Sports, exercise and recreation activities include participating in - as well as attending or watching - sports, exercise, and recreational activities. Recreational activities are leisure activities that are active in nature, such as yard games like croquet or horseshoes.
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Hours per day spent on sports, exercise, and recreation in the U.S. 2009-2024
When surveyed in 2024, it was found that the civilian population of the United States spent an average of **** hours per day on sports, exercise, and recreation. Overall, the year with the highest average number of hours spent on sports, exercise, and recreation was 2020.
Share of people participating in sports, exercise, and recreation in the U.S.
In 2024, U.S. participation in sports, exercise, and recreational activities was skewed slightly in favor of men. This highlights a notable difference in the daily engagement of different genders in sporting activities. Other factors that can influence sports participation include socioeconomic status, age, disability, ethnicity, geography, personal interests, and societal expectations. Such barriers can prevent individuals from having equal access to, and opportunities for, sport participation.
What are the most popular outdoor activities in the U.S.?
Some of the more common outdoor activities in the U.S. include hiking, fishing, cycling, and jogging. In 2023, hiking was the most popular outdoor activity in the U.S., with ** percent of surveyed Americans having participated in the outdoor pastime. Meanwhile, around ** percent of Americans engaged in recreational fishing and **** percent engaged in running, jogging, and trail running. Â
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Bureau of Labor Statistics. (June 25, 2025). Average amount of time spent on sports, exercise, and recreation in the United States from 2009 to 2024 (hours per day) [Graph]. In ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Retrieved July 30, 2026, from /statistics/189535/daily-average-time-spent-on-sports-and-exercise-in-the-us/
Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Average amount of time spent on sports, exercise, and recreation in the United States from 2009 to 2024 (hours per day)." Chart. June 25, 2025. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Accessed July 30, 2026. /statistics/189535/daily-average-time-spent-on-sports-and-exercise-in-the-us/
Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2025). Average amount of time spent on sports, exercise, and recreation in the United States from 2009 to 2024 (hours per day). ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc.. Accessed: July 30, 2026. /statistics/189535/daily-average-time-spent-on-sports-and-exercise-in-the-us/
Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Average Amount of Time Spent on Sports, Exercise, and Recreation in The United States from 2009 to 2024 (Hours per Day)." ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc., 25 Jun 2025, /statistics/189535/daily-average-time-spent-on-sports-and-exercise-in-the-us/
Bureau of Labor Statistics, Average amount of time spent on sports, exercise, and recreation in the United States from 2009 to 2024 (hours per day) ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, /statistics/189535/daily-average-time-spent-on-sports-and-exercise-in-the-us/ (last visited July 30, 2026)
Average amount of time spent on sports, exercise, and recreation in the United States from 2009 to 2024 (hours per day) [Graph], Bureau of Labor Statistics, June 25, 2025. [Online]. Available: /statistics/189535/daily-average-time-spent-on-sports-and-exercise-in-the-us/
