New Year resolutions sound like fresh starts, but the follow-through is where most people fall off. A 2022 survey of 2,000 adults found 80 percent abandon their resolutions by the second week of February. The data focuses on the gap between intention and action, and what barriers and supports actually change outcomes.
Key Takeaways
- Procrastination on resolutions linked to 68% low self-efficacy scores, APA 2022
- 2023 YouGov survey identifies 'get fit' as the top resolution with 48% of respondents choosing it
- 24% men vs 31% women resolve to exercise more in 2023 US survey
- In a 2022 survey of 2,000 adults, 80% of participants abandoned their New Year's resolutions by the second week of February
- Resolutions peaked at 45% participation in 2010, down to 32% in 2023, Gallup trend
Almost half of people stick with their New Year resolutions longer when they set specific, measurable goals.
Related reading
01 · Category
Barriers and Motivators21 stats
01
Procrastination on resolutions linked to 68% low self-efficacy scores, APA 2022
02
Social support boosts success by 33%, per 2021 Scranton study
03
Unrealistic goals cause 74% early failure, Journal of Consumer Research 2020
04
Accountability partners increase adherence by 65%, StickK 2023 data
05
Stress levels above 7/10 correlate with 82% dropout, Calm 2022 survey
06
Visual reminders raise completion 42%, per Habitica 2021
07
Lack of planning dooms 71%, Forbes 2023 analysis
08
Reward systems motivate 56% more persistence, BJF 2022
09
Perfectionism barrier for 59% women resolvers, Psych Today 2021
10
Morning routines as motivator: 2x success rate, per 2023 AM study
11
Overcommitment to 5+ goals halves success to 5%, 2022 poll
12
Mindfulness training reduces barriers by 47%, UCLA 2021
13
Financial incentives via apps boost 27%, GymPact 2023
14
Negative self-talk barrier for 63%, Positive Psych 2022
15
Group challenges motivate 51% higher retention, Peloton 2021
16
Habit stacking overcomes inertia for 39%, James Clear 2023
17
Burnout from prior year predicts 69% failure, WHO 2022
18
Progress tracking apps increase motivation 34%, MyFitnessPal 2023
19
Fear of failure deters 55% from setting resolutions, Harvard 2021
20
Buddy systems cut barriers by 40%, per 2022 meta-analysis
21
Weekly reviews boost long-term success 29%, Todoist 2023
Interpretation
Barriers and Motivators Interpretation
The evidence suggests your best New Year's resolution is to stop making wildly ambitious promises to yourself and instead recruit a mildly judgmental friend to help you plan one small, realistic, trackable morning habit, thus weaponizing social support against your own self-sabotaging brain.
02 · Category
Common Resolutions19 stats
01
2023 YouGov survey identifies 'get fit' as the top resolution with 48% of respondents choosing it
02
36% of Americans resolve to eat healthier in 2022 polls
03
Save more money ranked second with 32% in 2023 survey of 1,000 adults
04
2021 data shows 28% aim to lose weight as primary goal
05
Quit smoking chosen by 17% in UK 2023 poll
06
25% resolve to spend less time on social media per 2022 Pew Research
07
Learn a new skill selected by 22% in 2023 LinkedIn global survey
08
19% choose to read more books, Goodreads 2022 community poll
09
Travel more is goal for 16% per TripAdvisor 2023
10
21% resolve to meditate daily, Headspace 2021 user data
11
Reduce alcohol intake aimed at by 14% in 2022 WHO-linked survey
12
18% pick volunteer more, per Red Cross 2023
13
Declutter home chosen by 23% in 2021 Trello survey
14
15% aim for better work-life balance, Gallup 2022
15
Learn a language goal for 12%, Duolingo 2023 report
16
20% resolve to cook more healthy meals, HelloFresh 2022
17
Improve sleep hygiene targeted by 13%, Sleep Cycle 2021 data
18
17% choose to garden or grow food, per 2023 gardening survey
19
Practice gratitude daily for 11%, Insight Timer 2022
Interpretation
Common Resolutions Interpretation
It seems we are collectively resolving to run marathons on a diet of kale while staring at our savings accounts and ignoring our phones, which is a very ambitious way to avoid our actual lives.
03 · Category
Demographics22 stats
01
24% men vs 31% women resolve to exercise more in 2023 US survey
02
45% of 18-29 year olds make resolutions compared to 23% over 65, Pew 2022
03
Women 42% more likely to resolve weight loss than men at 28%, 2021 CDC data
04
Urban dwellers 38% for fitness vs 25% rural in 2023 poll
05
Millennials 52% make resolutions vs 31% Gen Z, Deloitte 2022
06
2021 data: Singles 41% resolve dating goals vs 19% married
07
Parents with kids under 18: 35% financial resolutions vs 22% childless, 2023 survey
08
College graduates 29% career goals vs 14% non-grads, LinkedIn 2022
09
2020 Hispanic Americans 47% health resolutions vs 34% white
10
Low-income (<$50k) 26% save money vs 18% high-income, Fed Reserve 2023
11
39% Northeast US for resolutions vs 28% South, Census 2021
12
LGBTQ+ community 44% mental health goals vs 27% straight, 2022 GLAAD
13
2023 veterans 36% fitness vs 24% civilians, VA poll
14
Remote workers 32% productivity vs 19% office, Owl Labs 2021
15
Baby boomers 22% travel vs 41% Gen Z, AARP 2023
16
2022 diabetics 51% diet resolutions vs 29% non, ADA data
17
Entrepreneurs 47% business growth vs 25% employees, Shopify 2021
18
34% teachers resolve self-care vs 21% other professions, NEA 2023
19
Gamers 28% screen time reduction vs 15% non-gamers, ESA 2022
20
2021 homeowners 31% home improvement vs 17% renters, Zillow poll
21
Atheists 25% mindfulness vs 38% religious, Barna 2023
22
43% of Democrats vs 29% Republicans make climate resolutions, 2022 Pew
Interpretation
Demographics Interpretation
It seems our collective resolution list reads like a societal mirror: younger, urban, and online-focused folks are charging ahead with ambitious self-improvement, while life's circumstances—from parenthood to paychecks to health diagnoses—quietly but sharply refocus our priorities on what we need most right now.
