The growth of the fitness industry could also be associated with the rise of social media, online training, and new trends that involve fitness.

However, there’s more to fitness than just looking good. Many people are aware of the fact that this lifestyle is healthy and has almost no drawbacks. Many fitness industry statistics can prove this statement. We’re going to take a closer look at those later on. So, read on if your interest has been sparked.

Fitness Industry Statistics to Know in 2024

1. As of 2021, there are 104,149 gym, health, and fitness clubs in the US.

(IBIS World)

The number of fitness centers in the US exceeds 104 thousand, and it has increased by 1.7% since 2020. Also, the state with the highest number of such clubs is California (4,612 businesses).

2. The US is the state with the most health clubs (41,370).

(Wellness Creatives)

Health clubs are closely connected to fitness, and one of the well-known health and fitness industry facts is that the number of health clubs has been increasing since 2014 or even earlier. Brazil is in second place and only has 29,525 clubs, which can tell us that the US undoubtedly tops this list.

3. The employment rate of US fitness instructors is expected to increase by 15% from 2019 to 2029.

(BLS)

Personal training industry statistics point out that the personal trainer market size has gotten bigger.

Furthermore, numerous organizations continue to recognize the advantages of fitness for their employees, the employment of fitness trainers and instructors is expected to grow.

4. The home fitness equipment market size is worth $10.73 billion in 2021.

(Fortune Business Insights)

According to home fitness industry statistics, this market has grown since the pandemic has started. Furthermore, it’s estimated to reach $14.74 billion by 2028 at a CAGR of 4.6%. This rapid growth is predicted to return to normal once the coronavirus pandemic is over.

5. The US is 46th on the list of the most inactive countries.

(The Atlantic)

The list of most inactive countries is topped by Malta, Swaziland, and Saudi Arabia. Bangladesh is at the very bottom of the list, with only 4.7% of physically inactive citizens. Similarly, 41% of Americans are doing less than 30 minutes of moderate exercise five times a week.

6. 75% of survey respondents said they would eventually go back to the gym when the pandemic ends.

(Bloomberg)

Many online fitness industry statistics reveal that people mostly plan to go back to the gym after the coronavirus pandemic ends. However, some of them stated they liked home workouts more and would stick to the online variant.

Global Fitness Industry Statistics

7. More than 80% of the world’s adolescent population isn’t active enough.

(WHO)

Health and fitness industry statistics show that more than 80% of the world’s adolescent population isn’t physically active enough. That’s why the World Health Organization has promised to reduce insufficient physical activity by 10% until 2025.

8. Low-income households have a 42% inactivity rate.

(Athletic Business)

Socioeconomic factors most certainly drive the number of potential customers in the fitness industry. Fitness equipment industry statistics prove that a person must spend money on a gym membership, one-off fitness classes, or sports equipment to engage in regular exercise and sports.

9. 28% of the European population exercise over five hours weekly.

(Eurostat)

According to Europe’s fitness industry trends and stats, 28% of Europeans exercise over five hours per week and work on themselves very hard. Interestingly, the same percentage of people in Europe fail to do any physical activity outside their working hours.

Another 27% of Europeans work out less than three hours per week, while 17% spend between three to five hours exercising per week. Romania is the country with the biggest share of physically active people.

10. The global wellness market is worth over $4.75 trillion.

(Wellness Creatives)

The wellness and fitness industry market size has increased. For instance, 75% of more prominent companies run wellness programs. Some of the newest trends in this industry are spa centers, essential oils, meditation, digital wellness, etc.

11. The size of the global fitness club industry is worth over $87 billion.

(Policy Advice)

The world holds over 200,000 fitness and health clubs, and Germany, The UK, and the US have the highest number of fitness club memberships. This figure can tell us much about the overall fitness industry size.

Health and Fitness Industry Trends and Statistics

12. In the US, 829,491 people are employed in gyms and fitness or health clubs.

(IBIS World)

The data on health and fitness industry trends reveal that, despite the pandemic, the number of workers employed in the US fitness, gym, and health clubs has increased by 2% between 2016 and 2021.

