Methods, apparatus, and processor-readable storage media for predicting statistics gathering times for database activity data using machine learning techniques are provided herein. An example computer-implemented method includes obtaining activity data pertaining to at least one storage object of a given database; determining one or more times to gather statistics related to activity data pertaining to the at least one storage object of the given database by processing at least a portion of the obtained activity data using one or more machine learning techniques; and performing at least one automated action related to statistics gathering based at least in part on the one or more determined times.