Breaking Down The Numbers: Key Fitness Industry Statistics

The fitness industry has seen a huge transformation.

With the continuous rise of technological advancement, evolving consumer behavior, and increased focus on the health and wellness industry, it looks like this is going to shift further.

Do you want to know what’s trending and what’s not in the world of fitness? Let’s see a quick breakdown of fitness industry statistics that provide you with information on the latest trends, an overview of the global market, and booming fitness app statistics for 2024.

Rise of Fitness Apps: An Overview

As the health and wellness market is taking the stage, the fitness industry is experiencing a huge bang in personalized and innovative experiences.

People are no longer satisfied with the general approach. And, this is why they are seeking help with customized workout plans and activities that cater to individual needs and goals.

As a result, fitness apps like Peloton, Nike Training Club, & Strava, etc. which have something different to offer are growing tremendously. They didn’t only offer convenience but also offered high-quality and personalized workouts that one can do without leaving their home.

With amazing innovations and feature-rich solutions, the fitness industry has adapted to an even greater level of engagement and turned boring exercises into a fun and engaging experience. And, this is why this industry is thriving.

Let’s look at compelling fitness statistics that paint a picture of this amazing transformation.

Global Fitness Industry Overview

• You see, the global fitness club market was valued at $98.14 bn in 2023 and is likely to reach $172.95 bn by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 12% during the given period.
• Fitness trackers are also not lagging behind and playing a crucial role in the evolution of the fitness industry. Adoption of fitness trackers was accelerated from $47.36 bn in 2022 to $53.94bn in 2023 and will see a rise of $182.90 bn by 2030.
• Coming to regions, Asia-Pacific is the fastest-growing region in the fitness industry, and that too because it’s driven by increasing health awareness and rising disposable income.
• On the other hand, revenue from workout apps which was at $5.00 Billion in 2023 will hit $10.04 Billion by 2028. Amazing, right?
• As per Gitnux, 56% of users now access fitness apps 10+ times each week. Post-pandemic, these apps were downloaded 46% more than usual.
• Several apps like breathwork apps, health & nutrition apps, workout apps, etc. fuel the market and emerge as the top ideas to take advantage of.

Fitness Apps & Their Market Analysis

Fitness apps are software that caters to individual needs for personalized & convenient workout experiences.

Whether you want to do high-intensity interval training or just want a normal meal planner, these fitness apps provide a one-stop-shop for your every fitness need. Other than that, there are several fitness app benefits such as accessibility & convenience, flexibility, time and cost efficiency, 24*7 customer support, and much more that are driving user engagement.

As we have seen the global fitness market overview, it’s time we delve deeper to know about the market size that’s powering this fitness app revolution.

• The Fitness Apps Generated $3.58 bn in revenue in 2023, that’s an increase of 9.1% increase year-over-year. Statista predicted that the fitness app market will see a growth of $6.86 bn by 2024.
• With this global boom, the US is expected to be at the top with projected revenue of $2.06 bn alone in 2024.
• In 2023, fitness apps had 368 million users and were downloaded 850+ million times in 2023. That’s huge, right?
• Among other apps, workout and weight loss apps account for 73% of all fitness app sessions.

Moving on, there are some apps that are recognized by Forbes as the most popular fitness apps in 2024. We will uncover them in detail.

1. Nike Training Club

Nike Training Club has become a flagship in the fitness app world. Its success has undoubtedly brought a wave of workout app development to imitate its impact.

The app was launched in 2009 and provides personal training without making a hole in your pocket. it has over 10 million downloads and offers quality fitness content for free.

The fitness industry growth statistics show Nike Training Club has its own fair share of contribution in the market, with a ranking of 165 in the all-encompassing health and fitness category.

2. FitOn

According to Forbes, FitOn offers some of the best classes at present.

The app’s popularity is quite notable, as it grew from zero to 6 million users within just 18 months of hard work.

There are several workout varieties that one can find in this app such as cardio, strength, yoga, Pilates etc as per their needs. And, some of them are even led by celebrities.

3. MyFitnessPal

With a staggering number of 200 million downloads, MyFitnessPal popularity is evident. This is why people look to build an app like MyFitnessPal to cater to the growing demands.

If you ever tried to lose weight or gain muscles, you might have come across this app which is an accessible solution with a huge range of features. Such as tracking progress, focusing on nutrition, fitness, and weight loss goals, etc.

Thus, fitness app statistics show it maintained an upward trend in revenue and produced $310 million in revenue last year.

4. Fitbit

Fitbit is a familiar name among the best fitness apps.

Whether you want to sleep better or eat healthier, Fitbit is for you. The app has top-notch workout content to take care of your mind and body.

Google acquired Fitbit for $2.1 bn. At present, the app has a staggering user base of 128 million and generated $1.04 billion in revenue in 2023.

5. Strava

Strava is especially for fitness enthusiasts and is quite a popular platform.

Many get curious to make a strava-clone app, but one needs strong skills to do so. Well, talking about the app, Strava is a one-stop solution to track and analyze your exercise activities; the app usually focuses on running, cycling, swimming, and other outdoor activities.

Strava’s impressive growth continues! And, it’s apparent with $275 million in revenue, and it even has an impressive 120 million registered users.

Fitness Industry Trends

The fitness industry thrives on trends. And, as there are several elements including mindfulness, meditation, nutrition, and recognizing the importance of holistic well-being that will be the center of attention.

