Gym-Industry-Statistics

20 Gym Industry Statistics For All Fitness Lovers [2024]

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We’ve all been there — you’ve eaten a bit more recently and now you’re thinking about how to stay fit or lose a few pounds. Of course, working out is beneficial even if you’re completely satisfied with your weight.

However, have you ever wondered how many people across the globe work out and why? You’ll find that and many other gym industry statistics in this article.

Top Gym Industry Stats (Editor’s Pick)

  • The US Fitness and Health industry is worth $27.6 billion.
  • Over 60 million Americans are members of gyms and/or health clubs.
  • There are 201,000 health clubs and gyms globally.
  • The majority of gym-goers are between 18 and 54.
  • More than 45% of New Year’s resolutions are related to gyms and working out.
  • The average gym membership price in the US is $58 a month.
  • CrossFit has almost tripled its market share since its launch in the early 2000s.

General Fitness And Health Industry Statistics

General Fitness And Health Industry Statistics

The fitness and health industry growth has been steady, and the gym market, in particular, is on the rise. The stats below will give you some further insight into how big the market really is.

1. The US health club industry is worth $27.6 billion.

(My Protein)

Moreover, the industry is expected to continue to grow in the following years. This growth is probably provoked by healthier lifestyles and toned physique becoming more fashionable.

However, the health industry should fight the US obesity epidemic that currently costs the country more than $150 billion for healthcare annually.

2. The average gym makes $1,000 daily from memberships.

(Biznews)

Gyms and health clubs have different ways of collecting revenue, but they all have one thing in common — memberships. According to gym membership statistics, you will pay a monthly fee of $30–150 depending on the gym, while day passes range from $10–20 and allow access to a gym for 24 h or less.

3. There are 32.269 gyms in the US.

(Statista)

It seems like everywhere we look these days, there’s a new gym or a boutique fitness studio. Moreover, boutique fitness industry statistics show that the number of health and club fitness members in the US has reached 56.19 million, which translates to 39% of people who currently are members of a gym.

4. 64.19 million Americans belong to a gym or health club.

(Statista)

With such a huge number of branches, the fitness industry is bound to have an astounding number of clients and employees. What’s more, the industry employs 713,000 people — from receptionists to personal trainers.

5. The global health and fitness industry is worth $96 billion.

(Statista)

When it comes to size and value, the global fitness market has been estimated at an astonishing $94 billion. This figure shows a steady growth worth $84 billion in 2014 and $67 billion in 2009.

6. There are 201,000 gyms and health clubs worldwide.

(Statista)

Over 174 million people enjoy fitness and health clubs services. To put this in perspective, that’s around a third of the entire US population. This really illustrates how big the gym market is and that it is constantly expanding.
After checking some general numbers, let’s take a look at some specific gym industry statistics to find out more about different gyms around the world.

The Fitness And Health Industry Demographics

The Fitness And Health Industry Demographics

In this segment, we’ll take a closer look at who exactly attends the health centers and gyms the most. Some of these statistics related to gym membership demographics may surprise you.

7. Most gym-goers are between 18 and 54.

(Elivate)

This is hardly news since these age groups have made up the most gym members for a very long time now.
However, gym attendance statistics show that some gyms and fitness centers have started targeting the two age groups that have been neglected until now — the teens (12–17) and the elderly (55+).

8. 55% of gyms offer PT sessions and programs for children under 18.

(Elivate, Clubindustry.com)

More and more centers follow the latest gym membership trends and provide different activities for children aged 12 to 17. These activities include HIIT training, personalized sessions, group sessions, and martial arts.

9. 87% of GenZers work out regularly.

(Elivate)

Another growing demographic trend in the fitness industry statistics is the domination of Gen Z. People born after 1997 make up the most active age group, and most of them work out at least three times a week.

10. 57% of men and 49% of women meet minimum activity requirements globally.

(Howstuffworks, Glamour.com)

The most recent data shows that men tend to exercise regularly more than women. Gender can also play an important role in setting fitness industry trends. Guys prefer equipment-based workouts, especially free weights, whereas ladies mostly opt for group-oriented workouts, such as yoga, Zumba, pilates, and similar.

While this might be true for most gym-goers, it shouldn’t be taken as one of the foolproof gym facts. There will always be ladies who love lifting and gents who are into group workouts.

How Much Does It Cost To Workout?

How Much Does It Cost To Workout?

In this segment, we will take a look at how much money an average gym rat spends working out. We will also check some gym and fitness market trends. 

11. The average price of gym membership in the US is $58 per month.

(The Hustle)

Millions of people around the world are active or passive gym members. Furthermore, a staggering 63% of gym memberships go completely unused, a fitness industry analysis shows.

This is most commonly explained by a spike in sign-ups in January, when people make gym resolutions, only to give up a few months later or never start working out at all.

12. The average person spends $56 on health supplements.

(Elivate)

Moreover, they spend $33 on gym memberships, $14 on clothes and accessories for working out, $17 on healthy meal plans, and $14 on fitness trainers.

In fact, whether you plan to start your gym and fitness journey and stick to your basic whey protein powder and l-carnitine pills, or try to go pro and look for the best workout supplements on the market, this is another column you should add to the list of your gym expenses.

If you are a first-timer, it might be a good idea to consult your coach or a nutritionist to help you choose the best supplements for you and advise you about the benefits of pre-workout.

13. The workout attire industry is projected to reach $248.1 billion by 2026.

(Allied Market Research)

Believe it or not, you don’t know how many sports clothes you need until you start working out. As a result, the gym clothes and equipment sales have been steadily increasing, as the sports apparel market was estimated at $167.7 billion in 2018. This can be accredited to growth in gym clothes sales, gym equipment sales, and the promotion of a healthy lifestyle worldwide.

