Team Sports Lead Year-Over-Year Growth While Teen Inactivity Rises and the Gap Between Gender Activity Widens
(March 12, 2026) – For the first time since the Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) began tracking participation, 250 million Americans took part in at least one sport, fitness, or leisure activity in 2025, according to the Association’s 2026 Topline Participation Report.
Considered the sports and fitness industry’s essential resource for participation data, the report tracks activity rates for Americans ages six and older across 126 different sports, fitness, and leisure activities. It includes 10-year trend analyses by category, detailed examinations of inactivity, and new insights into how frequently Americans are achieving federal guidelines for recommended weekly activity.
Overall participation grew 1.2% year over year — a moderation from the 1.7% average annual growth rate since 2020 — while CORE participation reached 158.8 million, increasing 1.3% year over year. CORE participants, the individuals who participate in the majority of play occasions for each sport or activity, make up the foundation of the sports and fitness ecosystem and signal deeper engagement.
“Reaching 250 million active Americans is a historic milestone for our industry,” said Todd Smith, President and CEO of SFIA. “Total and CORE participation continue to rise, which tells us Americans are not just trying activities — they are staying engaged. That kind of sustained participation strengthens communities, drives industry growth, and reinforces the essential role sports and fitness play in American life.”
New to the annual report this year, SFIA introduced a measure of how often Americans elevate their heart rate each week, providing additional activity context beyond the topline participation totals. Under this new metric, 32% of Americans are meeting the federal recommendation of 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity physical activity. The other 68% — two-thirds of Americans — are not yet meeting that guideline, underscoring a significant need for Americans to not just participate in activities, but to increase the weekly frequency of their participation for greater health outcomes.
Overall Inactivity Reaches Historic Low, but Inactivity by Teens and the Gap Between Male and Female Rates Are Trending in the Wrong Direction
The share of Americans who are totally inactive fell below 20% for the first time since SFIA began tracking, marking seven consecutive years of decline.
However, a closer look at inactivity by gender and age reveals important challenges. While inactivity declined for both men and women in 2025, women remain more likely than men to be inactive, with the gender gap widening slightly to 6.3 percentage points, up from 5.9 points the previous year.
By age, inactivity declined across every group except one: teens ages 13-17, where inactivity increased 4.4% year over year.
“Even with strong participation numbers, our work is far from finished,” Smith said. “The majority of Americans still aren’t meeting federal guidelines for weekly physical activity, teen inactivity levels are rising, and the gap between men’s and women’s inactivity rates has widened. These trends reinforce why continued advancements in access, affordability, and opportunity are needed to strengthen the health of our country.”
Team Sports Lead Category Growth, and Pickleball Continues Its Rise
Among seven activity categories, team sports recorded the strongest growth year-over-year, surpassing 90 million total participants for the first time, while pickleball continued its five-year streak as the fastest-growing sport. SFIA added two activities to this year’s report: disc golf and padel, bringing the total number tracked to 126, reflecting the growing variety of sports, fitness, and leisure activities available to participants.
Looking Ahead
The 2026 Topline Participation Report serves as an important benchmark as SFIA advances its 2034WARD Campaign, a decade-long initiative focused on leveraging upcoming global sporting events hosted in the U.S. to grow participation, expand access, and help more Americans build active lifestyles.
The 2026 Topline Participation Report is free to SFIA members and available for purchase for $700 for non-members.
The report is provided free of charge to members of the media. To request a copy of the report or to schedule an interview with an SFIA representative, please contact Lisa Futterman at [email protected].
For a one-page overview of key trends from the report, click here.
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ABOUT SFIA: The Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) is the leading trade association for the sports and fitness industry, representing over 700 brands, manufacturers, retailers, and governing bodies who collectively employ more than 375,000 people and generate $150 billion in domestic sales. With a mission of increasing sports and fitness participation and promoting industry vitality, SFIA provides thought leadership, advocacy, research, and membership services that empower its members and drive industry growth. SFIA’s leading research and comprehensive insights help members make informed decisions, while its advocacy efforts champion physical health and economic impact. To learn more about joining SFIA’s network dedicated to advancing the sports and fitness industry, please visit sfia.org.