Updated January 10, 2023
The COVID-19 pandemic pummeled the health and fitness industry. Data shows that health clubs, gyms, and studios continued to close at alarming rates in 2021, demonstrating the fitness industry's dire need for financial assistance. Tens of thousands of facilities have permanently closed, and thousands are still climbing out of the hole without the same access to the relief provided to other industries.
How Many Gyms Closed Because of the Pandemic?
Looking at data comparing the number of health clubs, gyms, and studios in operation as of March of 2020—when COVID-19 hit—to those same facilities remaining in operation as of December 31, 2021, we now know January 1, 2022:
25% of all health and fitness facilities closed,
30% of studios closed—an 11% increase since January 1, 2021—and
more than 1.5 million industry jobs have been cut.
Third-party payment processing companies that service 95% of U.S. health clubs, gyms, and studios provided the data for this analysis.
This data proves that time is quickly ran out for many health and fitness facilities, and illustrates why economic relief could have been critical for the industry. During this time, IHRSA President & CEO Liz Clark expressed the dire need for relief.