Gitnux/Report 2026

Fitness Industry Statistics

The U.S. facility membership reached 81 million people in 2025, explore the figures behind growth, companies and trends.
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November 11, 2026Updated
Fitness Industry Statistics
Daniel VargaWritten by Daniel Varga·Edited by Rebecca Hargrove·Fact-checked by Jonathan Hale
Published ·Updated
How this report is researched
01Editorial Scope

Gitnux editors write the brief first: the topic, the inclusion rules, and the frame for what belongs.

02Source Research

Agents search the published record and log every extracted figure back to the passage it came from.

Read our full methodology →

Search agents attach provenance to every extracted figure.

Next review: within 31 days

01 Industry overview

The fitness industry at a glance

The fitness industry is expanding through higher participation, digital services and consolidation: U.S. facility membership reached 81 million people in 2025, a record high.

81M[9]
U.S. members in 2025
$22.4B[9]
U.S. economic impact, 2024
10.7%[9]
Median operator revenue growth, 2025
102
Global fitness M&A deals in 2025
Market size
The U.S. fitness industry generated an estimated $22.4 billion in economic impact in 2024, across more than 55,300 locations. In Europe, the sector reached €39.1 billion in revenue across 67,515 clubs in 2025.[9]
Forecast & CAGR
HFA’s 2026 global operator survey found median revenue growth of 10.7% in 2025 among participating operators. Responding operators generally expected revenue, membership and profitability to increase again in 2026, although no single audited global industry CAGR was reported.[9]
Market share & regions
Europe recorded 75.5 million members and €39.1 billion in revenue in 2025. The United States recorded 81 million members and a 26.1% membership penetration rate among people aged six and older, making North America and Europe the best-documented large regional markets.[9]
Segmentation
The industry spans low-price/high-volume gyms, premium health clubs, boutique studios, franchises, digital fitness and fitness technology. Global fitness technology was estimated at $85.9 billion in 2024, while yoga participation was estimated at 3.8% of the world’s population and Pilates participation at 0.4%.[64][9]
Key players & concentration
Large chains are gaining scale but the market remains fragmented across formats and countries. In 2025, Life Time led global operators by revenue with $2.995 billion, Planet Fitness had 20.8 million members, and Purpose Brands led by footprint with 7,270 locations.[9]
Pricing
A 2025 HFA-commissioned consumer survey found that more than 82 million Americans planned to spend a combined $60 billion on health and fitness goals in 2026, equivalent to an average of $61 per person per month. This figure covers health and fitness spending broadly, not gym memberships alone.[9]
Trends, drivers & challenges
Growth is being driven by preventive health, longevity, resistance training, budget gyms and digital services. Operators also face higher buildout, labor, energy and business-tax costs; HFA reported that participating operators expected activity to grow faster than headcount in 2026, indicating continued productivity and labor-pressure concerns.[9]
Consumer behavior & competition
U.S. facility membership reached 81 million in 2025, up 5.2% from 2024, while more than 100 million people used a fitness facility when non-members were included. In Europe, growth is increasingly coming from non-members, older adults, budget operators and strength, mind-body and racquet-sport formats.[9]
M&A
Fitness M&A accelerated in 2025, with 102 completed deals worth a combined $3.2 billion according to Houlihan Lokey’s review of S&P Capital IQ data. Major transactions included Benefit Systems’ $431.6 million acquisition of Türkiye’s MAC Group and Basic-Fit’s €160 million acquisition of clever fit.[9]
Regulation
Competition authorities are scrutinizing fitness aggregators and membership practices. Spain’s CNMC approved Wellhub’s acquisition of Urban Sports Club in September 2025 subject to four-year restrictions on exclusivity clauses, while the U.S. Federal Trade Commission sued operators of LA Fitness in August 2025 over alleged cancellation barriers.[65][66]
Latest news
In April 2026, VivaGym signed an agreement to acquire Synergym International, which operated more than 160 gyms in Spain; the transaction was presented as a major step in consolidating the Iberian low-price fitness market. HFA also reported that Basic-Fit’s November 2025 acquisition of clever fit added 493 clubs and approximately one million members.[67][9]

02 Ranking

Top 10 Companies in the Fitness Industry

The leading companies in the fitness industry, ranked on market impact, performance, momentum, innovation and brand popularity.

Updated November 11, 2026 · Next review December 11, 2026

Verdict

Life Time stands out for premium health, fitness and wellness club operations because it generated $2.995 billion of 2025 revenue, while Purpose Brands focuses on fitness franchising since it reported more than 7,000 locations and over 6 million members.

Ranked by Overall score · How we score ↓

Editor's top 3 picks

Where to start, by need.

  1. #1 Overall · Leader in fitness club operation

    Life Time

    US

    Ranked #1 · 9.2 · Fitness club operation

    Why we picked it: It runs premium health, fitness and wellness clubs at US scale, with $2.995 billion revenue in 2025.

    See in ranking ↓Visit lifetime.life ↗

  2. Leader in fitness franchising

    Purpose Brands

    US

    Ranked #2 · 9.2 · Fitness franchising

    Why we picked it: It operates fitness franchises through Anytime Fitness and Orangetheory, reaching over 7,000 locations.

    See in ranking ↓Visit purposebrands.com ↗

  3. Leader in fitness equipment manufacturing

    Johnson Health Tech

    TW

    Ranked #5 · 9.0 · Fitness equipment manufacturing

    Why we picked it: It manufactures fitness equipment for clubs, homes and other training environments, with 12% 2025 revenue growth.

