100+ Gym Statistics 2024: Memberships & Trends

The fitness industry is on the rise after a brief recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic hit and people are coming back to the gyms. If you’re a gym owner, trainer, or simply a fitness enthusiast, we’re going to tell you about the 100+ most interesting Gym statistics, insights, and trends that will help you understand a lot.

Our list of fitness industry statistics includes key facts and stats about memberships, demographics, revenue, trends, and more. We’re only going to share the latest available information here along with credible sources to keep you updated. This will help you plan and execute your business or personal decisions wisely.

Let’s move further to explore the best Gym and fitness statistics and trends in 2024:

How Many Gyms Are in the World?

A gym is a commonly designated place for exercise, which could be private or public. The term “Gym” comes from the Latin word “Gymnasium” which was further formed from the Greek word “Gymnasium” which means a public place where exercises are practiced. The first gym was established in ancient Persia over 3,000 years ago and it was completely different from what a modern gym looks like.

Fast forward to now, there are over 220,000 gyms in the world at the end of 2023 with more than 200 million members worldwide. Out of these, 41,190 gyms are in the United States which is the most for any country. The fitness industry has been rising the graph over the years but was hindered by the pandemic.

However, the global quarantine also made people conscious of their health and motivated them to stay fit which led them to gyms and fitness centres. It has kicked off a fitness revolution where people are not hesitating to invest their time and money in health. The statistics available below prove this claim.

How the Fitness Industry Changed Pre- and Post-Covid?

The fitness industry was hit heavily due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. Before the tragedy arrived, the global health and fitness industry completed the decade with record performance around the world with its revenue totaling US$96.7 billion in 2019. It was a 2.7% increase from 2018 and this number has been positively growing since 2008.

However, when the lockdown was imposed across nations in 2020, people couldn’t go to the gyms. According to an IHRSA report, the U.S. gym and health club industry lost a whopping $13.9 billion from mid-March to August 31, 2020, due to the pandemic. Around 25% of the members who canceled their membership claimed that they wouldn’t return even when the gyms reopened.

This sudden shock paved the way for innovation and this led to the rise of home workouts, virtual fitness trainers, and digital fitness influencers. According to a report by McKinsey, more than 70% of Americans were considering home equipment or digital fitness subscriptions during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A report by Mindbody revealed that over 85% of gym-goers were using virtual workouts, with 7 in 10 reporting that they have tried virtual classes provided by their existing gyms. Eventually, the industry recovered when the world reopened and the global digital fitness market size is forecasted to reach $59.231 billion by 2027, expecting a CAGR of 33.15 in the period.

Gym Demographics: Country, Age, Race, and More:

Now let’s take a look at the demographic of gym goers and their key statistics:

• 20-64 years old is the age group with the highest number of gym goers. They make up about 60% of all the gym memberships as per a report by IHRSA.
• Seniors with age 55 or older have been more interested in gyms lately with their participation rising at a whopping 231% over the past 20 years.
• Both males and females are almost equally interested in going to the gym. 52% of all people with a gym membership are females while 48% are males.
• In 2019, 36% of active gym goers were millennials and the number has risen to 42% at the end of 2023.
• White individuals make up the majority of people in the gym with 66.3% followed by Hispanics at 12.8% and Black people at 12.3% in the United States.

• 43% of all gym-goers have an annual household income of more than $75,000.
• People with a higher education are more likely to join a gym. Around 46% of all gym-goers have a college degree.
• Professionals and managers make up the largest number of gym members, 36%, in the United States.
• Single people represent 35% of all gym memberships followed by couples and families with 39% and 25%, respectively.
• People residing in urban areas make up 81% of all gym memberships while rural residents make up only 19% of them.

Gym Goer Demographics by Generation:

• 16% are Gen Z (under 22 years old)
• 35% are Millennials (23-42 years old)
• 22% are Gen X (43-57 years old).
• 21% are Boomers (58-77 years old)

Interesting Facts about Americans in the Gym:

The United States is the biggest market for the fitness industry as it has the highest number of gym-goers. In 2019, more than 64 million Americans had a gym membership and the number has crossed the 75 million mark at the end of 2023. Here are some very interesting gym statistics and trends about Americans:

• More than 22% of the U.S. population aged 6 and above has a gym membership.
• The average U.S. gym goer visits the gym at least two times a week.
• Planet Fitness is the most popular gym chain in the United States with a membership count of over 15 million.
• Around 79% of the U.S. population doesn’t have a gym membership. So, there are still a lot of people to target if you’re opening a new fitness business.
• In 2020, 60% of Americans revealed that they are enjoying home workouts to the point that they don’t want to return to a physical gym.
• 70% of Americans used at least one fitness app during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• 56% of Americans are now working out online after the pandemic while 16% are exercising more than they did before the quarantine.

