GITNUXREPORT 2025

Sport Participation Statistics

Global sports participation varies, with rising female involvement and industry value.

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

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Youth sports participation in Canada has declined by approximately 15% over the last decade

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Around 30% of youth in France engage in organized sports, with higher participation among boys than girls

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In South Korea, nearly 50% of adolescents participate in taekwondo or other martial arts

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In Mexico, soccer remains the most played sport, with an estimated 20 million participants nationwide

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Nearly 30% of children in urban China participate regularly in ping pong (table tennis)

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The global sports industry is valued at over $500 billion and accounts for roughly 1.2% of the world's GDP

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The number of registered athletes in cycling nations rose by 8% globally in 2022

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The number of registered gym members worldwide reached approximately 265 million in 2022

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Approximately 36% of the global population aged 15 and over participated in at least one sport or exercise in 2021

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In the United States, about 75% of children aged 6-12 participate in organized sports at least once annually

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The average American adult spends approximately 17 minutes per day engaging in sports and physical activity

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Around 60% of Europeans report participating in at least one sport or physical activity weekly

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In Australia, nearly 70% of children aged 5-14 engage in some form of sports or active recreation regularly

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Participation rates in running events in the UK increased by 10% in 2022 compared to the previous year

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Female sports participation increased by 12% globally from 2010 to 2020

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Approximately 40% of college students in the US participate in organized sports

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The average number of sports played per youth athlete in the US is 2.3

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In Japan, around 45% of children participate in martial arts or traditional sports

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About 25 million Americans participate in tennis annually

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Participation in winter sports in Europe decreased by 4% during the 2022-2023 season

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8% of the global population participated in organized sports events in 2022

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The average age at which children start organized sports is 8 years old

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55% of adolescents worldwide participate in physical activity at least four days a week

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Participation in high school sports in the US exceeds 7 million students annually

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Participation in esports has surged by over 20% globally in 2023, with more than 495 million viewers worldwide

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The number of women participating in rugby union worldwide increased by 18% from 2018 to 2022

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Over 80% of Olympic athletes started training before the age of 12

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About 10% of the adult population in Italy participate regularly in golf

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Participation in community sports clubs in Scandinavia increased by 5% over the past three years

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The global participation in recreational swimming is estimated at 1 billion people annually

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In the US, approximately 6 million people participate annually in marathons and endurance events

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The number of chess players engaging in tournaments globally increased by 12% in 2022

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The youth participation rate in baseball in the US has decreased by 25% over the past decade

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Approximately 45 million people worldwide are registered runners in marathon events annually

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42% of the global population engages in some form of physical activity through work or daily routines

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Participation in beach volleyball in Brazil has increased by 14% in the last three years

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In Germany, roughly 35 million people participate in some form of outdoor recreational sports annually

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Participation in Australian Rules football has grown by roughly 7% in the last four years, with over 100,000 registered players in 2023

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In France, cycling participation increased by 11% during the pandemic period, reaching 8 million regular cyclists

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15% of adult men and 7% of adult women in Germany participate in weekly sports activities

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In India, sports participation among urban youth increased by 20% over the past five years

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In Brazil, football (soccer) remains the most popular sport, with over 45 million players nationwide

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35% of the population in South Africa participate in some form of sports or physical activity regularly

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In New Zealand, approximately 65% of children and teenagers participate in sports or outdoor activities weekly

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In Italy, basketball participation among youth increased by 9% from 2019 to 2022

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In South Africa, netball is played by over 5 million girls and women, making it the most popular female sport

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Key Highlights

Approximately 36% of the global population aged 15 and over participated in at least one sport or exercise in 2021
In the United States, about 75% of children aged 6-12 participate in organized sports at least once annually
The average American adult spends approximately 17 minutes per day engaging in sports and physical activity
Around 60% of Europeans report participating in at least one sport or physical activity weekly
Youth sports participation in Canada has declined by approximately 15% over the last decade
In Australia, nearly 70% of children aged 5-14 engage in some form of sports or active recreation regularly
The global sports industry is valued at over $500 billion and accounts for roughly 1.2% of the world's GDP
Participation rates in running events in the UK increased by 10% in 2022 compared to the previous year
Female sports participation increased by 12% globally from 2010 to 2020
Approximately 40% of college students in the US participate in organized sports
The average number of sports played per youth athlete in the US is 2.3
In Japan, around 45% of children participate in martial arts or traditional sports
About 25 million Americans participate in tennis annually

From youth leagues to global marathons, participation in sports continues to weave itself into the fabric of societies worldwide, with recent statistics revealing both exciting growth areas and concerning declines across different regions and demographics.

