77 must-know fitness industry statistics that can be a game-changer for your business

• The state of the fitness industry: Revenue and number of gyms
• Get to know your members: Member stats and member retention rates 
• Fitness industry statistics on quitting: Understanding gym member cancellations 
• Understanding your target audience: Demographics and behaviour of your members 
• Why they join the gym: Top member motivations 
• What matters most to gym-goers: Key factors of member satisfaction 
• When and how gym-goers exercise: Trends and habits 
• The future of fitness is digital: Stats for online, digital and virtual fitness
• Maximising the benefits of fitness industry statistics for your business

The state of the fitness industry: Revenue and number of gyms 

• The fitness industry is expected to generate $216 billion in revenue in 2023, according to industry estimates (source).
• It is predicted that the fitness industry will increase its revenue by 172% from 2021 to 2028 – reaching $435 billion (source).
• The COVID-19 pandemic led to a sharp decline in the fitness industry's revenue in 2020, with a decrease of 45% (source).
• Despite the pandemic, the fitness industry rebounded by the end of 2021, with an increase of 55% in revenue compared to pre-pandemic levels (source).
• While the industry as a whole had recovered, gyms and health centres ended 2021 5% below their 2019 revenue peak (source).
• In contrast, the online fitness industry saw a significant boost, with a 32% increase in revenue compared to pre-pandemic levels by the end of 2021 (source).
• Only looking at health clubs, the fitness industry includes 200,000 clubs (source).
• Europe is home to over 30% of the world's health and fitness clubs (source).
  
  

Get to know your members: Member stats and member retention rates 

• The fitness industry currently serves 184 million members through health clubs (source).
• The fitness industry as a whole is expected to serve 230 million members by 2030 (source).
• A gym member is valuable, with an average worth of $517 per year (source).
• The average retention rate for traditional health clubs is 4% (source).
• Fitness studios make the cut of outrunning health clubs with an average retention rate of 89% (source).
• Group exercise studios have an average retention rate of 73%. (source).
• If you specialise in personal training, you're in luck – the average retention rate for these studios is a solid 80% (source).

Fitness industry statistics on quitting: Understanding gym member cancellations 

• It's a common phenomenon in the fitness industry that 50% of all new gym members cancel their membership within the first 6 months (source).
• The numbers show that 8% of male gym members cancel their membership after a year (source).
• In comparison, 16% of female gym members cancel their membership after a year (source).
• However, staff interactions with members can make a big difference, reducing the risk of cancellation by up to 33% with just 2 interactions a month (source).
  
  

Understanding your target audience: Demographics and behaviour of your members 

• On average, 24% of men and 6% of women participate in sports and physical exercise (source).
• When it comes to gym memberships:
  • 16% are Gen Z (under 22 years old) (source).
  • 35% are Millennials (23-42 years old) (source).
  • 22% are Gen X (43-57 years old) (source).
  • 21% are Boomers (58-77 years old) (source).
  • 6% are the Silent generation (78 or older) (source).
• Millennials lead in overall exercise participation with 81% (source).
• In comparison, 61% of Boomers (source).
• Millennials outrun all other age groups when it comes to using fitness apps (source).
• Female millennials use fitness apps twice as much as male millennials (source).

Why they join the gym: Top member motivations 

• Get fit: 44% of members join to become fit and toned (source).
• Healthy lifestyle: 42% aim to maintain a healthy and active lifestyle (source).
• Build muscle: 34% want to build up their muscle (source).
• Weight loss: 33% join to lose weight (source).
• Appearance: 32% want to look good (source).
• Fun: 31% join for fun (source).
• Social interaction: 28% want to meet new people (source).
• Stress relief: 28% seek stress relief and mental well-being (source).
• Excitement: 25% go to have an exciting experience (source).
• Family time: 18% want to spend time with family and friends (source).
• Adrenaline rush: 16% seek an adrenaline rush (source).

What matters most to gym-goers: Key factors of member satisfaction 

• Location and cost tie for first place, with 37% of members ranking each as crucial (source).
• Equipment and facilities are close behind, named as important by 35% of members (source).
• Opening hours are also a top concern, with 31% of members considering it key (source).
• The quality of staff is noted as significant by 26% of members (source).
• Atmosphere and design also play a role, with 25% of members valuing them (source).
• Drink and snack options are important to 21% of members (source).
• Wellness amenities, such as saunas, wellness and other service offers, rank as key for 20% of members (source).
• Classes and courses offered are deemed important by 18% of members (source).
• Images and branding are considered crucial by 17% of members (source).
• Feeling a sense of community is valued by 17% of members (source).

When and how gym-goers exercise: Trends and habits 

• Frequency of visits per week:
  • Daily: 21% of gym members (source).
  • Multiple times a week: 38% of gym members (source).
  • Once a week: 15% of gym members (source).
• Workout length:
  • 30-60 minutes: 21% of gym members (source).
  • 60-120 minutes: 35% of gym members (source).
• Peak workout times: Top 6 (source)

• Usage of equipment and services:
  • Weights & Machines: 38% of gym members (source).
  • Punching bags & martial arts: 30% of gym members (source).
  • Personal trainers: 29% of gym members (source).
  • Training/nutritional plans: 23% of gym members (source).
  • Coached courses/teams: 21% of gym members (source).
  • Online courses/workouts: 20% of gym members (source).
  • Outdoor facilities: 14% of gym members (source).

The future of fitness is digital: Stats for online, digital and virtual fitness  

• The online and digital fitness industry is looking into an expected explosive growth with an estimated CAGR of 33.5% from 2020 to 2027 (source).
• Pre-pandemic, online fitness was worth a staggering $6 billion (source).
• Online fitness is projected to reach $59 billion by 2027 (source).
• In 2022, online exercise classes made it to the top 10 fitness trend list at #9 (source).
• Top 3 most popular virtual fitness classes (source):
  • Yoga (32%)
  • HIIT (15.6%)
  • Pilates (8.3%)
    
    

Maximising the benefits of fitness industry statistics for your business

The insights from these fitness industry statistics are a valuable resource that can help drive your business to success. By examining the trends, growth, and demand of various fitness activities and areas, you can make data-driven decisions that align with your business goals.

However, it all comes down to seeing these fitness industry statistics from the perspective of your business.

• Are you taking advantage of the growth opportunities in the fitness industry?
• Are there areas where you should adjust or redirect your focus?
• Do you have a clear understanding of your target audience and their preferences?
• Are you meeting the demands and needs of your members effectively?

By constantly reflecting on these key questions, you can gain a deeper understanding of which direction you should take your business in, and how to effectively reach your goals.