    See in ranking ↓Visit johnsonhealthtech.com ↗

Pick 1 is the #1 company overall. Picks 2 and 3 are the highest-ranked companies in the top 5 that add a new segment.

Full ranking

Sort by
Top 10 companies in the fitness industry, 2026 – Gitnux ranking
#CompanyOverall ↓Company snapshot
1

Life Time

Fitness club operation · US

9.2
2

Purpose Brands

Fitness franchising · US

9.2
3

David Lloyd Leisure

Fitness club operation · GB

9.1
4

PureGym

Fitness club operation · GB

9.1
5

Johnson Health Tech

Fitness equipment manufacturing · TW

9.0
6

Basic-Fit

Low-cost fitness clubs across Europe · NL

8.9
7

EōS Fitness

High-value, low-price gyms in the United States · US

8.6
8

RSG Group

Multi-brand fitness clubs and franchises worldwide · DE

8.4
9

Crunch Fitness

Value and franchised fitness clubs worldwide · US

8.3
10

Xponential Fitness

Boutique fitness franchising worldwide · US

8.3

How we score

  • Impact (30%): scale and weight in the market (revenue, market share, employees, market position).
  • Performance (20%): recent revenue growth and operating margin; an analyst assessment where a company does not publish them.
  • Momentum (20%): growth trajectory and future potential.
  • Innovation (15%): R&D intensity and how technologically advanced the company is.

Popularity (brand search demand, 15%) counts toward Overall but is not published as a column. Overall leaves out what is not known.

Scale Scores are shown on a 7–10 scale with one decimal; bars start at 7.0.

Cadence Recalculated when new figures are published; next review December 11, 2026.

Independence. Rankings are editorially independent. Scores, ranks, picks and the verdict follow the method above; no company can pay to change them.

Cite this ranking

APA

Daniel Varga. (2026, February 13). Top 10 companies in the fitness industry. In Fitness Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/fitness-industry-statistics/#top-companies

04 Statistics

Technology & Innovation

AI adoption and digital operations sit inside day-to-day workflows: 92% of surveyed UK gym operators used gym-management software in 2025.

AI in the fitness industry

  • 17% of surveyed fitness professionals reported clear improvements in client outcomes from AI in 2025.[1]
  • 26% of surveyed fitness professionals use AI for client progress tracking in 2025.[1]
  • 41% of surveyed fitness professionals use AI for marketing and social-media content in 2025.[1]
  • 80% of surveyed fitness professionals use AI in their own practice, according to an October 2025 survey of 90 respondents.[1]
  • 29% of surveyed fitness professionals use AI for continuing education in 2025.[1]
  • 4% of fitness and wellness businesses reported eliminating at least one position because of AI in 2025.[2]

Automation in the fitness industry

  • 92% of surveyed UK gym operators used gym-management software in 2025.[3]
  • 40% of U.S. boutique fitness studios used connected smart equipment with tracking capabilities in 2024.[4]
  • 39% of U.S. boutique fitness studios offered live-streamed fitness classes or events in 2024.[4]
  • 44% of U.S. boutique fitness studios had automated check-in and attendance tracking in 2024.[4]
  • 38% of U.S. boutique fitness studios operated a dedicated mobile app in 2024.[4]
  • 7% of surveyed health-club and leisure operators used machine learning in automation in 2023.[5]

Digital Transformation in the sports, fitness and recreation sector (sector benchmark)

  • 89% of UK fitness and leisure operators said digital helped increase customer retention in 2023.[6]
  • 88% of UK fitness and leisure operators reported at least some operational savings through digital use in 2023.[6]
  • 93% of UK fitness and leisure operators said digital helped increase participation in 2023.[6]
  • 53% of UK fitness and leisure operators said digital accounted for at least half of their revenue in 2023.[6]
  • 55% of fitness and leisure operators in the UK reported a digital maturity score in 2023, compared with 52% across the wider sport and physical-activity sector.[6]
  • 77% of UK fitness and leisure operators said their digital experiences played an important role for customers in 2023.[6]

Technology Adoption in the sports, fitness and recreation sector (sector benchmark)

  • 58% of integrative-health operators were actively investing in or evaluating technology in 2025.[2]
  • 5% of fitness and wellness businesses reported cutting technology spending in 2025.[2]
  • 92% of UK gym operators used gym-management software in 2025.[3]
  • 70% of UK gym operators offered online joining in 2025.[3]
  • 83% of UK gym operators had a member app in 2025.[3]
  • 54% of fitness and wellness operators were investing in or evaluating new technology in 2025, comprising 18% actively investing and 36% reviewing their technology stack.[2]

Cloud Computing in the sports, fitness and recreation sector (sector benchmark)

  • Among U.S. arts, entertainment and recreation companies using cloud-based computing, 47.0% cited improving process or method quality and reliability as a motivation in 2018.[7]
  • Across UK sport, fitness and leisure organisations, 68% used cloud-based leisure-management systems in 2024.[8]
  • Across UK sport, fitness and leisure organisations, 100% were considering updates or changes to their cloud-based leisure-management systems within the next 12 months in 2024.[8]
  • Among U.S. arts, entertainment and recreation companies using cloud-based computing, 36.0% cited upgrading outdated processes or methods as a motivation in 2018.[7]
  • Among U.S. arts, entertainment and recreation companies using cloud-based computing, 12.8% cited automating tasks performed by labor as a motivation in 2018.[7]
  • Among U.S. arts, entertainment and recreation companies using cloud-based computing, 27.1% cited another reason for adoption in 2018.[7]

05 Statistics

Data & Analytics

Operator decision-making increasingly relies on structured inputs, with 244 operators representing nearly 27,000 fitness facilities contributing data to HFA’s 2026 global operator survey.