Demographics and Youth Participation

Youth sports participation in Canada has declined by approximately 15% over the last decade
Around 30% of youth in France engage in organized sports, with higher participation among boys than girls
In South Korea, nearly 50% of adolescents participate in taekwondo or other martial arts
In Mexico, soccer remains the most played sport, with an estimated 20 million participants nationwide
Nearly 30% of children in urban China participate regularly in ping pong (table tennis)

Demographics and Youth Participation Interpretation

While youth sports participation varies worldwide—from Canada's decline to China's ping pong enthusiasm—these numbers highlight a global need to rekindle childhood activity and ensure future generations stay active, healthy, and engaged.

Global Sports Industry and Market Value

The global sports industry is valued at over $500 billion and accounts for roughly 1.2% of the world's GDP
The number of registered athletes in cycling nations rose by 8% globally in 2022
The number of registered gym members worldwide reached approximately 265 million in 2022

Global Sports Industry and Market Value Interpretation

With a $500 billion valuation and over a quarter-billion gym-goers, the global sports industry is not just a game, but a powerful testament to our collective obsession with fitness and spectacle—truly, a $500 billion punchline to humanity's competitive spirit.

Participation Trends and Behavioral Insights

Approximately 36% of the global population aged 15 and over participated in at least one sport or exercise in 2021
In the United States, about 75% of children aged 6-12 participate in organized sports at least once annually
The average American adult spends approximately 17 minutes per day engaging in sports and physical activity
Around 60% of Europeans report participating in at least one sport or physical activity weekly
In Australia, nearly 70% of children aged 5-14 engage in some form of sports or active recreation regularly
Participation rates in running events in the UK increased by 10% in 2022 compared to the previous year
Female sports participation increased by 12% globally from 2010 to 2020
Approximately 40% of college students in the US participate in organized sports
The average number of sports played per youth athlete in the US is 2.3
In Japan, around 45% of children participate in martial arts or traditional sports
About 25 million Americans participate in tennis annually
Participation in winter sports in Europe decreased by 4% during the 2022-2023 season
8% of the global population participated in organized sports events in 2022
The average age at which children start organized sports is 8 years old
55% of adolescents worldwide participate in physical activity at least four days a week
Participation in high school sports in the US exceeds 7 million students annually
Participation in esports has surged by over 20% globally in 2023, with more than 495 million viewers worldwide
The number of women participating in rugby union worldwide increased by 18% from 2018 to 2022
Over 80% of Olympic athletes started training before the age of 12
About 10% of the adult population in Italy participate regularly in golf
Participation in community sports clubs in Scandinavia increased by 5% over the past three years
The global participation in recreational swimming is estimated at 1 billion people annually
In the US, approximately 6 million people participate annually in marathons and endurance events
The number of chess players engaging in tournaments globally increased by 12% in 2022
The youth participation rate in baseball in the US has decreased by 25% over the past decade
Approximately 45 million people worldwide are registered runners in marathon events annually
42% of the global population engages in some form of physical activity through work or daily routines
Participation in beach volleyball in Brazil has increased by 14% in the last three years
In Germany, roughly 35 million people participate in some form of outdoor recreational sports annually
Participation in Australian Rules football has grown by roughly 7% in the last four years, with over 100,000 registered players in 2023
In France, cycling participation increased by 11% during the pandemic period, reaching 8 million regular cyclists

Participation Trends and Behavioral Insights Interpretation

While only about a third of the world’s population laces up regularly, the relentless rise in female participation, e-sports viewers, and youth engagement across various sports suggests that our global playground is diversifying faster than ever—proving that when it comes to sport, enthusiasm doesn't need a starting gun to sprint ahead.

Regional and Country-Specific Engagement

15% of adult men and 7% of adult women in Germany participate in weekly sports activities
In India, sports participation among urban youth increased by 20% over the past five years
In Brazil, football (soccer) remains the most popular sport, with over 45 million players nationwide
35% of the population in South Africa participate in some form of sports or physical activity regularly
In New Zealand, approximately 65% of children and teenagers participate in sports or outdoor activities weekly
In Italy, basketball participation among youth increased by 9% from 2019 to 2022
In South Africa, netball is played by over 5 million girls and women, making it the most popular female sport

Regional and Country-Specific Engagement Interpretation

While sports participation varies vastly across the globe—from the modest 15% of German men and 7% of women engaging weekly, to India's urban youth increasing activity by 20%, and Brazil's football passion electrifying over 45 million players—these figures reveal a universal truth: whether it's girls in South Africa, children in New Zealand, or youth in Italy, sports remain a vital thread weaving health, culture, and national identity together.