Each year the Sports and Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) puts out its Sports, Fitness and Leisure Activities Topline Participation Report, giving detailed insight into the recreational activities of United States residents. The data have a lot to tell us about Americans’ activity levels, what sports most interest them, sport participation by generation and trends. Unfortunately, the 2015 results show our country becoming more, not less, sedentary, with sharp increases in inactivity seen in older adults and notable upticks for the younger set. Meanwhile, members of Generation Z are dominating the active set with very high levels of team sport participation reported. Below, check out some other key findings from SFIA’s most recent report.
48.4: Percentage of respondents who reported participation in outdoor sports.
61: Percentage of respondents who reported participation in fitness sports.
82.7 million: Number of respondents who identify as “inactive.”
110,882: Number of respondents who reported participation in walking for fitness in 2009.
112,583: Number of respondents who reported participation in walking for fitness in 2014.
6.9: Percentage decline in the number of respondents reporting birdwatching as a favored outdoor activity 2013-2014.
9.6: Percentage increase in the number of respondents reporting white water kayaking as a favored outdoor activity 2013-2014.
7,531: Number of respondents who reported participation in trail running in 2014.
10.9: Percentage increase in the number of respondents reporting trail running as a favored outdoor activity 2013-2014.
59.3: Percentage of Baby Boomer respondents (b.1945-1964) who report participation in fitness sports — the highest level of participation among available categories including individual, racquet, team, outdoor, water and fitness sports.
20: Percentage of Millennial respondents (b.1980-1999) who report participation in racquet sports — the lowest level of participation among the aforementioned available categories.
2,462: Number of respondents who reported participation in pickleball in 2014, the first year interest in the sport was measured by SFIA.
Source: 2015 Sports and Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) Sports, Fitness and Leisure Activities Topline Participation Report