In 2018, in metropolitan France, 23.4 million people aged 15 and over took part in arts, craft or science as amateurs.

Photography is not only the most popular amateur activity – 19% of people aged 15 and over took part in amateur photography in the last 12 months – it is also one of the most longlasting activities, that one would keep on doing across the years: only 21% of people aged 15 and over who ever started amateur photography had stopped that activity in 2018. On the other end of the scale, performing in a play or performing circus arts was scarcer: both of those amateur activities each only attracted 1% of people aged 15 and over.

People who take part in amateur activities are younger than the average. Men are almost as likely to take part in amateur activities as women yet they choose activities of different nature.

In 2018 the percentage of amateurs among people aged 15 and over was lower than that of 2008. But the use of digital tools in order to train, to compose or create and to share or post one’s creations have helped enhancing the way amateurs live their experience of arts, craft or science leisure.