87 Gym Membership Statistics You Must Learn: 2024 Cost, Demographics, and Market Share

The fitness industry was one of the hardest-hit sectors when the COVID-19 pandemic forced many businesses to shut down in 2020. In 2021, we can expect that things will still not go back to pre-pandemic conditions. Instead of in-person classes, virtual and at-home workouts are taking over. As a result, more businesses are relying on digital technologies such as video conferencing platforms, artificial intelligence, and other innovations to conduct and keep tabs on online training activities

In this article, we will take a look at some of the most relevant gym membership statistics you should learn about in order to prepare for the long-term effects of the pandemic on the fitness industry. Through these numbers and updates, you can better understand the current state of fitness clubs, their members, and what’s in store for them in the future.

1. General Gym Membership Statistics

Gym membership demographics

One of the most tracked statistics in the fitness industry is gym membership demographics. After all, knowing what age group uses the gym most or which gender goes to the gym more is important because it can help business owners fine-tune their services according to the needs of their clientele. 

• One might assume that majority of gym members are male; however, statistics show this is no longer the case. More than half—50.5%—of gym-goers are now female (IHRSA, 2020).
• Yoga, pilates, and barre are some of the most popular fitness studio activities women tend to join. As of 2020, 14% of women showed more interest in learning yoga through virtual classes versus 10% of men. (Morning Consult, 2020).
• Although female gym members are more than half in number, men still get more time to exercise. In 2019, 20.7% of men participated in sports, exercise, and recreational activities every day compared to 18% of women (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2019).
• Young adults (18-34 years old) are the largest age group who frequent the gym at 60.60%. This is followed by the 35 to 54 age group at 30.70% (IHRSA, 2020).
• People aged 55 or older make up 22.3% of gym members (IBIS World, 2020)
• Meanwhile, members under 18 years of age make up 16.10% (IHRSA, 2020).
• The largest race/ethnic group of gym-goers are Caucasian/White and/or non-Hispanic (66.34%), followed by Hispanics (12.78%), and African Americans (12.30%) (IHRSA, 2020).
• Among US states, California has the most number of health clubs (5,123), followed by Texas (3,285). In third place is Florida with 2,809, fourth is New York with 2,263, and fifth is Pennsylvania with 1,576 (IHRSA, 2020).

Member profile and usage

Who are the gym goers of today? Statistics show that these are often individuals with an income of above $75,000. Among them, many try to squeeze in a workout multiple times a week while some visit less frequently. It may also be good to note that not all gym members utilize the additional services offered by these facilities, which may signal a need for more affordable services.

• Among gym members who actively use their membership, 55.4 million or 63.3% go to the gym at least twice a week, while 14.3 million or 16.34% go to the gym at least once a week (Finder, 2020).
• Households with an income level of $75,000 above make up the majority of gym members (IHRSA, 2020).
• Gym members who are classified as “core users” are the ones who use the gym facilities (equipment and other services) more than 100 times per year and have an income of $150,000 or higher (IHRSA, 2020).
• In 2018, the total number of visits to gyms in the US was 6.7 billion (IHRSA, 2019).
• The average length of gym membership lasts about 4.7 years (IHRSA, 2020).

Gym membership retention

Of course, gym membership is not just about acquiring new customers. It also has a lot to do with keeping them. Gym membership statistics show that when it comes to retaining members, it is important to pay attention to the onboarding process as well as the different classes and services you offer. It is also critical to train staff on interacting with customers to ensure maximum engagement.

• 12% of all new gym memberships happen in January (IHRSA, 2020).
• Most gyms lose 50% of their new members within 6 months (IHRSA, 2020).
• 8% of male gym members and 14% of female members quit their gym membership after a year (Noob Gains, 2020).
• Member retention starts from the onboarding process. 87% of members who experience a positive onboarding process still remained active after 6 months (Precor).

How to increase membership retention

• Offering group classes can also help in member retention as it motivates members to participate in fitness programs. 85% of fitness club members visit their facility twice a week to engage in group classes, while 43% visit 4 times a week for the same purpose (AFS Fitness).
• Fitness club members in the UK are more likely to stay if they are part of group activities. Forty-eight percent of members went to the gym to attend one group activity, while 32% attended two, and 20% participated in three or more group activities (TRP).
• Other factors that can help increase member retention are location and quality of equipment. Fifty percent of members said they continued going to their gym because they liked the location, while 38% said they kept their membership because they thought the equipment is worth it (CreditDonkey, 2020).

