Percentage of the adult population participating in sports taken from Sport England's Active People Survey.

The survey provides by far the largest sample size ever established for a sport and recreation survey and allows levels of detailed analysis previously unavailable. It identifies how participation varies from place to place and between different groups in the population.

The spreadsheet shows regional data for two measures:

• 1+ session a week (at least 4 sessions of at least moderate intensity for at least 30 minutes in the previous 28 days)

• 3+ sessions a week (at least 12 sessions of at least moderate intensity for at least 30 minutes in the previous 28 days)

The Active Lives Children and Young People Survey, which was established in September 2017, provides a world-leading approach to gathering data on how children engage with sport and physical activity. This school-based survey is the first and largest established physical activity survey with children and young people in England. It gives anyone working with children aged 5-16 key insight to help understand children's attitudes and behaviours around sport and physical activity. The results will shape and influence local decision-making as well as inform government policy on the PE and Sport Premium, Childhood Obesity Plan and other cross-departmental programmes. More general information about the study can be found on the Sport England Active Lives Survey webpage and the Active Lives Online website, including reports and data tables.

Due to the closure of school sites during the coronavirus pandemic, the Active Lives Children and Young People survey was adapted to allow at-home completion. This approach was retained into the academic year 2022-23 to help maximise response numbers. The at-home completion approach was actively offered for secondary school pupils, and allowed but not encouraged for primary pupils.

The adaptions involved minor questionnaire changes (e.g., to ensure the wording was appropriate for those not attending school and enabling completion at home) and communication changes. For further details on the survey changes, please see the accompanying User Guide document. Academic years 2020-21, 2021-22 and 2022-23 saw a more even split of responses by term across the year, compared to 2019-20, which had a reduced proportion of summer term responses due to the disruption caused by Covid-19.

The survey identifies how participation varies across different activities and sports, by regions of England, between school types and terms, and between different demographic groups in the population. The survey measures levels of activity (active, fairly active and less active), attitudes towards sport and physical activity, swimming capability, the proportion of children and young people that volunteer in sport, sports spectating, and wellbeing measures such as happiness and life satisfaction. The questionnaire was designed to enable analysis of the findings by a broad range of variables, such as gender, family affluence and school year.

The following datasets have been provided:

1) Main dataset: this file includes responses from children and young people from school years 3 to 11, as well as responses from parents of children in years 1-2. The parents of children in years 1-2 provide behavioural answers about their child’s activity levels; they do not provide attitudinal information. Using this main dataset, full analyses can be carried out into sports and physical activity participation, levels of activity, volunteering (years 5 to 11), etc. Weighting is required when using this dataset (wt_gross / wt_gross - Csplan files are available for SPSS users who can utilise them).

2) Year 1-2 dataset: This file includes responses directly from children in school years 1-2, providing their attitudinal responses (e.g., whether they like playing sport and find it easy). Analysis can also be carried out into feelings towards swimming, enjoyment of being active, happiness, etc. Weighting is required when using this dataset (wt_gross / wt_gross - Csplan files are available for SPSS users who can utilise them).

3) Teacher dataset: This file includes responses from the teachers at schools selected for the survey. Analysis can be carried out to determine school facilities available, the length of PE lessons, whether swimming lessons are offered, etc. Since December 2023, Sport England has provided weighting for the teacher data (‘wt_teacher’ weighting variable).

For further information, please read the supporting documentation before using the datasets.

The Active People Survey commenced in October 2005 and was commissioned by Sports England. The primary objective of the survey was to measure levels of participation in sport and active recreation and its contribution to improving the health of the nation. Sport and active recreation included walking and cycling for recreation in addition to more traditional formal and informal spots. When measuring sports participation the survey not only recorded the type of activity but also the frequency, intensity and duration of the activity.

The Active People Survey was replaced by the Active Lives Survey in November 2015. Active Lives is a new survey with a different methodology and intended to measure different outcomes from those in the Active People Survey, however there are similarities as it was important that data could be reproduced on some of the key measures.

More general information can be found on the Sport England Active Lives Survey webpage and the Active Lives Online website, including reports and data tables.


For the second edition (October 2015), the data file was replaced with a new version to reflect changes in the Sport England core measure, the ‘1x30’ indicator. The documentation has also been updated.

Active People Survey local area statistics on participation in sport and culture from December 2012 owards are available on Sport England’s website. Previous data is available below.

The latest set of local area statistics were published on 22 June 2012.

• This report presents local area statistics on participation in sport and active recreation using interim results from Sport England’s Active People Survey (APS) 6. Data published for County Councils and those authorities that have boosted samples will be based on Active People Survey data from April 2011 to April 2012.

• For the other authorities, the statistics are based on the 24 month period April 2010 to April 2012 giving a sample size of 1000. The report is accompanied by a workbook containing local area estimates.

http://www.culture.gov.uk/publications/9143.aspx">Local Area statistics on adult participation in sport and culture - Active People Survey 6 Report: June 2012

Previous release: The latest set of local area statistics were published on 8 December 2011.