Business intelligence in the fitness industry

  • 244 operators representing nearly 27,000 fitness facilities contributed data to HFA’s 2026 global operator survey.[9]
  • 12.2% was the median revenue growth reported by multi-site fitness operators in 2025, versus 8.6% for single-site businesses.[9]
  • 76.2% of revenue came from recurring membership revenue on average among global fitness operators in 2025.[9]
  • 12.0% was the median pre-tax earnings margin reported by global fitness operators for 2025.[9]
  • 31.0% was the median EBITDA margin for HFA’s high-profit fitness-operator cohort in 2025.[9]
  • 10.7% was the median revenue increase reported by global fitness operators in 2025 compared with 2024.[9]

Data analytics in the fitness industry

  • 7.2 million new gym joins were recorded by ABC Fitness across its tracked network in 2025.[10]
  • 26% of automated-clearing-house returns came from neobanks in ABC Fitness’s 2025 data, despite neobanks representing a smaller share of transactions.[10]
  • 11% was the increase in gym check-ins from 2021 to 2025 in ABC Fitness’s tracked network.[10]
  • 6% was the year-over-year decline in studio cancellations in 2025.[10]
  • 40 million members and more than 30,000 gyms and studios supplied ABC Fitness’s proprietary 2025 member-behavior dataset.[10]
  • 47% of gym new joins were Gen Z members in 2025.[10]

Data Quality in the sports, fitness and recreation sector (sector benchmark)

  • 7% of Australian sports organisations ranked distrust in their data among their top three data challenges in 2021.[11]
  • 65% of Australian sports organisations said improving the quality of ticketing data was an objective in 2021.[11]
  • 27% of FIFA-sample football organisations disagreed or strongly disagreed that international sports-data metrics were clear and consistent in the study published in 2024.[12]
  • 39% of Australian sports organisations identified ticketing-data quality as a challenge in 2021.[11]
  • 27% of Australian sports organisations identified data quality and completeness as their biggest membership-data challenge in 2021.[11]

Data Governance in the sports, fitness and recreation sector (sector benchmark)

  • 31% of football national-federation respondents reported standardized data management with integrated sources and defined procedures in the study published in 2024.[12]
  • 56% of Irish sports clubs lacked a data-retention schedule in 2024, based on a survey of more than 100 clubs across four sports.[13]
  • 53% of professional-club respondents reported standardized data management with integrated sources and defined procedures in the study published in 2024.[12]
  • 41% of FIFA-sample football organisations said their data-analysis strategy was consistent across all business units in the study published in 2024.[12]
  • 41% of Irish sports clubs reported having no data-protection policies in 2024, based on a survey of more than 100 clubs.[13]
  • 9% of Irish sports clubs said they had conducted a data-protection impact assessment in 2024, based on a survey of more than 100 clubs.[13]

KPIs in the fitness industry

  • 5.5% was the median net membership growth reported by participating fitness operators for 2024.[14]
  • 1.4% was the year-over-year increase in monthly visits per fitness-facility user in the first half of 2025.[14]
  • 66.4% was the median member-retention rate reported by participating fitness operators for 2024.[14]
  • 8% was the year-over-year increase in gym cancellations reported in ABC Fitness’s mid-year 2026 data.[10]
  • 4.2% was the year-over-year increase in average visits across 11,000 selected fitness locations in 2025.[15]
  • 3.5% was the year-over-year increase in visits to US commercial gyms, studios and other fitness facilities in the first half of 2025.[14]

06 Statistics

Strategy & Growth

Growth remains multi-channel: ABC Fitness recorded 7.2 million new gym joins across its tracked network in 2025.

Growth in the fitness industry

  • 66.7% was EōS Fitness’s member growth in 2025.[9]
  • 139.7% was Benefit Systems Group’s global member growth in 2025.[9]
  • 36.5% was Basic-Fit’s member growth in 2025.[9]
  • 12.5% was the upper end of median revenue growth across the three operator revenue bands surveyed for 2025.[9]
  • 10.7% was the median revenue increase reported by 244 fitness operators in 2025.[9]
  • 68.0% was Benefit Systems Group’s global unit growth in 2025.[9]

Differentiation in the fitness industry

  • 3,097 units made Xponential Fitness the second-largest global operator by locations in 2025.[9]
  • 6.2 million members made Purpose Brands the third-largest global operator by membership in 2025.[9]
  • 7,270-plus locations made Purpose Brands the largest fitness footprint in the 2025 global rankings.[9]
  • 17 million members made HILEFIT the second-largest fitness operator globally by membership in 2025.[9]
  • 1,414 Club Pilates units made it Xponential Fitness’s largest boutique brand in 2025.[9]
  • 5 boutique brands placed Xponential Fitness in the global top 25 in 2025.[9]

Mergers and acquisitions in the fitness industry

  • 7.5 billion dollars was the combined valuation reported for the Playlist–EGYM merger in 2026.[9]
  • 1.8 billion dollars was the value of the Equinox Holdings transaction recorded in March 2024.[16]
  • 431.6 million dollars was the value of Benefit Systems’ acquisition of Türkiye’s MAC Group in May 2025.[9]
  • 160 million euros was the reported price for Basic-Fit’s 2025 acquisition of clever fit, excluding a potential 15 million euro earn-out.[9]
  • 1.5 billion dollars was the reported purchase price, including debt, for TSG Consumer Partners’ acquisition of EōS Fitness in 2025.[9]
  • 102 completed fitness deals worth 3.2 billion dollars were recorded globally in 2025.[9]

