Jose Sanchez
Research expert covering society, economy, & politics for Latin America
Physical Activity - Statistics & Facts
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 19.3 percent of the U.S. population was engaged in sports and exercise each day in 2019. Male participation was higher (20.7 percent) than the participation rate of women (18 percent). This included participation in sports, exercise and other active leisure activities. In 2019 in Wales approximately 32 percent of the population reportedly participated in any sporting activity at least three times per week. On average, Americans spent half an hour per day doing sport, exercise and on recreation in 2019. Staying healthy, weight loss, and to improve and maintain physical strength are amongst the main reasons people in Japan exercise, work out or do sports in 2020.
Amongst the most popular outdoor activities in the United States are hiking, camping, biking, fishing and running & jogging. More than 50 million people participated in hiking and more than 60 million people participated in running, jogging and trail running in 2019. In 2019, 59.1 percent of Gen Z (2000+) respondents stated that they participated in outdoor activities, making them the generation with the highest participation.
High school sports are an important part of sports culture in the U.S. About 4.53 million male students participated in some high school sports program in the 2018/19 school year, with football being the most popular sport with more than one million participants. Total participation of female students was at around 3.4 million in 2018/19. Track and field was the sport with the most participants with almost 488 thousand participants. Volleyball was similarly popular with more than 450 thousand participants in 2019.
Amongst the most popular outdoor activities in the United States are hiking, camping, biking, fishing and running & jogging. More than 50 million people participated in hiking and more than 60 million people participated in running, jogging and trail running in 2019. In 2019, 59.1 percent of Gen Z (2000+) respondents stated that they participated in outdoor activities, making them the generation with the highest participation.
High school sports are an important part of sports culture in the U.S. About 4.53 million male students participated in some high school sports program in the 2018/19 school year, with football being the most popular sport with more than one million participants. Total participation of female students was at around 3.4 million in 2018/19. Track and field was the sport with the most participants with almost 488 thousand participants. Volleyball was similarly popular with more than 450 thousand participants in 2019.
