The fitness market is evolving at an incredible pace with new business models, training concepts, and trends emerging constantly. Despite setbacks in 2020, the sector has demonstrated how quickly it can adapt with online and virtual training now mainstream activities.
In this article – we’ve collated the latest fitness market data and statistics including size, growth, biggest brands, and online segments.
If you’re currently running (or thinking of starting) a fitness business, then it’s important to have a good grasp of the market. Understanding the size of the opportunity, predicted growth, and current trends will help you create an effective business strategy.
- Global fitness market
- US fitness market data
- Biggest fitness club operators
- Top fitness franchises
- Online market segment
- Fitness market research report
We’ve spent 15+ years working in the fitness industry, from leading gym chains to global equipment manufacturers, so know the market inside-out. We proactively study the ever-changing landscape, highlight new trends, and analyse the big players. For the last 5 years, we’ve shared this expertise with the wider industry through our articles and Research Reports which are available to purchase.
The most comprehensive & up-to-date report on the fitness industry available. Includes revenue, growth, future outlook plus much more.
Global Fitness Market
The global health and fitness club market is worth approximately $88.5 billion, with 200,000 clubs and over 184 million members worldwide. This is (unsurprisingly) a decrease in revenue since 2019 and flat in terms of memberships.
The fitness market is currently growing at 7.5% per year based on gym and health club revenue statistics. However, this doesn’t include all of the related industries within fitness, such as equipment, trackers, apps, or supplements. For more detailed info on each of these fitness segments, take a look at our dedicated articles…
US Fitness Market Size
The US is the world’s largest health and wellness market, with 31,028 clubs. This is 10,000 less than three years ago, which equates to an annual growth rate of -9% (it was +4.5% pre-Covid). Industry revenue is rebounding and is currently estimated at $10.7 billion.
Over 64.2 million Americans belonged to at least one health club, many holding memberships to both ‘traditional’ and ’boutique’ facilities. Visits to health clubs, gyms, and studios have surpassed 6 billion. This is an average of 94 visits per person.
Although the gym industry has a reputation for a high turnover of members, the average retention rate is 72.4%. And recent workout statistics show that 40% of people consider wellness a top priority so there’s plenty of demand for gym services.
You might also like… Our Fitness Industry Insights & Research Hub where you can find all of the latest data and trend info in one place.
Biggest Club Operators
Gym operators based in the US dominate the top 10. LA Fitness has regained it’s position as the largest fitness operator in the world, with revenue of $2.6 billion last year.
Here are the current industry leaders based on revenue…
- LA Fitness – $2.6 billion
- 24 Hour Fitness – $2.6 billion*
- Life Time Fitness – $1.8 billion
- Invited (ex ClubCorp) – $1.7 billion
- Anytime Fitness – $1.5 billion
- Planet Fitness – 936.8m
- Pure Gym $607m
- Virgin Active – $556m
- Gold’s Gym – $580m
- Central Sports – $321.74m
*Recent data isn’t available on 24 Hour Fitness so this reflects their 2021 revenue – we’ll update this list once all the financial info is available.
Top Fitness Franchises
Entrepreneur’s 2024 Franchise List includes three fitness brands in its top 100. Crunch Fitness ranks highest at #29, ahead of Anytime Fitness (#77) and Orange Theory (#96). Planet Fitness and F45 Training, the top two franchises in 2023, no longer rank in the top 500 in 2024.
You might also like… our articles on Fitness Franchises, Yoga Industry Insights, Growth Areas & Trends, or the rapidly growing Nutrition Market.
Also featuring in the top 500 are The Exercise Coach, Gold’s Gym, Club Pilates, Pure Barre, Burn Boot Camp, CycleBar, and Workout Anytime 24/7. Their rankings reflect the impact of new trends towards fitness on-demand, HIIT, and boutique experiences.
Online Fitness Market
There’s no doubt that 2020 saw online fitness training go mainstream. Global events accelerated the sector’s growth and helped establish it as a viable option for consumers around the world.
- Prior to the pandemic, the online fitness market was valued at $6bn.
- It’s predicted to grow at 33.1% CAGR, hitting $59bn by 2027.
- North America currently has the greatest market share but Asia Pacific is expected to see the largest growth in the future.
It’s clear from this data that fitness is a growth industry with steady increases in market revenue since 2020. The factors driving demand, such as rising obesity levels, aging populations, and growing consumer interest in health, all look set to continue. So, there’s no doubt that the fitness market will also continue growing – the key to tapping into it will be finding the best segment and audience to focus on.
Buy Our Complete Fitness Market Research Report
This is the most comprehensive and up-to-date health and fitness market report available. Unlike others, you get extended access to the 2024 edition, including any updates that are made as new industry data becomes available. Ideal for business planning, the 90-page report includes;
- Fitness industry revenue & growth by market segment
- Gym market size, growth & membership statistics
- Online, virtual & interactive fitness market developments
- Financial information for the largest club operators globally
- Biggest & fastest growing fitness franchises
- Insights into the boutique fitness studio & personal training segments
- Latest industry trends & how to capitalise on them
- Growth markets, segments & audiences including Millennials
- Data on fitness tracker, app & equipment segments
- Outlook & evidence-based predictions for the future of the industry
- 14-day money-back guarantee, no questions or hassle.
The most comprehensive & up-to-date report on the fitness industry available. Includes revenue, growth, future outlook plus much more.
Note: Data is correct at the time of publishing, but it’s important to do your own local research when making business decisions.
