It’s 2024, and more than three in five Americans have committed to prioritizing their health and fitness, up 29% from last year. As such, the demand for gym memberships has surged, and there’s a vast opportunity for gym owners to enroll new gym members and boost cash flow — all while providing a unique fitness experience.
In this article, we’ll dive into the latest gym membership statistics for 2024, highlighting key trends across the fitness industry, including gym membership growth, usage patterns, training modalities, and more.
Overview of the Fitness Industry Landscape in 2024
As more people commit to improving their physical health, the fitness industry continues to boom. According to the 2024 Fitness Industry Report, the global fitness industry is worth an estimated $244 billion and growing at a rate of 5.6% each year. The gym and health club market is the largest segment, making up nearly 40% of the fitness industry and raking in an estimated total revenue of $95 billion this year.
Are gym memberships growing?
Gym memberships are expected to continue to grow over the next few years. Below are some specific gym membership increase statistics.
- The gym membership market is expected to reach $70.1 billion globally by 2032 at a 3.8% CAGR (compound annual growth rate).
- In 2024, About one in five people in the United States is a member of a gym or fitness center.
- 86.8% of club and studio operators forecasted membership growth in 2024, with more than two-thirds anticipating increases of over 5%.
- 92.6% of operators projected revenue growth for their fitness business in 2024.
Current Statistics on Gym Memberships Worldwide
The following gym membership statistics provide a more comprehensive look at membership trends including growth, retention, cost, and more.
Global membership growth
The top five countries with the highest membership numbers and penetration rates include the United States (23.7%), the United Kingdom (15.9%), Switzerland (14.9%), New Zealand (13.6%), and Germany (13.4%).
Membership retention
- 50% of gym members quit within the first six months.
- Only 8% of male gym members cancel their membership after a year, compared to 16% of female gym members.
Membership trends
- While online fitness programs are rising in popularity, in-person fitness remains a priority, with 60% of members identifying the gym as a “core part of their fitness routine.”
- More members than ever belong to more than one facility type.
- The average membership lasts for 4.7 years.
- January is the peak month for gym memberships, with 12% of new memberships initiated during that month.
Membership cost
- The average cost of a gym membership is $59 per month.
- Membership at budget gyms can cost as low as $10 per month while elite fitness clubs may cost as much as $100 monthly.
- Nearly 40% of gym members pay less than $25 monthly for membership.
Revenue
One gym member is worth an average of $517 to a facility annually.
What percentage of the population goes to the gym consistently?
Nearly half of gym members (49.9%) visit the gym at least twice a week and are classified as “regular’ gym-goers.
Demographics of Gym Members
Age
About 40% of young adults (18-34 years old) have a gym membership, compared to 35% of middle-aged adults (35-54 years old), and 20% of seniors (55 years and older).
Gender
Women make up 57% of gym-goers.
Income
About 43% of gym-goers have an annual household income over $75,000. Gym members who visit the gym more than 100 times a year, classified as “core users,” typically make more than $150,000.
Occupation
Over one-third of gym members (36%) are professionals and managers.
Gym Usage Patterns
Frequency of visits
- Daily: 21% of gym members
- Multiple times per week: 38% of gym members
- Once a week: 15% of gym members
- Workout length: 21% of gym members work out for half an hour to 1 hour while 35% work for 1-2 hours.
Busiest workout times
- Tuesday at 5 pm and 6 pm
- Monday at 5 pm
Quietest workout times
- Sunday at 10 pm and 11 pm
- Saturday at 11 pm
Top equipment and services used by members
- Weights and machines (38%)
- Punching bags and martial arts (30%)
- Personal trainers (29%)
- Training/nutritional plans (23%)
- Coached courses/team (21%)
Are more people going to the gym now?
A new study found that gym use is nearly double pre-pandemic levels, with Gen Z driving this trend. It also indicated traditional gym check-ins were up 60% in the first half of 2024 compared to the previous year.
Comparison With Previous Years (2021, 2022, 2023)
Gym memberships have rebounded post-pandemic as members returned to in-person fitness.