• The average cost of a monthly gym membership is $28.58 in the United States while it’s $15.9 in Canada.
• The average cost of a gym membership in New York is $134.50 per month.
• Budget-friendly gyms like Planet Fitness and Anytime Fitness usually offer memberships starting around $20-$30 per month while high-end gym chains such as Equinox and Lifetime Fitness cost more, around $80 to $100, but offer more comprehensive services like personal training, spa, boxing, etc.
• In the United States, California has the highest number of health clubs followed by Texas while Florida, New York, and Pennsylvania are in the third, fourth, and fifth positions, respectively.
• On the contrary, Wyoming has the least health and fitness gyms in the U.S.
• Americans spend more than 1.5 million in a year on unused gym memberships.

Gym Goers Usage Stats & Insights:

Now let’s go through some very interesting statistics, facts, and insides about gym-goers that will help you understand the trends in the industry:

• Nearly 2.5% of the world’s population goes to the gym.
• An average person goes to the gym around 104 times a year.
• Around 44% of gym members go to the gym at least twice a week according to a survey by Statistic Brain.
• 49% of gym members go to the gym over 100 times a year.
• Around 21% of gym goers spend time between half an hour and an hour in the gym while 35% of fitness enthusiasts spend between an hour and two hours in the gym.
• The majority of gym-goers visit the fitness centers to exercise in the morning (5 AM to 9 AM) and evening 5 PM to 8 PM).
• On average, a person spends around an hour per visit at the gym.
• Almost 25% of gym-goers visit the facility during lunch hours (12 PM to 2 PM).

• 38% of gym goers use training equipment and machines while 31% of the goers use convenience items.
• 24% of gym goers use the pool in their gyms while the same percentage of people use wellness services in their gym.
• 50% of all new gym members quit within the first 6 months with lack of motivation being the top reason to bid adieu.
• 67% of all gym members never use their membership and stop visiting the fitness center within a few days.
• Treadmills are the most popular gym equipment followed by free weights and elliptical machines.

• 30% of gym members use a personal trainer for exercise and diet.
• Around 73% of the people go to the gym alone and the remaining 27% visit with a buddy or a group.
• 44% of all gym goers participate in group fitness classes which includes more females than males.
• 50% of gym-goers prefer cardio activities while 33% primarily focus on strength training.
• Around 85% of gym goers also exercise at home while 63% of them use online fitness videos and apps.
• Fitness studios that focus on specific workouts, such as yoga, Pilates, or martial arts are on the rise after the pandemic.

Top Reasons People Join & Quit the Gym:

Here are the top reasons for people to join a gym and quit it:

Reasons to Join & Stay with a Gym:

• The biggest reason people join a gym is due to self-motivation to get fit and stay in shape followed by the influencer of friends and fitness influencers.
• 44% of members join a gym to get in shape while 42% goers join to get moving and have an active lifestyle.
• 34% of gym goers visit the gym regularly to build muscles.
• 28% of gym goers visit the gym to relieve stress and improve mental well-being.
• 33% of gym members want to lose weight, 32% of them want to look good, and 31% of them just want to have fun.

• 50% of gym-goers stick to their gym and renew their membership because they like its location.
• 45% of gym-goers stay with their gym due to positive interactions with the gym staff.
• 38% of gym-goers renew their membership as they like the equipment and atmosphere.
• Yoga, pilates, and barre are among the top reasons for females to join a gym.
• Strength training is the top reason for males to join a gym.

Reasons to Quit or Change a Gym:

• The most common reason for gym cancelations is the lack of commitment, motivation, and boredom.
• Financial constraints are the second most common reason to quit a gym followed by life circumstances such as relocation, injury, or changes in work schedule, etc, comes on third.
• 21% of gym goers tend to quit a gym and join another one if they find any lack of equipment.
• 11% of gym goers cancel their membership if they don’t find the gym staff interactive.
• 18% of gym goers quit the gym if the trainers and courses are not good.
• 17% of gym-goers prefer switching gyms if they don’t find a sense of community.
• 20% of gym goers may cancel or switch the gym if the wellness services are not good.

Gym Memberships Stats and Revenue Insights:

Now let’s move further to check some stats and facts about gym memberships and revenue to figure out how to boost your business as a gym owner or trainer:

• According to Statista, the global fitness and gym industry is worth $96.7 billion in 2023.
• It’s estimated to grow at a CAGR of 7.5% to reach $125.23 billion by 2030.
• The industry is expected to serve more than 230 million members by 2030.
• The fitness industry will generate a whopping $216 billion by the end of fiscal year 2023.
• The fitness, health, and gym club industry revenue for the U.S. market is $30.8 billion at the end of 2023, which is a slight increase from last year.
• The highest annual revenue for the industry was $45.4 billion in 2019.