• This report presents local area statistics on participation in sport and active recreation using results from Sport England’s Active People Survey (APS) 5. Data published for County Councils and those authorities that have boosted samples will be based on Active People Survey data from October 2010 to October 2011.

• For the other authorities, the statistics are based on the 24 month period October 2009 to October 2011 giving a sample size of 1000. The report is accompanied by a workbook containing local area estimates.

08/12/11
http://www.culture.gov.uk/publications/8681.aspx">Local Area statistics on adult participation in sport and culture - Active People Survey 5 Report: December 2011

Previous releases: The previous releases of local area statistics was published on the dates below and included data on participation in sport and culture.

16/06/11
http://www.culture.gov.uk/publications/8221.aspx">Local Area statistics on adult participation in sport and culture - Active People Survey 5 Interim Report: June 2011

16/12/10
http://www.culture.gov.uk/publications/7667.aspx">Local Area statistics on adult participation in sport and culture - Active People Survey 4

Previous releases issued as part of the monitoring of http://www.culture.gov.uk/what_we_do/research_and_statistics/7670.aspx">National Indicators 8, 9, 10 and 11 are available online

For further detail about the estimates please contact us by email via takingpart@culture.gsi.gov.uk

The statistic displays the number of people who attended at least one tennis session of the Sportivate program in England from 2014/2015 to 2016/2017, by age group. In 2014/2015, Sportivate tennis projects reached 1,708 teenagers from 14 to 16 years of age in England.

Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.

The Active Lives Children and Young People Survey, which was established in September 2017, provides a world-leading approach to gathering data on how children engage with sport and physical activity. This school-based survey is the first and largest established physical activity survey with children and young people in England. It gives anyone working with children aged 5-16 key insight to help understand children's attitudes and behaviours around sport and physical activity. The results will shape and influence local decision-making as well as inform government policy on the PE and Sport Premium, Childhood Obesity Plan and other cross-departmental programmes. More general information about the study can be found on the Sport England Active Lives Survey webpage and the Active Lives Online website, including reports and data tables.

The Active Lives Children and Young People Survey, 2017-2018 commenced during school academic year 2017 / 2018. It ran from autumn term 2017 to summer term 2018 and excludes school holidays. The survey identifies how participation varies across different activities and sports, by regions of England, between school types and terms, and between different demographic groups in the population. The survey measures levels of activity (active, fairly active and less active), attitudes towards sport and physical activity, swimming capability, the proportion of children and young people that volunteer in sport, sports spectating, and wellbeing measures such as happiness and life satisfaction. The questionnaire was designed to enable analysis of the findings by a broad range of variables, such as gender, family affluence and school year.

The following datasets are available:

1) Main dataset includes responses from children and young people from school years 3 to 11, as well as responses from parents of children in years 1-2. The parents of children in years 1-2 provide behavioural answers about their child's activity levels, they do not provide attitudinal information. Using this main dataset, full analyses can be carried out into sports and physical activity participation, levels of activity, volunteering (years 5 to 11), etc. Weighting is required when using this dataset (wt_gross / wt_set1.csplan).

2) Year 1-2 pupil dataset includes responses from children in school years 1-2 directly, providing their attitudinal responses (e.g. whether they like playing sport and find it easy). Analysis can be carried out into feelings towards swimming, enjoyment for being active, happiness etc. Weighting is required when using this dataset (wt_gross / wt_set1.csplan).

3) Teacher dataset includes responses from the teachers at schools selected for the survey. Analysis can be carried out into school facilities available, length of PE lessons, whether swimming lessons are offered, etc. Weighting was formerly not available, however, as Sport England have started to publish the Teacher data, from December 2023 we decide to apply weighting to the data. The Teacher dataset now includes weighting by applying the ‘wt_teacher’ weighting variable.

For further information about the variables available for analysis, and the relevant school years asked survey questions, please see the supporting documentation. Please read the documentation before using the datasets.

Latest edition information

For the second edition (January 2024), the Teacher dataset now includes a weighting variable (‘wt_teacher’). Previously, weighting was not available for these data.

Main Topics:

Topics covered in the Active Lives Children and Young People Survey include:

• Sport and physical activity participation
• Well-being
• Health

Key Performance Indicators from Active People Survey (APS).

Data on volunteering, club membership, tuition, organised sport, competition, satisfaction with local sports provision, for local authorities, based on Active People Survey.

KPI 1 Participation is defined as taking part on at least 3 days a week in moderate intensity sport and active recreation (at least 12 days in the last 4 weeks) for at least 30 minutes continuously in any one session. Participation includes recreational walking and cycling.

KPI 2 Volunteering is defined as ‘Volunteering to support sport for at least one hour a week’.

KPI 3 Club membership is defined as ‘being a member of a club particularly so that you can participate in sport or recreational activity in the last 4 weeks’.

KPI 4 Receiving tuition is defined as ‘having received tuition from an instructor or coach to improve your performance in any sport or recreational activity in the last 12 months’.

KPI 5 Organised Competition is defined as ‘having taken part in any organised competition in any sport or recreational activity in the last 12 months’.

