Amateur Radio is and probably always will be very big in the States, probably in Aus too.
But here in the UK, specifically Kent, it really is very quiet. 20m & 40m were quite busy just over on the continent, but 2m and 70cm are as dead as DoDo’s. And those you do hear on 2m seem matey and it feels very Cliquey.
It’s not the fault of Ham or the Operators, more of probably my choices of places to live !
Just my opinion of how things feel here in SE England. Not a statement of fact.