- There were 64.2 million gym members in 2021, accounting for 20% of the U.S. population.
- In 2022, 68.9 million people were members of a fitness facility, including gyms — a 3.7% increase from 2021.
- Numbers remained steady in 2023, but the fitness and gym market size declined by 0.3%.
- As noted above, in 2024 there were 72 million gym members in the U.S.
Popular Fitness Activities in 2024
Whether the goal is to lose weight, build strength, or improve their mental health, gym goers use various fitness modalities to help them achieve their desired results. Here are some of this year’s most popular — and trendiest — fitness activities:
Running and jogging
- Around 48 million people in the U.S. went running or jogging at least once in 2023.
- Registrations for large endurance races grew 8% as of mid-2024 compared to last year, indicating a growing interest in running.
Cycling:
- About 6.23 million people in the U.S. participated in group stationary cycling.
- More than one in four people (26%) attend virtual indoor cycling classes regularly.
Yoga and Pilates:
- One in six people in the U.S. practice yoga, with about 80% practicing to improve their health and 30% to treat or manage pain.
- Nearly 12 million people did Pilates in 2023, up 15% from the previous year.
Strength training:
- 56% of personal trainers listed strength training as one of the most popular training niches.
- About 36% of gym-goers listed “building muscle” as their number one goal for 2024, up 3% from the prior year.
Group fitness classes:
- About 1.3 million classes were taught by ACE Certified Group Fitness Instructors from July 2023 to July 2024, indicating a high demand for group fitness classes.
- Gen Z and Millennials comprise 81% of all group fitness class participants nationally.
Digital and Online Fitness Trends
The fitness landscape has changed drastically over the last few years, and gym-goers expect flexibility in their training with hybrid memberships, virtual training platforms, and technology that enhances motivation.
Overall online fitness industry
The online fitness industry is projected to be worth more than $59 billion by 2027, growing more than 30% per year — the fastest-growing segment in the fitness industry.
Virtual training programs
Nearly 35% of Americans started visiting in-person classes they attended virtually, proving virtual training programs to be an effective acquisition and retention tool for fitness centers.
Wearable devices
Almost one in three people in the U.S. uses a wearable device to track their health and fitness.
Fitness apps
About 663 million people used health and fitness apps in 2023. This number is expected to grow to 850 million people by 2030 at a CAGR of 4.8%.
Common Reasons for Membership Cancellations
The statistics clearly show that gym memberships are on the rise in the U.S. But are gym-goers renewing their memberships? Below are gym membership retention statistics highlighting attrition and retention trends for fitness facilities.
Membership cancellations
- 41% of gym-goers cancel their membership because of price, while 23% attribute their cancellation to lack of time.
- Respondents from the same survey also listed dissatisfaction with a gym experience, a low sense of community, and an inability to achieve their fitness goals as other reasons for cancellation.
Membership retention
- The primary reasons members tend to maintain their membership are because they like their gym location (50%), have positive interactions with the gym staff (45%), and like the available equipment (38%).
- Onboarding matters, as 87% of members who have a positive onboarding process remain active after six months.
- Members who participate in group fitness classes and visit your club once a week are 20% more likely to be loyal members than those who visit three times per week and stick to the gym floor.
Stay Ahead of the Ever-Changing Times With Fitness On Demand
While this list of gym membership statistics demonstrates a growing interest in traditional fitness facilities, the fitness landscape is evolving rapidly. Gym owners, operators, and managers must adjust to changing consumer trends to capture, engage, and retain more members.
Enter Fitness On Demand. We help gyms merge physical and digital fitness in one powerful, all-in-one platform designed to enhance members’ overall fitness experience. Schedule a demo with one of our consultants to learn how our platform can take your gym to the next level.
Author
Luke Miska
Luke Miska is a results-driven business management visionary with a stellar record developing operationalizing strategies, experiences and measurable results that engage teams and customers to lead healthier lives. He leverages his passion for customer-centric strategies and aligns goals between customer needs and organizational priorities, catalyzing business success.
