Moving Toward Happiness: What the Data Tells Us

If we want to build happier, healthier societies, we need to prioritize physical activity. An analysis by the Health & Fitness Association (HFA) of the recently released World Happiness Report 2025 and WHO Global Physical Activity Data reveals a clear trend: among OECD nations, countries where more adults meet WHO-recommended activity levels tend to rank higher in happiness.

This insight is especially relevant in these high-income countries, where sedentary work and technology-driven lifestyles often reduce opportunities for daily movement. In these environments, fitness facilities play a crucial role. By making structured exercise safe, accessible, and effective, the health and fitness industry supports individuals in reaching recommended activity levels—enhancing physical and mental well-being, strengthening social connection, and contributing to healthier communities.

The analysis found a moderate negative correlation (r = -0.345) between physical activity levels and national happiness rank—meaning that as physical activity increases, happiness rankings improve. The regression coefficient (-1.19) indicates that for every 1 percentage point increase in the share of adults who are physically active, a country's happiness rank improves by approximately 1.2 places. The relationship was found to be statistically significant (p = 0.047). The corresponding linear regression model showed an R² of 0.111, indicating that physical activity levels alone explain just over 11% of the variation in national happiness rankings—a meaningful share, given the many complex factors that influence happiness.

These findings reinforce what our industry has long known: exercise matters. And not only for individual health, but for population-level outcomes. With a global network of facilities, certified professionals, and welcoming community spaces, the health and fitness industry is uniquely positioned to help people lead more active—and happier—lives.