• By region, North America is the top revenue earner for the industry followed by Europe and Asia-Pacific in the second and third positions, respectively.
• The United States has the most number of members of health & fitness clubs followed by Germany while the United Kingdom is in the third spot.
• More than 60% of gym-goers have an annual membership while the rest of them prefer monthly subscriptions or shorter contracts.
• Regular gym-goers (people who visit the gym over 100 times a year) make up 49% of all memberships.
• The average monthly cost of a gym membership is between $51 and $58 globally. This number is $28.58 in the United States.
• The average gym attrition rate is around 30%. It’s the rate at which members cancel their memberships.

• 14% of female gym-goers quit after a year while only 8% of males quit the gym after a year.
• A study by the Small Business Administration (SBA) revealed that 80% of gyms survive the first while 70% of them complete the second year. And, only 50% of them operate beyond five years.
• According to a survey by Club Industry, a profitable gym usually has around 1000 members or more.
• The average profit for a gym can range between $80,000 to $180,000 per year as per the same study.
• According to another study by the Association of Fitness Studios, the average small gym owner’s annual salary is around $68,500.
• 12% of all new gym membership sign-ups take place in January, fueled by New Year’s resolutions.
• Therefore, January is the busiest month for gyms in a year while Summer months experience the lowest involvement rate.
• 87% of members who experience a positive onboarding process remain active in the gym after 6 months.
• 85% of fitness club members visit the center twice a week to engage in group classes while 43% of them visit four times a week for the same purpose.

What’s Best for Gym Owners & Trainers?

An average gym member is worth $517 per year for a gym owner. However, there’s a lot one has to offer since the average retention rate of gym members for a fitness facility is 71.4%. This can vary based on several factors including the location of a business, the services it offers, and other demographics.

A study by the Fitness Business Association (FBA) revealed that just a 5% increase in customer retention can increase company revenue by 25 to 95%. There are several things that a fitness business owner can do to boost the retention rate, and hence grow the revenue of your business exponentially.

The efforts to retain a gym member start right at the time of their onboarding. A positive onboarding experience is proven to make customers stay with your business. Other leading things are a certified and well-behaved staff, excellent wellness services, and promoting group workout habits to give a sense of community.

Having a digital presence and a good reputation is also one of the key driving factors behind people staying with you but it also comes with the responsibility of providing exceptional services. If you can manage them both, you’re going to have a successful fitness business that will surely grow every year.

Final Take:

The fitness industry has undergone some drastic changes in recent years, led by the global coronavirus pandemic. People are finally realizing the benefits of giving importance to fitness and this has boosted the growth of the industry. However, the traditional fitness clubs are no longer the only preferred medium.

More people are now switching to digital and virtual mediums to stay fit such as online courses, virtual training, and fitness apps. Consumer habits are rapidly evolving amidst the greater emphasis on health and well-being. People are now ready to invest significantly to get moving and stay in shape.

Gen-Z and Millenials are the leading groups who are taking the fitness revolution forward and the coming generations will follow the lead. This opens a big space for business owners to take their chunk from the fitness industry’s high-potential revenue but they can only do it with the right strategy.

That’s all for this post. If you have any doubts or queries regarding anything mentioned here, feel free to connect with us in the comments.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Here are the most frequently asked questions about gym and fitness statistics:

What percentage of gym members actually go?:

53% of gym members who have a membership go to the gym regularly globally. Out of these, 38% of them visit the gym multiple times a week and 15% of them attend the fitness facility only once a week. According to a study by the FBA, 18% of total gym members never go to the gym and waste their membership.

How much does a gym membership cost?:

The average monthly cost of a gym membership is between $51 and $58 globally. The specific price varies according to the location and several other factors. In the United States, the average monthly cost of a gym membership is $28.58. However, more than 50% of the gym-goers in the U.S. pay less than $25 a month for fitness facilities.

How many people go to the gym in the U.S.?:

Around 52.6 million people go to the gym in the United States but there are over 65 million people in the country with an active gym membership. We have calculated the number of gym-goers by subtracting the 18% of people whose gym memberships go unused as they never visit the fitness facility.

What is the most common exercise in the gym?:

According to a survey by Strengthlog, Bench Press is the most popular gym exercise for both men and women in 2024. It is followed by Squat and Deadlift in the second and third positions, respectively. Lat Pulldown, Overhead Press, Barbell, Row, Dumbbells Lateral Raise, and Leg Extension are some other highly preferred exercises by all gym goers.

Are gym owners successful?:

An average gym owner is successful but it requires a big investment, the right strategy to find and retain customers, and providing excellent services. Multiple industry reports suggest that the average gym owner’s annual income is between $3000,000 and $500,000. Meanwhile, the average small gym owner’s annual salary is around $68,500.

Do 90% of people quit the gym after 3 months?:

A study about the fitness industry revealed that most people, nearly 90% of all new gym goers, lose their motivation after three months and tend to quit the gym. The same study revealed that 50% of the people who have joined a gym newly can quit it by the sixth month. However, these rates can be altered by gym owners by using the right strategy to boost the customer retention rate of your business.