In 2023, it was found that 22.4 percent of men in the United States participated in sports, exercise, and recreational activities daily, compared to only 19.9 percent of women. These statistics highlight a notable difference in the daily engagement of different genders in sporting activities. Other factors influencing this participation include socioeconomic status, age, disability, ethnicity, geography, personal interests, and societal expectations. These barriers can prevent individuals from having equal access to, and opportunities for, sport participation. What role does gender play in sports participation? Historically, many sports have been segregated by gender, with men and women participating in separate leagues and competitions. This segregation has led to a lack of opportunities for women and girls to participate in sports at the same level as men and boys. Additionally, societal attitudes and stereotypes about gender can discourage women and girls from participating in sports or limit their access to resources and support for their athletic pursuits. This often results in fewer women and girls participating in sports and a lack of representation of women and girls in leadership roles within the sports industry. However, in recent years, there has been an increased focus on promoting gender equality in sports and providing equal opportunities for men and women to participate in sports. This includes initiatives to increase funding and support for women's sports, as well as efforts to challenge gender stereotypes and discrimination in the athletic world. Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sports participation The COVID-19 pandemic led to many people spending more time at home due to lockdowns, remote work, and school closures. This resulted in many people having more time to engage in sports and other physical activities, as seen in the share of the U.S. population engaged in sports and exercise peaking in 2020. With gyms and sports facilities closed or with limited access, many people turned to home-based workouts and other activities. This included activities such as running, cycling, and strength training that could all be done at home with minimal equipment. Online classes and streaming services also saw an increase in usage during the pandemic, providing people with access to a wide range of workout options and fitness programs.

This statistic shows how often people in the United States work out at their gym in 2016 according to a Statista survey. 54 percent of survey respondents said they work out at their gym several times a week.

This statistic shows why people in the United States work out at their gyms in 2016 according to a Statista survey. 54 percent of survey respondents said that their gym helps them to stay healthy.

The COVID-19 pandemic that spread across the world at the beginning of 2020 was not only a big threat to public health, but also to the entire sports industry. Many professional and amateur leagues and events were canceled and the public was advised to not spend time in large groups or in public areas. During an April 2020 survey in the United States, 27 percent of respondents stated that they had been exercising less often than usual as a result of the crisis.

A September 2023 survey in the United States revealed that around 55 percent of Millennial respondents worked out primarily from the comfort of their own homes. In contrast, approximately 56 percent of Gen Z respondents worked out in the gym.

When surveyed in 2023, it was found that the civilian population of the United States spent an average of 0.31 hours per day on sports, exercise, and recreation. In total, this was a slight increase on the previous year's figure, with a higher increase seen among men than women. Overall, the year with the highest average number of hours spent on sports, exercise, and recreation was 2020. Share of people participating in sports, exercise, and recreation in the U.S. In 2023, U.S. participation in sports, exercise, and recreational activities was skewed slightly in favor of men. This highlights a notable difference in the daily engagement of different genders in sporting activities. Other factors that can influence sports participation include socioeconomic status, age, disability, ethnicity, geography, personal interests, and societal expectations. Such barriers can prevent individuals from having equal access to, and opportunities for, sport participation. What are the most popular outdoor activities in the U.S.? Some of the more common outdoor activities in the U.S. include hiking, fishing, cycling, and jogging. In 2023, hiking was the most popular outdoor activity in the U.S., with 20 percent of surveyed Americans having participated in the outdoor pastime. Meanwhile, around 18 percent of Americans engaged in recreational fishing and 17.9 percent engaged in running, jogging, and trail running.

This statistic shows where people in the United States normally exercise, work out or do sports in 2016 according to a Statista survey. 39 percent of survey respondents said they work out at a gym or fitness club.

A September 2023 survey on exercise habits in the United States revealed that around 37 percent of respondents worked out before 9am. Meanwhile, 12 percent of respondents did exercise late in the day, after 8pm.

During a survey in the United States in 2023, around 58 percent of respondents stated that they exercised at least three times a week. In the same survey, some of the most popular physical activities in the U.S. were hiking, biking, and running.

A September 2023 survey on exercise habits in the United States revealed that around 65 percent of male respondents took part in strength training. Meanwhile, just under one quarter of female respondents participated in yoga.

This graph shows the workout habits of the German population in 2021, by gender. According to the corresponding survey, most respondents worked out a couple of times a month. 18.6 of women 21.9 percent of men worked out several times a week.

The statistic depicts the share of participants in physical activity in the United States in 2018, by age group. During the survey, 42 percent of Millennial respondents in 2018 stated that they actively engaged in physical activities.

The coronavirus pandemic forced fitness fanatics to find ways of staying in shape at home. During an August 2020 survey in the United States, 33 percent of respondents stated that they streamed at-home fitness videos as a way of keeping fit during the pandemic.

In 2023, the share of the United States' population who took part in fitness sports peaked at 67.8 percent. This was an increase of 0.4 percent from the previous year.

A September 2023 survey on exercise habits in the United States revealed that around 56 percent of Gen Z respondents worked out in a gym or health club. This number fell to 22 percent among Baby Boomers.

Germans usually opt for exercising several times a month or several times a week, based on this survey. And plenty never do so or prefer to keep their activities to themselves. In any case, gym and sports club memberships, home workouts, various outdoor activities, swimming, jogging and cycling are just a few examples of the ways in which the German population likes to stay fit and active.

Going for a run?

Among those who recently spent money on fitness and health services, most invested in a gym membership – perhaps one of the more typical choices when considering how to integrate regular physical activity in to a schedule. Indeed, cost is one of the considerations influencing the choice of exercise and whether training takes place independently or not. The number of people sometimes going for a run fluctuated in Germany in recent years.

Just working out

Exercise trends change with time, but revenue generated by sports facilities in Germany is expected to grow in the 2020s, though slowly. Due to lockdowns and restrictions implemented during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in 2020 and 2021, health and fitness apps saw a surge in popularity.

Over half of physically active respondents surveyed in Argentina in mid-2021 reported working out at least three times a week. By contrast, 1.5 percent of Argentinians interviewed said that they work out less than once a month.

A January 2022 survey worldwide revealed that almost 42 percent of respondents preferred working out in groups to working out alone. However, a majority of respondents stated that they preferred to exercise alone.

In 2019, 73 percent of the Swedish respondents worked out at least once a week. When compared to the other Nordic countries, this number is slightly lower than in Norway, where 77 percent worked out on a weekly basis, but higher than in Denmark, where 64 percent worked out on a daily basis.

As fitness studios and entire sports leagues have shuttered to limit the COVID-19 spread, home workouts have gained some popularity in recent weeks. From Instagram fitness challenges, YouTube video producers posting home workouts, to personal trainers taking their classes online, there has been a plethora of new online fitness content for consumers to try out. According to a March 2020 survey, 16 percent of adults in the United States had taken to using more online exercise videos due to social distancing and self-quarantining practices during the coronavirus pandemic.

For further information about the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, please visit our dedicated Facts and Figures page.