14. Wearables and gym tech are worth over $95 billion.

(Wolters Kluwer Journal)

What seemed like a passing fad just a few years ago is now a huge health and fitness industry trend. Developers have been working around the clock to create the best gym workout app, and app stores are full of all types trying to cater to everyone’s needs.

Apps are frequently paired with wearable fitness tracking devices, usually shaped as watches. They can show you everything from the number of steps you made that day to more advanced workout facts and figures (calorie burn, O2 saturation, and similar).

15. Hiring a personal trainer can cost you anywhere from $40–$70/hour.

(Lessons.com)

The exact price will depend on the trainer’s experience and educational background, your needs, and similar. It also varies depending on the session length.

Furthermore, personal trainer statistics show that hiring a personal trainer in the US can cost as low as $25 for a 30-minute session. Due to the increasing demand and the profession’s profitability, the personal trainer market size has increased significantly in the past few years.

16. CrossFit has a 166% annual growth rate.

(Impakter)

The unique brand of working out that started with a spark of enthusiasm is now sweeping over the entire world. What draws more and more people to CrossFit is its incredible effect on body and mind.

According to Crossfit growth statistics, it has had an annual turnover of $4 billion since it first appeared in 2000. It is so popular that you would have only a 2% chance of failure if you started a CrossFit affiliate sports center right now.

Benefits of Working Out

Benefits of Working Out

The fitness and health industry is recording continuous growth, both locally and globally. It is all due to the current global narratives promoting longevity, vitality, wellness, and a healthy lifestyle. The emerging trends in the fitness industry are constantly changing, but the gyms and health centers seem to be keeping up just fine.

17. Working out can improve your spatial memory by 2%.

(Planet Fitness, Psychology.com)

There are multiple benefits of exercise to the brain, with many scientific studies proving that the brain can better receive new information after a workout session.

It can also help enhance your mood and lower the risk of some conditions, such as Alzheimer’s. On top of that, aerobic exercises increase the actual size of your interior hippocampus, improving your spatial memory.

18. Working out with a friend makes you 95% likely to reach your goal.

(nbcnews.com)

While there are many social benefits of exercise, the benefit of including a workout partner in your activities is proven to help with weight loss journeys. Moreover, workout partner statistics show that working out in a friend group can help you maintain weight loss by 42%.

Apart from these, some apparent benefits of working out regularly are — improved overall health, motivation to go for things, a longer life expectancy, and better physical appearance.

Fitness and Health Industry Statistics Regarding New Year’s Resolutions

Fitness and Health Industry Statistics Regarding New Year’s Resolutions

We all have plans at the beginning of the year and most of them include getting into shape. Let’s find out more about what happens with those people. Do they succeed or do they give up?

(The Conversation, Statista)

It comes as no surprise that many New Year’s resolutions are related to becoming more active and healthy. So, it’s only natural to strive to be a better version of oneself around the holiday season. Every year, around 45% of all resolutions are gym-related, providing a decent explanation for gym growth in the US.

20. Most resolutionists don’t even make it to February, while 22% quit within the first six months.

(The Conversation, Health US news, The Hustle)

Almost 80% of people who start working out at the beginning of January will quit their gym memberships by the end of February.

The “resolutionists” are hardly an emerging trend in the fitness industry, so gyms are not even counting on them as a major source of income. “Gym rats” have proven themselves to be a more stable and reliable gym revenue source.

Conclusion

With all sorts of gym and fitness trends spreading like wildfire, we are all slowly running out of excuses for not working out. The entire industry is getting so huge that it seems possible to live in gyms nowadays.

Even though these gym industry statistics may change a bit due to the current Covid-19 pandemic situation, the industry will certainly recover just as easily and quickly. If there’s one thing we know for sure, it’s that people will always have the desire to live healthy, be stronger and look better, and this is why gyms are here to stay, no matter what.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How much does a personal trainer cost?

A personal trainer could set you back from $25 up to $100 per session, depending on the session length, gym location, trainer’s qualifications, experience, and several other factors.

What type of industry is a gym?

Gyms as businesses belong to the health and fitness industry. This industry also includes spas, yoga clubs, martial arts studios, dance studios, and similar.

How much money is in the fitness industry?

Globally, the health and fitness industry is worth more than $90 billion. The industry has been on a steady to exponential increase over the past two decades and is one of the more lucrative industries in the world at the moment.

What percentage of people have a gym membership?

Around the world, more than 174 million people have a gym membership. That is roughly a third of the US population.

Why invest in the health club industry?

The health club industry is ever-expanding, recording nothing but growth for decades. As a result, investing in some particular industry trends, such as CrossFit, has proven to be an almost bulletproof investment, with very little chance of failing.

How does income affect gym membership?

People with higher incomes tend to exercise more often and join gyms more regularly. This could be due to them having more free time, or it could be just a simple matter of affordability.

Is the gym industry growing?

Yes, it is gradually growing each year, with some trends such as CrossFit recording exponential growth over a brief period.

What age group goes to the gym the most?

Most gym-goers in the US were born after 1997, so they belong to the now-famous Gen-Z. However, gym industry statistics show that some gyms have started targeting children and the elderly by providing special programs catered to their health and fitness needs.

Sources:

  1. Allied Market Research
  2. Biznews
  3. ChannelSignal
  4. Clubindustry.com
  5. Elivate
  6. Franchisehelp
  7. Glamour.com
  8. Health US news
  9. Howstuffworks
  10. Impakter
  11. Lessons.com
  12. My Protein
  13. nbcnews.com
  14. Planet Fitness
  15. Psychology.com
  16. ShareCare
  17. Statista
  18. Statista
  19. The Conversation
  20. The Hustle
  21. The Washington Post
  22. Wolters Kluwer Journal