 11.4 percent claimed to spend between 12 and 20 hours a week gaming.

Gender split

Gaming has traditionally been seen as a more male hobby, and this is reflected in the fact that, on average, men spent more time both during the week and on weekends playing games on the computer. However, the rise of female gamers has been rapid in recent years, with a 2019 figure estimating that 46 percent of all computer and video gamers in the United States are female. This is a significant increase from the 38 percent female gaming population in 2006. Playing games at a professional level can also be a lucrative career for those at the very top of their game. The leading eSports players worldwide have earnings going well into the millions.