Strategic partnerships in the fitness industry

  • 70 new Club Pilates studios were committed under a June 2026 development agreement covering Maryland, Michigan and New York.[9]
  • 127 Club Pilates studios were committed by Riser Fitness over five years under a 2026 development agreement.[9]
  • 3,982 locations made Purpose Brands the largest North American fitness network at the end of 2025.[9]
  • Approximately 100 workouts were supplied through the 2026 Fitness On Demand–JETSWEAT collaboration.[9]
  • 1,378 Orangetheory locations operated globally in 2025 after the brand’s combination with Self Esteem Brands into Purpose Brands.[9]
  • 813,000 studio members were supported by Xponential Fitness’s franchise ecosystem at December 31, 2024.[17]

07 Statistics

People & Workforce

Workforce planning reflects durable capacity needs, with 74,200 U.S. job openings for fitness trainers and instructors projected annually through 2034.

Hiring in the fitness industry

  • 74,200 U.S. job openings for fitness trainers and instructors were projected annually through 2034.[1]
  • 23,000 fitness facilities globally were connected to the ISSA hiring network in 2026.[1]
  • 1,226 people attended the inaugural ISSA Global Summit in 2026.[1]
  • 12% growth was projected for U.S. fitness-trainer and instructor employment from 2024 to 2034.[18]
  • 41% of fitness-industry hires came from job boards in 2023.[19]

Employee retention in the fitness industry

  • 3% of surveyed fitness businesses identified employee turnover as a major concern in 2024.[20]
  • 41% of gymnastics facilities reported an average staff-retention period of two years in 2024.[21]
  • 66.4% was the median member-retention rate reported by fitness facilities for 2024.[14]

Remote Work in the sports, fitness and recreation sector (sector benchmark)

  • In U.S. arts, entertainment and recreation, 22.1% of employees worked fully remotely in November 2024.[22]
  • Across European sport organisations, 24.4% had neither used nor heard of remote working in 2025.[23]
  • Across European sport organisations, 29.2% had heard of remote working but had not used it in 2025.[23]
  • Across European sport organisations, 46.4% reported using remote working in 2025.[23]

Hybrid Work in the sports, fitness and recreation sector (sector benchmark)

  • Across sports industry professionals, 46% were still working from the office five days a week in 2025.[24]
  • Among U.S. employees with remote-capable jobs, 54% worked hybrid in August 2026.[25]
  • Across sports industry professionals, 70% preferred hybrid working in 2025.[24]
  • In U.S. arts, entertainment and recreation, 30.0% of employees worked in hybrid arrangements in November 2024.[22]

Upskilling in the fitness industry

  • 58% of surveyed fitness and wellness operators were actively investing in or evaluating technology in 2025, indicating workforce demand for technology-related capability development.[2]
  • 79% of fitness professionals using AI weekly or daily expected AI to increase the value of personal-training certification over the next five years.[1]
  • 29% of surveyed fitness professionals used AI for continuing education in 2025.[1]

Employee Engagement in the sports, fitness and recreation sector (sector benchmark)

  • Among U.S. employees with remote-capable jobs, 25% of hybrid workers were engaged in 2025.[25]
  • Among professional sports teams, 73% of employees were engaged between July 2025 and June 2026.[26]
  • Globally, 64% of employees were not engaged in 2025.[25]
  • Globally, 20% of employees were engaged in 2025.[25]
  • Globally, 16% of employees were actively disengaged in 2025.[25]

Change Management in the sports, fitness and recreation sector (sector benchmark)

  • Across recreation organisations, 40% reported no AI use in late 2025.[27]
  • Across UK sport, fitness and leisure organisations, the average digital maturity score was 51% in 2024.[28]
  • Across UK sport, fitness and leisure organisations, four operators reached Digital Leader status in 2024.[28]
  • Across recreation organisations, 68% believed AI adoption would be necessary within two to three years in late 2025.[27]
  • Across UK fitness and leisure organisations, 68% used cloud-based leisure-management systems in 2024.[28]

08 Statistics

Customer & Sales

Membership value is measured through retention and visitation patterns, with U.S. facility membership reaching 81 million people in 2025.

Customer experience in the fitness industry

  • 50.0% of surveyed Equinox members were very satisfied with their membership in the United States in 2024.[29]
  • 46.0% of surveyed Planet Fitness members were very satisfied with their membership in the United States in 2024.[29]
  • 48.8% of surveyed Anytime Fitness members were very satisfied with their membership in the United States in 2024.[29]
  • 75% of surveyed health and wellness consumers reported relatively high satisfaction with their current gym membership and strong value for money in 2023.[30]
  • 57.1% of surveyed Crunch members were very satisfied with their membership in the United States in 2024.[29]

Customer retention in the fitness industry

  • 6% was the year-over-year decline in studio cancellations reported by ABC Fitness for 2025.[10]
  • 70% was Life Time’s member retention rate in the United States in 2024.[31]
  • 10.2% was the United States fitness-industry churn rate in 2024.[9]
  • Five years was the average membership tenure in the United States fitness industry in 2025.[9]
  • 66.4% was the average member retention rate among 175 fitness companies operating more than 17,000 facilities across 27 countries in 2024.[14]