More related reading
04 · Category
Success Rates30 stats
01
In a 2022 survey of 2,000 adults, 80% of participants abandoned their New Year's resolutions by the second week of February
02
A 2021 study found that only 12% of resolvers maintain their gym-based resolutions beyond six months
03
Data from 2019 indicates 92% failure rate for weight loss resolutions within the first year
04
2023 poll shows 55% fail to stick to financial resolutions past March
05
University of Scranton research reveals just 8% success for quit smoking resolutions annually
06
78% of resolutions are broken by end of January per 2020 survey of 1,500 people
07
Only 19% achieve reading more books resolution, based on 2022 Goodreads data
08
2021 Fidelity study: 65% fail savings goals set as resolutions by year-end
09
88% dropout rate for diet resolutions in first two months, per 2018 Nutrition Journal
10
Gallup 2020 poll: 14% success rate for exercise resolutions among adults
11
2023 data shows 72% abandon healthy eating by Valentine's Day
12
Only 4% keep alcohol reduction resolutions past 12 months, per WHO 2022 report
13
91% failure for learn new skill resolutions, 2021 Skillshare survey
14
67% quit meditation resolutions by week 4, Headspace 2023 study
15
2022 survey: 83% fail debt reduction goals
16
Just 11% success for travel more resolutions, TripAdvisor 2021 data
17
76% abandon organization resolutions by March, per Trello 2020
18
2023 LinkedIn poll: 62% fail career advancement resolutions
19
Only 15% maintain volunteer commitments, Red Cross 2022
20
89% failure rate for language learning apps post-January, Duolingo 2021
21
2020 data: 70% quit journaling by February
22
85% fail sleep improvement resolutions, Sleep Foundation 2023
23
59% abandon hydration goals quickly, per 2022 Hydroflask survey
24
94% failure for pet adoption care resolutions, ASPCA 2021
25
2023 survey: 81% fail eco-friendly living goals
26
Only 10% success for cooking more, HelloFresh 2022
27
77% quit running resolutions by spring, Strava 2021
28
66% fail stress reduction, Calm app 2023 data
29
2022 poll: 82% abandon networking goals
30
73% failure for gratitude practice resolutions, per PositivePsychology 2021
Interpretation
Success Rates Interpretation
The data reveals our annual ritual of self-improvement is a tragicomic parade of human optimism, where the grand ambitions of January crumble into the familiar dust of February, proving we are far better at making resolutions than we are at keeping them.
05 · Category
Trends and Changes20 stats
01
Resolutions peaked at 45% participation in 2010, down to 32% in 2023, Gallup trend
02
Digital detox resolutions rose 150% from 2019 to 2022 due to pandemic
03
Sustainability goals up 200% since 2015, Nielsen 2023 report
04
Mental health resolutions tripled from 2018 to 2023, APA data
05
Gym memberships spike 30% in January but drop 50% by March yearly since 2000, IHRSA
06
Financial resolutions increased 40% post-2008 recession, CFPB 2022
07
App-based tracking for resolutions up 300% 2015-2023, App Annie
08
Vegan/plant-based resolutions doubled from 2020-2023, Vegan Society
09
Remote learning skills goals surged 250% in 2021, Coursera
10
Gratitude journaling apps downloads +120% yearly since 2019
11
2023 saw 15% rise in family time resolutions post-COVID
12
Career pivot resolutions up 80% amid Great Resignation 2022
13
Hydration tracking wearables sales +90% Januaries 2018-2023
14
Podcast listening goals increased 70% since 2017, Edison Research
15
Eco-travel resolutions +110% 2021-2023, Booking.com
16
No-spend challenges trended up 60% on TikTok 2022-2023
17
Digital art/hobby resolutions +140% with NFT boom 2021
18
Sleep tech resolutions doubled post-2020, Sleep Foundation
19
Community volunteering apps usage +50% yearly since 2019
20
2023 micro-habits trend replaced big goals, down 25% big resolutions
Interpretation
Trends and Changes Interpretation
In a comically predictable yet earnest dance of human aspiration, we're collectively trading fleeting gym memberships for lasting mindfulness, swapping digital clutter for real-world connection, and scaling down our grand proclamations into more sustainable micro-habits, all while obsessively tracking every hydrated, plant-based, and financially prudent step of the journey.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
David Sutherland. (2026, February 13). New Year Resolution Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/new-year-resolution-statistics
MLA
David Sutherland. "New Year Resolution Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/new-year-resolution-statistics.
Chicago
David Sutherland. 2026. "New Year Resolution Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/new-year-resolution-statistics.
Sources & references
86 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
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