Headline Findings:
The key findings from the Sport & Active Lifestyles section of the National Survey for Wales are presented below. More detail, such as population counts and geographies, can be found within the main sections of the report.
Participation:
- 59% of adults in Wales participated in sport and physical activity [1] during the last four weeks.
- 35% of adults in Wales participated in sport and physical activity three or more times per week (Future Generations Indicator No. 38). This is lower than in 2022-23 when the percentage was 39%.
Level of Participation [2]:
- 79% of adults, who participate, do so non-competitively, for example for health or leisure.
- 18% competed at an amateur level.
- 2% competed at a professional or semi-professional level.
Demand:
- Overall, 35% of all adults said they wanted to participate in more sport and physical activity.
- 27% of adults who had not participated in sport and physical activity in the last four weeks indicated they would like to participate. This equates to 11% of the total adult population in Wales.
Reasons that would encourage future participation:
- Approximately three in ten adults (31%) had not participated in sport and physical activity in the last 4 weeks and had no demand to.
- Based on the adults who had participated in sport and physical activity or who had demand:
The top three reasons that would encourage future participation were:
- ‘If I was less busy with work’ (44%)
- ‘If there were more facilities, clubs or groups in my area’ (41%)
- ‘If it cost less’ (31%)
Sport Facilities:
Based on the adults who had participated in sport and physical activity or who had demand:
- Almost four in every ten adults in Wales (38%) had used a sport or physical activity facility in their local area within the last 12 months.
- 27% of those who had not used a sport or physical activity facility in their local area had wanted to.
Volunteering in sport:
Fewer than one in ten adults (9%) gave up time for free to help with a sporting activity in the last 12 months, i.e. they volunteered in sport.
Sport Spectating:
37% of adults had attended at least one sport event as a spectator in the last 12 months.
Attitudes towards Physical Activity:
Based on the adults who had participated in sport and physical activity or who had demand:
- 85% agreed or agreed strongly that ‘I have the opportunity to be physically active’ and ‘I have the confidence to be physically active’ and similarly 84% agreed or strongly agreed with the statement ‘I find physical activity enjoyable’.
This report will present the detailed findings from the Sport & Active Lifestyles section of the National Survey for Wales.
For more information on methodology, please refer to the Introduction.