BOSTON, MA—February 21, 2020—More than one out of five Americans belonged to a health club or studio in 2019, totaling 64.2 million consumers ages 6 and older. The latest data shows a fifth consecutive year of growth in membership, while the total number of members has grown by 28% since 2010. In all, 21.2% of Americans were members of a health club or studio in 2019.
“A decade of growth attests to the critical role health clubs play in meeting the physical activity and wellness needs of consumers,” said Joe Moore, IHRSA president and CEO. “As we anticipate strong membership numbers in other key markets, continued member growth in the U.S. shows promise for the industry’s goal of reaching 230 million members worldwide by 2030.”
Based on a study conducted by the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) as part of the Physical Activity Council (PAC), nearly one out of four Americans (24.3%) used at least one U.S. health club or studio in 2019. The total number of health club consumers, which includes members and non-member users, has increased by 27% since 2010. Health club visits have also improved, amounting to 6.7 billion visits in 2019, up from 4.7 billion in 2010.
“Health club goers have come to rely on their health and fitness facilities to engage in regular exercise as average attendance reached an all-time high of 109 visits among members in 2019,” said Jay Ablondi, IHRSA’s executive vice president of global products. “Results from the PAC highlight how important fitness is to the public as more than two-thirds of Americans (67.3%) engage in fitness-related activities, including cardio, resistance training, and group-based exercise.”
Later this year, IHRSA will release the 2020 IHRSA Global Report (June) that will provide an overview of the worldwide health club industry and the 2020 IHRSA Health Club Consumer Report (Sept), which will provide analysis of health club consumer growth, demographics, utilization, and trends as well as insights and applications for club operators. The 2019 IHRSA Health Club Consumer Report is available on IHRSA’s website.
Methodology: Each year, IHRSA conducts an annual health club consumer study as part of the Physical Activity Council (PAC). The PAC is made up of eight of the leading sports and manufacturer associations that are dedicated to growing participation in their respective sports and activities. In 2019, a total of 18,000 online interviews were carried out with a nationwide sample of individuals from the US proprietary online panels representative of the US population for people ages six and older. Strict quotas associated with gender, age, income, region, and ethnicity were followed to ensure a balanced sample.
About IHRSA
The International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association is a not-for-profit trade association representing health and fitness facilities, gyms, spas, sports clubs and suppliers worldwide. Its mission is to grow, promote and protect the health and fitness industry. As the leading authority on the commercial health club industry, IHRSA regularly conducts primary consumer research and industry economic and operating studies. For more information on IHRSA research, visit the IHRSA website.