Customer acquisition in the fitness industry

  • 8% of fitness and wellness businesses identified paid-media advertising as one of their most effective client-acquisition channels in 2025.[2]
  • 42% of fitness and wellness businesses identified Facebook as one of their most effective client-acquisition channels in 2025.[2]
  • 63% of fitness and wellness businesses identified Instagram as their most effective client-acquisition channel in 2025.[2]
  • 47% of all new gym joins came from Gen Z members in 2025.[10]
  • 42% of fitness and wellness businesses identified Google or SEO as one of their most effective client-acquisition channels in 2025.[2]

Customer loyalty in the fitness industry

  • One in three fitness members interacted with fitness communities daily in 2025.[10]
  • 109 days was the average annual number of fitness-facility visits per United States member in 2019.[9]
  • 61% of fitness members used AI-driven fitness-tracking tools in 2025.[10]
  • 49% of fitness members used nutrition apps in 2025.[10]
  • 4.6% of United States fitness members held a membership but never visited a facility during 2025.[9]

Lead generation in the fitness industry

  • 71% of United Kingdom fitness and leisure operators sent regular marketing emails or messages in 2023.[6]
  • 37% of United Kingdom fitness and leisure operators said they were not as active or effective on social media in 2023.[6]
  • 42% of fitness and wellness businesses ranked Google or SEO among their strongest acquisition channels in 2025.[2]
  • 8% of fitness and wellness businesses ranked paid-media advertising among their strongest acquisition channels in 2025.[2]
  • 42% of fitness and wellness businesses ranked Facebook among their strongest acquisition channels in 2025.[2]

09 Statistics

Marketing & Brand

Digital and social channels drive acquisition, with 63% of fitness and wellness businesses citing Instagram as their most effective digital acquisition platform in 2025.

Marketing in the fitness industry

  • $88.6 million was spent by Planet Fitness national advertising funds in 2024.[32]
  • $4.8 billion was Planet Fitness systemwide sales in 2024.[17]
  • 9.9% was median revenue growth among surveyed fitness companies between 2023 and 2024.[14]
  • 5.0% was Planet Fitness systemwide same-club sales growth in 2024.[17]
  • $1.2 billion was Planet Fitness revenue in 2024.[17]

Digital marketing in the fitness industry

  • 63% of fitness and wellness businesses cited Instagram as their most effective digital acquisition platform in 2025.[2]
  • 42% of fitness and wellness businesses cited Google or SEO as a leading digital acquisition channel in 2025.[2]
  • 2.6 million or more people used the Planet Fitness app in 2024.[33]
  • 21% of fitness and wellness businesses cited email marketing as a leading digital acquisition channel in 2025.[2]
  • 7% of fitness and wellness businesses cited TikTok as a leading digital acquisition channel in 2025.[2]

Branding in the fitness industry

  • 35% of Planet Fitness members had household incomes above $100,000 in 2025.[17]
  • 7% of Americans aged over 14 were Planet Fitness members at the end of 2024.[34]
  • 46% of Planet Fitness members were under age 35 in 2025.[17]
  • 26% of Planet Fitness members had household incomes below $50,000 in 2025.[17]
  • 20% of Planet Fitness members were over age 55 in 2025.[17]

Social media in the fitness industry

  • 42% of fitness and wellness businesses named Facebook their most effective client-acquisition platform in 2025.[2]
  • 63% of fitness and wellness businesses named Instagram their most effective client-acquisition platform in 2025.[2]
  • 8% of fitness and wellness businesses named paid-media advertising their most effective client-acquisition platform in 2025.[2]
  • 42% of fitness and wellness businesses named Google or SEO their most effective client-acquisition platform in 2025.[2]
  • 7% of fitness and wellness businesses named TikTok their most effective client-acquisition platform in 2025.[2]

Influencer Marketing in the sports, fitness and recreation sector (sector benchmark)

  • Instagram accounted for 17.8 million sports and fitness influencer posts globally in 2023, with a 2.31% average engagement rate.[35]
  • 22.6 million influencer posts about sports and fitness were published globally in 2023, according to Sprout Social’s industry benchmark.[35]
  • Sports and fitness represented 18.7% of Instagram influencer estimated media value in Spain in 2024, the largest sector share.[36]
  • Sports and fitness influencer content achieved a 1.6% average engagement rate globally in 2023.[35]
  • TikTok sports and fitness influencer posts generated a 2.51% average engagement rate globally in 2023.[35]

10 Statistics

Operations & Execution

Operators quantify service outcomes through retention and cancellations, with studio cancellations down 6% year over year in 2025 in ABC Fitness’s reporting.

Process optimization in the fitness industry

  • 91% of Basic-Fit employees worked in clubs in 2025, concentrating the company’s workforce in front-line operating locations.[37]
  • 66.4% average member retention was reported by fitness operators in 2024 across the Health & Fitness Association benchmarking sample.[14]
  • 1,605 clubs were operated by Basic-Fit in 2024, serving 4.390 million members according to company consensus data.[38]
  • 9.9% median revenue growth was reported by fitness operators in 2024 across 27 countries, indicating improved operating performance after pandemic disruption.[14]
  • 39.4% of surveyed health clubs improved facility energy efficiency in 2024 to reduce operating costs.[39]