2. Statistics on Gym Membership Costs

How much a gym membership costs is one of the most searched questions about a gym membership. If you’re looking for a gym to join, be prepared to spend anywhere between $10 and $40 per month for membership. That’s aside from other fees that gyms might charge such as initiation fees and yearly fees.

Each company or club will certainly have its own rates. Prices also vary depending on your location and the type of classes and facilities your gym offers. If you’re tight on cash, just remember, staying fit and healthy doesn’t need to be expensive.

• The average cost of gym membership in the US is $58 (Moneycrashers).
• Annual fees for gym membership depend on location and the type of gym you want, but in general, you can expect to shell out anywhere between $500 and $700 for an annual membership (The Trusty Spotter, 2019).
• Budget gyms can be as low as $10 per month, while elite fitness clubs can go as much as $100 per month (The Trusty Spotter, 2019).
• If you live in New York, the average cost of a gym membership is $134.50 per month (Moneycrashers).
• Aside from monthly fees, gyms usually charge initiation fees. You can expect this fee to be between $100 and $200 (Moneycrashers).
• Membership for a majority of strength-focused gyms (41.7%), HIIT studios (39%), pilates/yoga studios (52%), and gym/fitness studios (57%) cost around $10-$40 per month (Harrison Co., 2020).
• The average gym member “underutilizes” two-thirds of their gym dues—roughly $39 per month, or $468 per year (The Hustle, 2019).
• In 2019, American adults spent $270 per month on health and fitness. This amount increased to $286 in 2020 (CNBC, 2020).
• About 87.6 million gym-goers spend an estimated $34.8 billion on gym memberships annually (Finder, 2020).
• Americans spend about $1.3 billion on unused gym memberships (Finder, 2020).
• When it comes to individual spending, most Americans spend less than $30 on gym memberships (Finder, 2020).

3. Gym & Fitness Club Market Statistics

All the numbers on revenue and global market size for the fitness industry had been increasing steadily until the turbulent year of 2020. Membership in different countries was also at record highs as well as the number of gyms and fitness clubs worldwide.

North America has the most number of fitness clubs, while the US is the country with the most number of fitness club members. Furthermore, the gym with the most number of members is Planet Fitness.

• In 2019, the global fitness industry revenue amounted to $96.7 billion. Revenue has been increasing since 2015 when it was at $81.2 billion (IHRSA, 2020).
• For the US market, fitness club revenue reached $35 billion in 2019 (IHRSA, 2020).
• The top health club company by revenue in 2019 was LA Fitness, which generated $2.1 billion. It’s followed by Life Time with $1.9 billion, and 24 Hour Fitness with $1.47 billion (Club Industry, 2020).
• By region, North America was the top revenue earner in 2019 with a total of $37.98 billion. Europe was second with $31.53 billion and Asia-Pacific was third with $16.83 billion (IHRSA, 2020).
• Among nations, the US has the most number of health clubs (41,190) in 2019. This is a huge difference compared to the second placer, Brazil, which has 29,525 health clubs (IHRSA, 2020).

Statistics on gym membership

• North America has remained the top region in terms of membership since 2009. In 2019, it recorded 70.36 million people with memberships in various health and fitness clubs (IHRSA, 2020).
• By country, the US has the most number of members at health & fitness clubs in 2019 (64.19 million), followed by Germany (11.66 million), and the United Kingdom (10.39 million) (IHRSA, 2020).
• In 2020, the number of fitness industry businesses in the US was at 100,164, down from the previous year’s 103,492. It is projected to reach 102,148 in 2021 (IBIS World, 2020).
• Companies that dominate the health and fitness club industry are also in the US. The top gym is Planet Fitness with 14,400 members in 2019. Powerhouse Gyms International is second with 1,800 members. The third placer is Crunch Fitness with 1,541 members in 2019 (Club Industry, 2020).
• The fitness industry market share in the UK is lead by David Lloyd, Nuffield, and Pure Gym (IBIS World, 2020).

4. Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Fitness Industry

COVID-19 hit the fitness industry hard. Estimated losses were at $13.9 billion in 2020. Also, hundreds of thousands of fitness professionals lost their jobs.

Statistics indicate that physical gyms will not totally disappear; however, business owners should transition their classes online. Live streaming or pre-recorded videos are some of the ways to do so. Moreover, people’s interest in home fitness will continue to rise, so gym owners should also learn how to capitalize on this trend.

Impact on the fitness market

• From mid-March to August 21, 2020, the estimated losses of the US gym and health club industry due to COVID-19 -related closures was $13.9 billion (IHRSA, 2020).
• 15% of gyms, health clubs, and studios have closed permanently through Q3 2020 (IHRSA,  2020).
• By the beginning of Q1 2021, 17% of gyms, health clubs, and studios have permanently closed (IHRSA, 2021).
• During Q3 2020, six gyms in the US have filed for bankruptcy: Cyc Fitness, YogaWorks, Flywheel Sports, Town Sports International, 24 Hour Fitness, and Gold’s Gym (Business Insider, 2020).
• In October 2020, iHRSA predicted that as much as 25% of gyms and fitness clubs could close by the end of 2020 (IHRSA,  2020).
• After posting record revenues in 2019, the US fitness industry’s revenue dropped to 58% in 2020 (from $35 billion to $15 billion (IHRSA, 2021).

Impact on fitness clubs, gym membership, and exercising

• 60% of Americans believe fitness clubs will cease to exist post-pandemic (Studyfinds, 2020).
• 34% of gym-goers are planning to cancel their membership after COVID-19. More than 20 million memberships could be canceled for this reason (Harrison Co., 2020).
• 65% of Americans who routinely exercise said they are “letting themselves go a bit” during COVID-19 quarantine (New York Post, 2020).
• During a Q4 2020 survey, 38% of gym-goers in the US said they won’t be comfortable returning to the gym or exercise classes for the next six months at least (Morning Consult, 2020).
• Moreover, even when gyms reopen after the pandemic, 59% of members do not plan to return (CNBC, 2020).
• The top three gym/fitness club priorities post-COVID-19 pandemic include safety procedures, cleanliness, and cost (Harrison Co., 2020).

Impact of the pandemic on fitness professionals

• In May 2020, about 500,000 fitness industry employees were laid off due to the pandemic (Businesswire, 2020).
• There are more than 1.4 million fitness professionals (44%) who have lost their jobs due to the pandemic (IHRSA, 2021).
• A survey on personal trainers’ working and living conditions in Norway when COVID-19 hit revealed that 66% lost clients. 87% reported that their private economy was affected by COVID-19 lockdowns (Frontiers, 2020).
• In the US, personal trainers also took a devastating hit on their finances due to COVID-19. 58% of personal trainers lost some or all of their income, 23% were laid off, and 6% hadn’t yet found new jobs as of Q3 2020 (PTDC, 2020).
• But for some trainers (23%), particularly online trainers said the pandemic actually helped them make more money (PTDC, 2020).
• And even with the gloomy state of things, 97% of personal trainers still plan to continue their careers after COVID-19 (PTDC, 2020).
• So how will trainers train their clients after COVID-19? 83% of them reported that they will work online with their clients (PTDC, 2020).

The silver lining: A renewed appreciation for health

The gym and fitness industry might never go back to pre-pandemic conditions. However, there is a silver lining to the health crisis—people became more aware of the importance of their health.

• Though many gym-goers plan to cancel their memberships after COVID-19, 37% say they plan to work out more often due to a renewed appreciation for their health and well-being in the time of the pandemic (Businesswire, 2020).
• A study in Australia indicated the same motivation to exercise more. 62% of respondents considered an active life very important now than pre-COVID-19 (British Journal of Sports Medicine, 2020).
• 34% of Americans tried meditation for the first time during quarantine, with 29% trying out yoga (Freeletics, 2020).
• Meanwhile, in the US, several reasons people started to exercise were out of pure boredom (52%), to get in shape (53%), and to boost their immune system (43%) (Studyfinds, 2020).

