Leisure time is an extremely important part of life for children and youth. It provides them with many opportunities to rehearse different social roles and activities. During childhood and adolescence and later in adulthood, leisure is an important context for the development of a number of individual competences. Children and young people, depending on their interests and preferences, but also the social environment, practice different activities in their free time.

The aim of the research is to explore some socio- demographic characteristics of youth leisure, like gender, type of school (elementary/high) and place of residence. A sample of 1062 students in academic year 2013/2014 in 13 schools in the Republic of Croatia (2 counties ) has been used to explore the differences in youth leisure considering the independent variables of socio-demographic characteristics. Variables leisure are made from these composites: electronic media, internet, sports, cultural activities, socializing and going out and relaxing activities. Frequency of the composite variables indicate the dominance of the internet over other forms of spending free time, although the prevalence of all forms of spending free time is low. Regarding the tested differences, specific gender and age differences on certain composite variables have been confirmed.