Operational efficiency in the fitness industry

  • 37.4% average EBITDA margin was reported for gym operators in 2024 in an active-lifestyle peer-group analysis.[40]
  • €292.7 million was Basic-Fit’s other club operating cost in 2024, an 11% increase from 2023.[41]
  • $655,000 was the average annual operating expense reported by health clubs surveyed for the 2024 industry trends report.[39]
  • 23.6% median EBITDA margin was achieved by fitness operators in 2024 across the Health & Fitness Association sample.[14]
  • €191.7 million was Basic-Fit’s club personnel cost in 2024, up 22% year over year.[41]

Quality management in the fitness industry

  • 5.5% average net membership growth was reported in 2024, suggesting positive customer-perceived value across participating operators.[14]
  • 66.4% average member retention was recorded by fitness facilities in 2024, a key service-quality outcome measured by the industry benchmark.[14]
  • 114 U.S. respondents representing more than 8,000 locations were included in the Health & Fitness Association’s 2025 benchmark dataset.[14]
  • 46% of U.S. boutique fitness studio owners reported frequent requests for flexible membership options such as pay-as-you-go, freezes or easy cancellations.[4]
  • 47% of U.S. boutique fitness studio owners reported that members frequently requested discounts and promotions in the 2024 industry survey.[4]

Supply chain in the fitness industry

  • €237 million was invested in the Clever Fit segment in 2025, including spending associated with the acquisition and expansion of the network.[37]
  • €224.7 million was the average 2024 depreciation expense for right-of-use assets in Basic-Fit’s broker consensus estimates.[38]
  • 8.0% average sales growth was reported for the fitness-equipment peer group in 2024.[40]
  • €611 million was invested in Basic-Fit’s France, Spain and Germany segment in 2024, mainly for new club openings and the RSG Spain acquisition.[37]
  • €203.9 million was Basic-Fit’s depreciation and impairment expense for tangible assets in 2024, reflecting its installed club-equipment base.[41]

Outsourcing / Offshoring in the sports, fitness and recreation sector (sector benchmark)

  • Across EU enterprises sourcing internationally, 17.1% moved business functions to the United Kingdom during 2021–2023, an economy-wide offshoring benchmark.[42]
  • Across EU enterprises sourcing internationally, 27.8% cited lower non-labour costs as a motivation during 2021–2023, an economy-wide outsourcing benchmark.[42]
  • Across EU enterprises sourcing internationally, 47.4% moved administrative and management functions abroad during 2021–2023, an economy-wide offshoring benchmark.[42]
  • Across EU enterprises sourcing internationally, 18.6% moved business functions to India during 2021–2023, an economy-wide offshoring benchmark.[42]
  • Across EU enterprises sourcing internationally, 34.1% cited lower labour costs as a motivation during 2021–2023, an economy-wide outsourcing benchmark.[42]

11 Statistics

Finance & Pricing

Financial performance shows dispersion by model, with Basic-Fit’s 2025 net profit rising to €14.3 million up from €8.0 million in 2024.

Pricing strategy in the fitness industry

  • 46% of U.S. boutique fitness studio owners reported frequent member requests for more flexible membership options in 2024.[4]
  • 47% of U.S. boutique fitness studio owners reported frequent member requests for discounts and promotions in 2024.[4]
  • €21.7 million of Basic-Fit’s 2025 revenue came from non-club activities, nearly double the €10.9 million recorded in 2024.[37]
  • 16% growth in Basic-Fit club revenue in 2024 accompanied the company’s expansion of membership capacity and pricing levels.[41]
  • 7.9% membership growth occurred at U.S. fitness facilities charging at least $100 monthly in 2023, compared with 5.8% overall segment growth.[43]

Cost reduction in the fitness industry

  • €191.7 million was Basic-Fit’s club personnel cost in 2024, equivalent to the company’s reported labor-cost base before overhead.[41]
  • €35 million was Basic-Fit’s annual net cost run-rate in 2025 associated with its additional members and operating strategy.[37]
  • €292.7 million was Basic-Fit’s other club operating cost in 2024, up 11% year over year.[41]
  • €147.9 million was Basic-Fit’s overhead expense in 2024, up 7% from 2023.[41]
  • 55% of U.S. boutique fitness studio owners reported financial strain from maintenance, equipment upkeep and staffing in 2024.[4]

Profitability in the fitness industry

  • 42.2% four-wall EBITDA margin was reported for Planet Fitness in 2024 in a U.S. fitness-sector feasibility analysis.[44]
  • 9.5x was the 2024 fitness-club EV-to-EBITDA multiple in L.E.K.’s fitness-sector index.[45]
  • €14.3 million was Basic-Fit’s net profit in 2025, up 79% from €8.0 million in 2024.[37]
  • 23.6% median EBITDA margin was reported by fitness operators for 2024 in the Health & Fitness Association benchmark.[14]
  • 37.6% corporate-segment adjusted EBITDA margin was reported for Planet Fitness in fiscal 2024.[44]

Financial planning in the fitness industry

  • €150.7 million was Basic-Fit’s operating profit in 2025, compared with €123.5 million in 2024.[37]
  • €52.7 million was Basic-Fit’s interest expense on lease liabilities in 2024, rising to €59.0 million in 2025.[37]
  • 5.5% average net membership growth was reported by fitness operators in 2024, a central planning assumption for capacity and staffing.[14]
  • €900 million was Basic-Fit’s total club operating cost in 2025, compared with €750 million in 2024.[37]
  • €1,215.2 million was Basic-Fit’s total revenue in 2024, up 16% from 2023.[41]

12 Statistics

Product & Service

Technology-enabled services expand alongside devices: projected 2026 US revenue is $23.1 billion for wearable devices used in health and fitness.

