The Children’s Sport Participation and Physical Activity Study 2018 (CSPPA 2018) was a follow up to CSPPA 2010 looking at participation in sport, physical activity and Physical Education among children aged 10 to 18 on the island of Ireland. CSPPA 2018 was the first study to look at these issues in an all-island context.
For the Republic of Ireland, the 114 schools which participated in 2010 and were eligible were invited to participate. 74 of these agreed to take part, with 12 new schools being included for a total of 86 schools. This allowed 4,697 primary and post primary students to provide input. In Northern Ireland 29 schools and 1,954 primary and post primary students were involved. In total, 6,651 children aged 10 – 18 took part in the study. In addition, a small number of school administrators were interviewed about participation in sport in schools, school facilities and resources available for sport.
Physical activity is defined within the National Physical Activity Plan as ‘any bodily movement produced by the skeletal muscle which causes energy expenditure greater than at rest and which is health enhancing’.
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Share of children meeting MVPA guidelines in Ireland 2018, by socioeconomic status
The National Physical Activity Plan states that all children should achieve at least ** minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) daily to meet the National Physical Activity Guidelines. Within each stage of education, children from the highest socioeconomic background, as measured by the Family Affluence Scale (FAS) were more likely to meet the physical activity guidelines. Of all respondents, ** percent of those classified as 'high' FAS met the physical activity guidelines, compared to ** percent of those classified as 'low' aor 'medium' FAS:
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Sport Ireland. (November 9, 2019). Share of children meeting the physical activity guidelines in Ireland in 2018, by socioeconomic status and stage of education [Graph]. In ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Retrieved July 30, 2026, from /statistics/1099103/share-of-children-meeting-physical-activity-guidelines-across-ireland/
Sport Ireland. "Share of children meeting the physical activity guidelines in Ireland in 2018, by socioeconomic status and stage of education." Chart. November 9, 2019. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Accessed July 30, 2026. /statistics/1099103/share-of-children-meeting-physical-activity-guidelines-across-ireland/
Sport Ireland. (2019). Share of children meeting the physical activity guidelines in Ireland in 2018, by socioeconomic status and stage of education. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc.. Accessed: July 30, 2026. /statistics/1099103/share-of-children-meeting-physical-activity-guidelines-across-ireland/
Sport Ireland. "Share of Children Meeting The Physical Activity Guidelines in Ireland in 2018, by Socioeconomic Status and Stage of Education." ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc., 9 Nov 2019, /statistics/1099103/share-of-children-meeting-physical-activity-guidelines-across-ireland/
Sport Ireland, Share of children meeting the physical activity guidelines in Ireland in 2018, by socioeconomic status and stage of education ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, /statistics/1099103/share-of-children-meeting-physical-activity-guidelines-across-ireland/ (last visited July 30, 2026)
Share of children meeting the physical activity guidelines in Ireland in 2018, by socioeconomic status and stage of education [Graph], Sport Ireland, November 9, 2019. [Online]. Available: /statistics/1099103/share-of-children-meeting-physical-activity-guidelines-across-ireland/
