Record Activity Levels Across England – Active Lives Adult Survey 2023/24
Sport England’s latest Active Lives Adult Survey reveals that physical activity in England has reached an all-time high. Between November 2023 and November 2024, 63.7% of adults met the Chief Medical Officers’ guidelines of 150+ minutes of moderate activity per week—equating to 30 million people. This marks a rise of over 2.4 million since the survey’s inception in 2016.
Key highlights:
- Inactivity is declining: 121,000 fewer adults are doing less than 30 minutes of activity per week.
- Older adults and disabled people show notable gains:
- Adults aged 55+ meeting guidelines rose from 51% to 58%.
- Disabled adults or those with long-term conditions increased from 44% to 48%.
- Fitness and running are on the rise, while active travel and leisure cycling have declined.
- Volunteering in sport and physical activity saw a modest increase, with 22.3% of adults contributing time, though still below pre-pandemic levels.
- Wellbeing benefits are clear: active individuals report higher happiness, self-esteem, and community trust.
Despite progress, inequalities persist—women, Black and Asian communities, and those from lower socio-economic backgrounds remain less active. Sport England’s strategy, Uniting the Movement, continues to target these disparities through place-based investment and inclusive initiatives.