Product development in the fitness industry

  • 850 million fitness-app downloads were generated by more than 345 million users worldwide in 2024.[46]
  • 100 companies, representing 13% of surveyed sports-innovation companies, developed wearable or non-wearable devices for monitoring and improving athletic or fitness performance.[11]
  • $1.1 billion is the projected 2026 US revenue for connected fitness equipment.[47]
  • Mobile exercise apps ranked fourth in the 2026 worldwide fitness-trends survey, after ranking second in 2025.[46]
  • $23.1 billion is the projected 2026 US revenue for wearable devices used in health and fitness.[47]

Product lifecycle in the fitness industry

  • 31% and 20% were the 30-day retention rates for the fitness reward apps CashWalk and Sweatcoin, respectively, in Sensor Tower’s 2025 analysis.[48]
  • Nearly half of fitness members used AI-powered wellness apps daily in 2025.[10]
  • 61% of fitness members used AI-driven fitness-tracking tools in 2025, indicating broad adoption of technology-enabled product features.[10]
  • 38.20% to 46.95% was the 24-month retention range for Canadian fitness-app user cohorts studied from winter 2016–17 through spring 2018.[49]
  • More than 850 million fitness-app downloads were recorded worldwide in 2024, despite downloads having peaked in 2021–2022.[46]

After-sales in the fitness industry

  • $16.0 million was Peloton’s fiscal-2026 revenue from extended warranties and service contracts.[50]
  • $31.3 million was Peloton’s product-warranty claims expense in fiscal 2025.[50]
  • 1% of Peloton’s total revenue came from extended warranties in each of fiscal years 2024, 2025 and 2026.[50]
  • $18.9 million was Peloton’s product-warranty obligation balance at June 30, 2026.[50]
  • $21.5 million was Peloton’s product-warranty claims expense in fiscal 2026.[50]

Value proposition in the fitness industry

  • Nearly 7 billion visits to US gyms, health clubs and studios were recorded in 2025.[14]
  • 57% of surveyed consumers said social interaction and connection were the main reasons they joined a fitness community in 2025.[10]
  • $61 was the average monthly fitness spending planned by Americans in 2025.[15]
  • 26.1% of Americans aged six and older held a fitness-facility membership in 2025.[14]
  • 67% of active consumers said fitness communities increase motivation and accountability in 2026.[10]

13 Statistics

Sustainability & Ethics

Sustainability reporting includes both intensity and incident metrics, including Planet Fitness’ 470,366 metric tonnes of Scope 3 greenhouse-gas emissions for fiscal 2024.

Sustainability in the fitness industry

  • 4,350 tonnes of sporting and recreational products were reused in France in 2025 under the sector’s extended-producer-responsibility scheme.[51]
  • 32% below the 2019 base year was The Gym Group’s operational Scope 3 carbon intensity per gym in 2025.[52]
  • 18,500 tonnes of sporting and recreational products were collected in France in 2025 under the sector’s extended-producer-responsibility scheme.[51]
  • 35,055 tonnes of CO2e were emitted by The Gym Group in 2025 across Scope 1, Scope 2 and Scope 3.[52]
  • 100% of Basic-Fit employees in Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Spain were covered by a health-and-safety management system in 2024.[41]

ESG in the fitness industry

  • 6,036 metric tonnes of Planet Fitness’ 2024 Scope 3 emissions were attributed to waste generated in operations.[53]
  • 470,366 metric tonnes of Scope 3 greenhouse-gas emissions were reported by Planet Fitness for fiscal 2024.[53]
  • 21,276 metric tonnes of Planet Fitness’ 2024 Scope 3 emissions were attributed to purchased goods and services.[53]
  • 57 reported discrimination or harassment incidents, including aggression against staff by members, occurred at Basic-Fit in 2024.[41]
  • 0.0067 metric tonnes of operational CO2e per square foot was Planet Fitness’ normalized operational emissions intensity in fiscal 2024.[53]

Ethics in the fitness industry

  • 23 sexual-harassment cases were recorded across World Gym Taiwan’s branches between January and December 2024.[54]
  • 68% of women who experienced sexual harassment or intimidation in a fitness or leisure centre said they never reported it.[55]
  • 5% of female health-club users surveyed said they felt unsafe in their health club.[5]
  • 42% of women surveyed had experienced at least one form of sexual harassment or intimidation in a gym or leisure facility, according to UK fitness-sector research.[55]
  • 83% of women aged 16–24 surveyed had experienced sexual harassment or intimidation in a gym or leisure facility.[55]

CSR in the fitness industry

  • 71% of women surveyed reported experiencing sexual harassment in a public space, informing safety-focused social responsibility efforts in fitness facilities.[5]
  • 5.8 million memberships were reported by Basic-Fit at the end of 2025.[37]
  • 2,151 Basic-Fit clubs operated across Europe in 2025 as part of the company’s mission to make fitness accessible to everyone.[37]
  • 85 net clubs were added to Basic-Fit’s own-club network during 2025.[37]
  • 39% of reported harassment incidents experienced by women in health clubs occurred in the weights area.[5]

Circular economy in the fitness industry

  • 134,000 tonnes of sporting and recreational goods were placed on the French market in 2025 under the circular-economy EPR scheme.[51]
  • 32% below 2019 was The Gym Group’s 2025 operational Scope 3 carbon intensity per gym, partly reflecting efficiency improvements in its estate.[52]
  • 4,350 tonnes of sporting and recreational goods were reused in France in 2025 under the circular-economy EPR scheme.[51]
  • 12% below the 2019 base year were The Gym Group’s combined Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions in 2025.[52]
  • 135 tonnes of total CO2e per gym was The Gym Group’s reported emissions intensity in 2025.[52]