Home fitness statistics

• Also, as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic, 40% of people exercised for the first time at home (Harrison Co., 2020).
• A survey from the fitness tech platform, Mindbody, revealed that 56% of respondents are working out even more since the pandemic (at least five times a week) (Forbes, 2020).
• 78% of Americans said their mental health has become a bigger priority now than it was before the COVID-19 pandemic (Studyfinds, 2020).
• Sales of exercise equipment rose as much as 23% since the pandemic with people creating makeshift home gyms and teaching fitness classes online (In Market, 2020).
• The most bought fitness equipment during lockdown included yoga mats, dumbbells, and resistance bands (Freeletics, 2020).
• Among Americans who exercise frequently, 54% have ordered workout equipment (New York Post, 2020).
• Aside from exercising at home, one in two respondents also said they take multivitamins regularly (New York Post, 2020).
• 64% of Americans are more interested in home fitness (Studyfinds, 2020).
• 65% of people who workout at home also feel more confident about their fitness regimen. That’s because they no longer feel intimidated while working out in public gyms (Studyfinds, 2020).

5. Digital Transformation in the Fitness Industry

Digital fitness has been on the rise since 2014. The pandemic merely accelerated the inclusion and use of digital tools in exercising and overall health maintenance. Studies show that more gyms and fitness clubs now rely on technologies to conduct classes and manage bookings. Furthermore, there is also increased use of fitness apps, which could eventually mean that gyms will have to develop apps of their own to cater to their clients better.

• The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated digital transformation in all sectors and regions by 3 to 4 years (McKinsey & Company, 2020).
• The use of virtual workouts soared in March 2020. Among the types of content used to exercise include pre-recorded videos (73%) and live stream classes (85%) (Forbes, 2020).
• 42% of people said they plan to continue using virtual workouts even after gyms fully reopen (Forbes, 2020).
• Also, 40% have booked a virtual fitness class with studios they never visited in person (Forbes, 2020).
• Most popular virtual fitness class bookings: Yoga (32%), High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) (15.6%), Pilates (8.3%), and Barre (7.9%) (Forbes, 2020).
• The wellness culture is predicted to grow and to include everyday activities like walking and meditating with the aid of apps (US Chamber of Commerce, 2020).
• Consumer interest in the use of telehealth services soared to 76% due to COVID-19 compared to only 11% back in 2019 (McKinsey & Company, 2020).
• As for telehealth providers, 57% viewed the technology more favorably than they did before the pandemic (McKinsey & Company, 2020).

Use of fitness apps

• 74% of Americans used their quarantine time as an opportunity to try out a fitness app (Studyfinds, 2020).
• 70% of Americans used at least one fitness app during quarantine (Freeletics, 2020).
• Fitness apps experienced almost 50% growth during the first half of 2020 (World Economic Forum, 2020).
• India experienced the highest increase in downloads with 157% (World Economic Forum, 2020).
• The average American used two fitness apps and took four virtual classes during the lockdown (Freeletics, 2020).

The Future of Fitness Post-COVID-19

There’s no question that the fitness industry is facing an uncertain future post-COVID-19. Though statistics tell us that gyms and fitness clubs still have clientele during and after the pandemic, it is evident that businesses in the industry would need to adopt digital technologies in order to survive.

Moreover, the future would be more likely a mix of in-person training, virtual fitness classes, and online personal training. This means businesses need to come up with innovative ways to deliver their services in order to attract clients and increase membership retention. Like we mentioned, an example is to provide virtual group fitness classes and proper onboarding to new members. This might seem overwhelming at the start, but there are tools you can use for the task.

For starters, investing in a good appointment management software tool can help you stay on top of all ongoing classes, be it virtual or in-person. You might also need to find good fitness and gym management software to better manage your day-to-day operations. In addition, staying abreast of the ongoing industry trends may also help you retain your business’ edge during and after the outbreak.

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By Louie Andre

B2B & SaaS market analyst and senior writer for FinancesOnline. He is most interested in project management solutions, believing all businesses are a work in progress. From pitch deck to exit strategy, he is no stranger to project business hiccups and essentials. He has been involved in a few internet startups including a digital route planner for a triple A affiliate. His advice to vendors and users alike? "Think of benefits, not features."