13. The average price of gym membership in 2021 is $37.71 per month.

(Run Repeat)

The average monthly rate of lower-tier memberships costs 43.29% less than higher-tier membership. Nevertheless, health club membership statistics prove that buying a $13 more expensive membership is beneficial. Numerous upper-level memberships include unlimited access to saunas and pools, basketball courts, personal trainers, meal plans, daycare, weight and cardio machines, towels, locker rooms, and more.

14. 81% of Gen X consume dietary supplements every day.

(CRN USA)

A Majority of those aged 35 to 54 buy dietary supplements. The ones that American adults prefer the most are multivitamins (58%), vitamin D (31%), vitamin C (28%), and protein (21%). Also, the same fitness supplement industry statistics reveal that 79% of female adults and 74% of male adults take dietary supplements.

15. The gym, health, and fitness club market size is $37 billion.

(IBIS World)

The size and growth of the health and fitness market industry have been steady as of 2016 and will probably increase by 7.2% this year. This market is highly competitive and has low barriers to entry.

Fitness Industry Stats About Gyms and Gym Attendance

16. 45 million adults in the US have a gym membership.

(Real Buzz)

People go to the gym more than they did before. Nevertheless, the number of gym-goers varies by state. For example, gym attendance statistics reveal that only 4.5 million people (or 7%) in the UK have a gym membership.

17. Millennials and Gen Z now account for 80% of all gym-goers.

(Les Mills)

Most gym members are either millennials or Gen Zers. It’s also important to note that both prefer simplified training and put a premium on the digitalization of their fitness experience. If gyms want to stay ahead of their competition, they should look into these preferences and design a strategy that accommodates the needs of their attendees.

18. 14% of women quit going to the gym within the first year.

(Infographic Journal)

Fitness industry demographics show that 14% of women quit going to the gym within the first year. On the other hand, only 8% of men cancel their membership within the same period.

The reasons people quit going to the gym might differ. That said, 46% of gym-goers have stated that they canceled the gym membership for financial reasons.

19. 44% of people work out more when with a partner.

(Myzone)

It seems that working out is way more accessible and fun when lifting weights with a partner. In fact, according to statistics on the fitness industry, 44% of gym members admitted they work out more when with a partner. Also, 40% of gym members have joined group exercise programs on top of their gym membership.

20. There are more than 5,000 Crossfit-affiliated gyms in the US.

(Real Buzz)

The US is the country with the most Crossfit-affiliated gyms in the world. Crossfit growth statistics also reveal that there are 1,149 such gyms in Brazil, 588 in Canada and Australia, 572 in the UK, 662 in Italy, and 481 in France.

21. It takes around 8 to 12 weeks to see the results from HIIT training sessions.

(Womens Health Mag)

HIIT (high-intensity interval training) is one of the most effective ways to lose weight and get toned. However, people must be patient to see results, as this amount of time is how people should wait to see the visible results of any physical activity.

22. An average gym-goer works out twice a week.

(Real Buzz)

Fitness industry growth statistics point out that an average person that goes to the gym works out twice a week. All in all, visiting a gym twice a week is enough. It’s definitely better than wasting an entire membership.

Other Noteworthy Fitness Industry Stats

23. 21% of the US population wears fitness trackers or smartwatches.

(3D Insider)

Smart devices are very popular these days, especially fitness trackers and smartwatches. According to fitness apparel industry statistics, 21% of Americans wear them regularly. 

24. The global fitness app market worth is expected to reach $1.68 billion by 2024.

(Business Wire)

It was estimated that the growth of the global fitness app market would accelerate at a CAGR of almost 12%. Fitness industry statistics point out that the increasing demand for wearable fitness devices is cited as one of the critical drivers for the growth mentioned above. 