Carbon footprint in the fitness industry

  • 1,554 tonnes of Scope 1 emissions were reported by The Gym Group in 2025.[52]
  • 37,416 metric tonnes of operational greenhouse-gas emissions were reported by Planet Fitness for fiscal 2024.[53]
  • 4,867 metric tonnes of Scope 1 emissions were reported by Planet Fitness for fiscal 2024.[53]
  • 35,055 tonnes of CO2e were emitted by The Gym Group in 2025 across all reported scopes.[52]
  • 32,549 metric tonnes of market-based Scope 2 emissions were reported by Planet Fitness for fiscal 2024.[53]

15 Statistics

Globalization & Expansion

Scale expansion continues across franchise models, with Anytime Fitness reaching 5,810 global locations in 2025.

Globalization in the fitness industry

  • 5,810 global locations made Anytime Fitness the world’s largest fitness franchise in 2025.[9]
  • 20.8 million members made Planet Fitness the global membership leader in 2025, across 2,896 locations.[9]
  • 2,151 clubs across 12 countries gave Basic-Fit a multinational footprint after its 2025 acquisition of clever fit.[9]
  • Planet Fitness operated in all 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Canada, Panama, Mexico, Australia and Spain at December 31, 2024.[17]
  • World Gym International generated franchise royalties from more than 250 international locations after its 2024 acquisition by World Fitness Services.[54]

Cultural adaptation in the fitness industry

  • 493 clubs across seven countries made clever fit’s 2025 acquisition an entry point for Basic-Fit into franchising and the DACH region.[9]
  • 1.5 million members and 417 locations made China-based DANFIT a significant regional fitness operator in 2025.[9]
  • 123 Turkish clubs were added to Benefit Systems’ network through its 2025 acquisition of MAC Group.[9]
  • 2,001 Japanese Curves locations demonstrated the brand’s localized scale in Japan in 2025.[9]
  • 1,378 Orangetheory Fitness locations operated globally in 2025, reflecting the brand’s international franchise model.[9]

Supplier management in the fitness industry

  • Basic-Fit reported contracts with all key suppliers in major spend categories including equipment, construction, cleaning and landlords in 2023.[63]
  • Planet Fitness required franchisees to purchase fitness equipment from the company or designated vendors in certain international markets in 2024.[17]
  • Planet Fitness required franchisees to buy other approved items from vendors designated by the franchisor in 2024.[17]
  • 310.1 million dollars of Planet Fitness revenue came from equipment in 2025.[17]
  • 785 million dollars of new equity was included in the 2026 Playlist–EGYM transaction.[9]

Stakeholder management in the fitness industry

  • 22.4 billion dollars was the estimated economic impact of the U.S. fitness industry across more than 55,300 locations in 2025.[9]
  • 6.2 million members were served by Purpose Brands across more than 7,270 locations in 2025.[9]
  • 19% was the year-over-year increase in Xponential studio membership visits in the fourth quarter of 2024.[17]
  • 150,000 members were served by Bay Club’s 31 clubs across 10 West Coast campuses at the end of 2025.[9]
  • 184,000-plus annual visits per location were recorded on average by U.S. commercial fitness facilities in 2025.[9]

Distribution channels in the fitness industry

  • 90% of Planet Fitness corporate-owned and franchise revenue came from recurring streams such as royalties, dues and annual fees in 2024.[17]
  • 1,403 F45 locations operated globally in 2025 through the brand’s franchise network.[9]
  • 1,414 Club Pilates studios operated globally in 2025 through Xponential’s franchise channel.[9]
  • Approximately 100 on-demand workouts were added to Fitness On Demand through its 2026 collaboration with JETSWEAT.[9]
  • 2,151 Basic-Fit clubs operated across 12 countries after the 2025 clever fit acquisition.[9]

Key questions about the Fitness Industry

How big is the U.S. fitness market in terms of economic impact and locations?
The U.S. fitness industry generated an estimated $22.4 billion in economic impact in 2024 across more than 55,300 locations.
What is the latest signal on fitness operator growth entering 2026?
HFA’s 2026 global operator survey reports median revenue growth of 10.7% in 2025, and participating operators generally expected revenue, membership and profitability to increase again in 2026.
Which companies lead the fitness industry?
Life Time stands out for premium health, fitness and wellness club operations because it generated $2.995 billion of 2025 revenue, while Purpose Brands focuses on fitness franchising since it reported more than 7,000 locations and over 6 million members.
Which technology shifts show up most clearly in operator and studio usage data?
In 2025, 92% of surveyed UK gym operators used gym-management software, and 26% of surveyed fitness professionals use AI for client progress tracking in 2025.
How fragmented is the fitness market structure across formats and regions?
Large chains gain scale, but the market remains fragmented across formats and countries, with North America and Europe described as the best-documented large regional markets.
What does fitness M&A look like in 2025 by deal count and value?
Global fitness M&A completed 102 deals in 2025 worth a combined $3.2 billion according to Houlihan Lokey’s review of S&P Capital IQ data.
Reference

Cite This Report

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APA
Daniel Varga. (2026, February 13). Fitness Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/fitness-industry-statistics
MLA
Daniel Varga. "Fitness Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/fitness-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Daniel Varga. 2026. "Fitness Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/fitness-industry-statistics.

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