KPI 6 Satisfaction is the percentage of adults who are very or fairly satisfied with sports provision in their local area.

Organised sport is defined as the percentage of adults who have done at least one of the following: received tuition in the last 12 months, taken part in organised competition in the last 12 months or been a member of a club to play sport.

A statistically significant change is indicated by 'increase' or 'decrease' and this means that we are 95% certain that there has been a real change (increase or decrease).

For more information on measuring statistically significant change within Active People, see the briefing note on Sport England’s website.

The 'Base' refers to the sample size, i.e. the number of respondents.

http://activepeople.sportengland.org/

The Sporting Goods Manufacturing industry has grown steadily in recent years as higher sports participation rates and easing cost pressures support demand. Sport England reported that 63.7% of adults met the 150-minute weekly activity guideline in 2023-24, the highest on record. This shift means manufacturers can now count on a steadier base of demand rather than short-lived tournament spikes, giving businesses more certainty to plan production and launch new products. At the same time, costs have eased from their 2022-23 peaks. ONS data shows producer input prices declined 2.3% in the year to October 2024, with crude oil input costs falling 22.5% over the same period, improving profitability in a design-led industry where strong branding supports pricing power. Over the five years through 2025-26, industry revenue is projected to swell at a compound annual rate of 3.4% to reach £1.1 billion, with revenue set to climb by 2.9% in 2025-26. Innovation and compliance pressures are reshaping competition. World Rugby required smart mouthguards in October 2023, while Six Nations Rugby adopted them in January 2024, pushing up R&D costs but creating higher-value product lines. The UK’s Plastic Packaging Tax increased to £223.69 per tonne in April 2025, prompting redesigns and adding to operating costs. Larger companies are better placed to absorb these shifts, while smaller ones face tighter profit margins. Over the five years through 2030-31, industry revenue is forecast to grow at a compound annual rate of 6.4% to reach £1.5 billion. Modest income gains and £100 million in government funding for sports facilities in 2025-26 will anchor demand, while the UEFA EURO 2028 is expected to boost visibility and trigger upgrades. Sustainability and traceability rules for packaging and supply chains, together with reshoring and weather-driven demand for synthetic pitches, mean future growth will reward manufacturers that adapt quickly.

This statistic displays the results of a survey on the number of men and women in England who were physically active for more than 150 minutes per week from May 2017 to May 2018. In 2018, it was found that approximately 4.59 million women were physically active doing fitness activities for more than 150 minutes a week.

Employment statistics on the Sports Clubs industry in the UK

Employment statistics on the Sports Facilities industry in the UK

In a survey conducted during the 2023/24 academic year, it was found that roughly 40 percent of children aged five to 16 had taken part in football in the week leading up to being surveyed. Meanwhile, 26.6 percent had engaged in running, jogging, cross-country, or the Daily Mile.

Market Size statistics on the Sports Clubs industry in the UK

Market Size statistics on the Sports Facilities industry in the UK

UK market to exceed USD 650 Million by 2029 due to infrastructure focus, event growth, and fan engagement.

BackgroundThere is a lack of evidence of stakeholder perspective and understanding of physical literacy among relevant stakeholders from England. As part of research commissioned by Sport England to develop a physical literacy consensus statement for England, this study presents findings from the first national consultation with stakeholders in England.MethodsOne hundred and ninety-three individual stakeholders (50.3%) from education, community sport, national governing bodies of sport, physical activity and sport coaching sectors completed an online survey consisting of fixed item and open ended questions designed to examine their knowledge, understanding, perceptions and practices relating to physical literacy.ResultsResponses from stakeholders suggested there was confusion in use of the term physical literacy in practice and confusion regarding the definition of physical literacy. Most respondents suggested they were involved in physical literacy related activity and understood the term. However, when probed the physical literacy related activity they referred to was likely not actually physical literacy related. Understanding of the term physical literacy was inconsistent in general. Stakeholders considered the affective, social, physical and cognitive areas (domains) of learning to be most important for developing a positive relationship with movement, sport and physical activity for life.ConclusionsWhile stakeholders are aware of the term “physical literacy” and hold value of it within their practice, there remain key misconceptions relating to what physical literacy is, and debate as to whether any existing definitions truly capture the construct of physical literacy.

This data was collected using an online survey instrument, SurveyMonkey, which was promoted to members of an English Rugby Premiership club via the club’s web site. Participants were invited to follow a link embedded into an online story promoted on the web site. This data set represents those responses submitted by participants identifying as fans of the participating club.

Data Processing: SPSS and AMOS were used to conduct all analysis as identified in the thesis. The primary method of analysis was structural equation modelling (SEM)., Code List: 122 questions presented in columns with 314 columns representing individual responses There is one file comprising 43,920 individual data entries

Data entered into a single Excel spreadsheet and organised by columns (122) and rows (360). The items (questions) are organised as identified above – each column represents a descrete question and the rows the individual responses to these questions. The question needs to be linked to each set of responses for that question. The responses should be linked to the appropriate gender, age, income level and years a supporter to have meaning. A copy of the original survey is available in the thesis identified above