It is also worth noting that, as of now, the most prominent participants of the global fitness app market are: Adidas AG, BetterME, FitNow Inc., Google LLC, Nike Inc., ASICS Digital Inc., Azumio Inc., Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., Under Armour Inc., and YAZIO GmbH.

25. The market revenue of all sports equipment will reach $16.756 million by 2025. 

(Statista)

According to fitness equipment industry statistics, the demand for all kinds of sports and fitness equipment has increased steadily throughout the years. It also seems that it will stay that way. 

26. Around 80% of people who have a gym membership don’t use it. 

(Real Buzz)

It seems that one of the trends in the fitness industry is not going to the gym at all. Instead, people waste an insane amount of money on gym memberships, thinking that only buying it would make them start working out. Furthermore, 13% of survey respondents said they even lie about going to the gym while going somewhere else instead.

Fitness Industry Statistics – Wrap Up

As people are becoming more interested in improving their looks and health, the fitness industry grows. The country contributing to this rise the most is the US, as being fit and healthy has become popular.

Of course, getting in shape isn’t as easy as it seems and many people quit working out or even don’t go to the gym even though they have paid for a membership. We shouldn’t forget that regular exercise can improve sleep, fight depression and PTSD, and prevent obesity.

The fitness industry worth hasn’t declined in 2021, which is encouraging. We hope it will stay that way and that the coronavirus pandemic won’t affect gym, fitness, and wellness center owners.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How much is the fitness industry worth?

The gym, health, and fitness club industry market size is $37 billion. Its value is almost the same compared to 2020.

What are the current trends in the fitness industry?

If you are into video games, you might want to combine exercising with some entertainment. This is how it works: a gym user puts on a virtual reality headset and attaches weights explicitly made for the game; by the time the game is finished, the user gets a full workout. Online workouts and yoga are also considered new trends, induced mainly by the coronavirus pandemic.

How competitive is the fitness industry?

The fitness industry is considerably competitive since the entry barriers for this industry are low.
Large, all-inclusive clubs primarily compete with smaller gyms and fitness clubs. In addition to that, there is also competition coming from other home fitness programs and recreational activities.

How large is the online fitness industry?

Live on-demand gym classes are deemed more interactive and much more genuine compared to repetitive online videos. The global online fitness market was worth $6,046 million two years ago and is estimated to reach $59,231 million by 2027.

Is owning a gym profitable?

Considering that the health and fitness industry growth is estimated to stand at 8.7% per year, we can state without any hesitation that the fitness industry is indeed profitable. Currently, there are as many as 200,000 fitness clubs worldwide. Another impressive number is the number of gym-goers, which stands at a whopping 145 million.

Is the fitness industry growing?

Yes. The fitness industry growth is a result of multiple factors:

• Increased personal disposable income
• The growing popularity of gym culture
• The rise in fitness and health awareness

With further urbanization and the rising middle class, gyms are becoming more accessible and affordable. What’s more, Millennials and Gen Z, comprising 80% of gym-goers, tend to lead a sedentary lifestyle, increasing the need for constant exercising. The overall increase of health awareness also contributes to the growth of the industry. As a result, we predict that the industry will continue moving onward and upward.

How big is the fitness industry?

This industry is one of the top 50 industries in the US and is considered one of the bigger industries in the world, as various fitness industry statistics show.

Sources:

1. 3D Insider
2. Athletic Business
3. Bloomberg
4. BLS
5. Business Wire
6. CRN USA
7. Eurostat
8. Fortune Business Insights
9. Global Wellness Institute
10. IBIS World
11. IBIS World
12. IBIS World
13. Infographic Journal
14. Investopedia
15. Les Mills
16. Policy Advice
17. Real Buzz
18. Research Council
19. Run Repeat
20. Statista
21. Statista
22. Statista
23. Statista
24. Statista
25. The Atlantic
26. Trainer Essentials
27. Wellness Creatives
28. Wellness Creatives
29. WHO
30. Womens Health Mag