The following table shows the top 10 sports in terms of active participation by males and females in various age ranges. The data are from Sport England’s Active People survey (2005-06), and considers sports participated in at least once in the last 28 days.
Data are unavailable for males and females aged 14 to 16-years-old.
Males Percentage 17 to 21-year-olds Football (all) 45.4 Gym 16.8 Swimming (all) 11.6 Tennis 6.0 Rugby Union 5.3 Basketball 5.2 Cricket 4.3 Running Road 4.1 Badminton 4.0 Golf 3.9 22 to 24-year-olds Football (all) 33.0 Gym 18.6 Swimming (all) 12.2 Golf 4.4 Tennis 4.3 Badminton 3.9 Squash 3.7 Running Road 3.4 Cricket 3.1 Weight Training 2.8 25 to 30-year-olds Football (all) 23.3 Gym 18.9 Swimming (all) 11.8 Running Road 5.6 Golf 5.0 Squash 3.8 Badminton 3.5 Tennis 2.8 Jogging 2.7 Cricket 2.4 Weight Training 2.4 31 to 35-year-olds Gym 16.0 Football (all) 15.8 Swimming (all) 12.5 Golf 6.4 Running Road 5.9 Squash 3.2 Badminton 2.9 Weight Training 2.5 Tennis 2.4 Running Cross Country/Beach 2.2 36 to 40-year-olds Swimming (all) 14.5 Gym 13.4 Football (all) 11.9 Golf 6.4 Running Road 4.9 Squash 3.1 Badminton 2.7 Tennis 2.5 Weight Training 2.5 Running Cross Country/Beach 2.3 41 to 55-year-olds Swimming (all) 11.8 Gym 9.7 Golf 6.9 Football (all) 6.6 Running Road 3.2 Badminton 2.6 Squash 2.2 Tennis 2.1 Running Cross Country/Beach 1.5 Weight Training 1.5 56 to 59-year-olds Golf 8.2 Swimming (all) 7.7 Gym 5.8 Badminton 2.0 Running Road 1.5 Tennis 1.5 Football (all) 1.4 Bowls (all) 1.3 Squash 1.2 Exercise Bike 1.2 60+year-olds Golf 7.2 Swimming (all) 5.8 Bowls (all) 4.0 Gym 3.3 Exercise Bike 1.0 Tennis 1.0 Badminton 0.9 Keep Fit 0.6 Football (all) 0.6 Weight Training 0.4 Female 17 to 21-year-olds Swimming (all) 23.4 Gym 18.6 Football (all) 5.1 Badminton 3.6 Tennis 3.5 Running Road 3.3 Aerobics 2.5 Horse Riding 2.5 Netball 2.4 Jogging 2.0 22 to 24-year-olds Swimming (all) 22.1 Gym 18.6 Aerobics 4.6 Running Road 3.4 Badminton 2.8 Tennis 2.6 Football (all) 2.5 Jogging 2.1 Yoga 1.8 Horse Riding 1.8 Swimming (all) 21.7 Gym 17.3 Running Road 4.3 Aerobics 4.2 Yoga 3.0 Badminton 2.0 Football (all) 1.8 Horse Riding 1.8 Jogging 1.7 Tennis 1.7 31 to 35-year-olds Swimming (all) 23.0 Gym 14.2 Aerobics 4.2 Running Road 3.8 Yoga 3.0 Badminton 1.7 Exercise Bike 1.7 Tennis 1.6 Horse Riding 1.5 Jogging 1.5 36 to 40-year-olds Swimming (all) 23.2 Gym 13.4 Aerobics 3.8 Running Road 3.2 Yoga 2.7 Badminton 2.2 Tennis 2.0 Horse Riding 1.9 Exercise Bike 1.6 Pilates 1.4 Keep Fit 1.4 41 to 55-year-olds Swimming (all) 18.5 Gym 10.9 Aerobics 3.0 Yoga 2.8 Tennis 2.1 Badminton 2.1 Running Road 1.8 Horse Riding 1.7 Pilates 1.7 Exercise Bike 1.6 56 to 59-year-olds Swimming (all) 15.1 Gym 7.6 Yoga 3.1 Aerobics 2.2 Pilates 1.9 Keep Fit 1.8 Golf 1.8 Badminton 1.7 Exercise Bike 1.6 Horse Riding 1.1 60+-year-olds Swimming (all) 8.6 Gym 3.1 Keep Fit 2.5 Bowls (all) 2.4 Yoga 1.9 Golf 1.4 Exercise Bike 1.1 Aerobics 1.0 Aquafit 0.9 Pilates 0.9
The 2002 Game Plan strategy document suggested an aspirational goal to increase the proportion of the adult population who participate in 30 minutes of moderate physical activity five or more times a week to 70 per cent. by 2020.
The Government's official target, set out in DCMS's current public service agreement is to increase the proportion of adults from priority groups participating in both moderate level intensity sport and active sport by 3 per cent. by 2008.
The table sets out the most recent data available measuring the proportion of adults who participate in 30 minutes of moderate intensity activity at least five times a week.
Achieving 30 minutes of moderate intensity level activity, five times a week (Percentage) Male 35 Female 24 Source: Health Survey for England 2004