Let’s dig deeper into these and get to know about these fitness app trends in detail.

• Virtual and Augmented Reality in Fitness

The popularity of virtual fitness and online workouts surged during the pandemic, this trend is likely to continue in 2024.

And, taking things further, many fitness apps & gyms/clubs are embracing cutting-edge AR-VR technology to make exercise more fun.

As the market of these technologies will accelerate with a projected $80 million by 2025, fitness will surely be one of the leading industries to use VR & AR.

As per a report, 1/3 of consumers are interested in using VR among which 32% were positive to attend a fitness class in VR. And, you very well know what that means? That simply represents a growing openness of users to utilize VR for exercise.

• Wearable Technology Advancements

As wearable fitness technology continues to evolve, fitness apps and devices may integrate more advanced tracking features and personalized insights.

This could include real-time biometric feedback, AI-driven coaching, and more accurate health monitoring.

If reports are to be believed, the US wearable market will see an increase from $17.2 billion to $23 billion. One major reason for this increase is the fitness equipment market, whose growth is predicted by $300 million between 2022 to 2026.

• AI-Driven Personalized Fitness Plan

With the increase in AI app development, the future seems AI-driven.

Fitness apps will leverage AI to provide more personalized workout plans, nutrition recommendations, and progress tracking.

Moreover, advanced AI algorithms can tailor exercise routines to individual fitness levels, goals, and preferences. For example, Future Fit uses AI technology to create customized workout plans based on user assessments and feedback.

As per research, a whopping 84% of gym-goers are using AI in some form during their workouts.

This trend shows no sign of slowing down; translating that AI in the sports and fitness industry will increase by 26.8% growth rate between 2021 & 2026.

Believe it or not, but such AI-based fitness industry statistics surely suggest that soon AI will become a familiar sight at the gym.

• IoT-Enabled Fitness Devices

IoT has been a buzzword going around for a few years in fitness.

However, it is said that there will be more advancement in it with wearable and sports attire such as smart shoes will be able to collect your body movement. This way one can get better insights about their health.

It’s not surprising to say that the global IoT in the healthcare market including fitness is expected to reach a staggering $332.67 bn by 2027.

• Mindfulness and Mental Well-being

There are several mental health apps displaying the growing importance of mental well-being. These apps are basically popular among young adults with 75% of users aged 18-34 years old.

Many believe the apps are quite effective, 51% reported a reduction in symptoms of depression & 47% in anxiety after using the apps regularly.

Mental health apps are designed to combine physical exercise with mindfulness practices like meditation, breathing exercises, and stress management may gain popularity. Example: Fiit offers a blend of HIIT, yoga, and mindfulness classes, combining physical and mental fitness.

• Gamification and Fitness Gaming

Fitness apps incorporating gamification elements such as rewards, challenges, and levels may attract users seeking a fun and engaging workout experience.

To enhance it even more, the apps use points, rewards, and leaderboards-like elements. Many believe it’s a top fitness app idea that can disrupt the growing market.

If fitness industry growth statistics hold merits, then gamification is quite effective as 61% of people who interacted with gamified elements used the app for 6 months. Example: Zombies, Run.

Fitness Equipment & Apparel Industry: Driving Growth

The global fitness equipment market will grow at a CAGR of 4.1% from 2021 to 2027. And, as for apparel $184.6 bn in 2020 and is likely to reach $257.1 bn by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 4.6% during this forecast period.

Taking this fitness market statistics forward, we will talk about two strong sectors that are fueling the market. Let’s start one by one; first, we will start with the Equipment market. And, then move to the apparel market.

• The global exercise equipment market is experiencing a wave, showing an increase in revenue of $47 bn in 2024. This drive is expected to continue, with a CAGR of 6.22% from 2024 to 2028.
• Among other countries, China is leading the pack with the highest revenue and is likely to reach $12.96 billion in 2024.
• If we talk about the individual level, the average spending on equipment is $6.03 per person in 2024, showing people’s interest in health and well-being.
• Treadmills are one of the most popular fitness equipment categories. In 2020, treadmill sales in the United States reached 2.8 million units.
• In a survey conducted by RunRepeat, home gym equipment sales increased by 1700% during the pandemic.

After laying the foundation of fitness statistics of the equipment market, let’s talk about the apparel market.

The gym apparel market is undergoing a transformation, and it is said the market will see a surge of CAGR of 6.2%. This shows the market will grow from $239.98 bn in 2024 to $438.47 bn by 2034.

As we can see the fitness apparel market is fitness turmoil, every country is trying its best to be ahead in the market, but some regions are pulling even further. Here’s a breakdown of those markets during the forecast period.

• Asia takes the lead: China is dominating this boom with a projected CAGR of 9.70%, showcasing demand for stylish & functional gym wear. Following closely another country ‘India’, with a predicted CAGR of 11.70%, indicating a strong market potential.
• Australia is also in Trend: Yes, you read that right; Australia is expected to see an increase in CAGR of 8.90%, which strongly suggests amazing growth.
• North America is Active: The list might be incomplete without mentioning the USA, so the country will also see steady growth with CAGRs of 6.20% translating to a growing market perspective.
• Canada is in the race: Canada showing strong growth with a CAGR of 5.90% solidifying the established gym apparel market.

Conclusion

The Fitness Market is a dynamic and ever-evolving sector with a significant global impact. From the increasing market size of fitness clubs and equipment to the rising demand for fitness apps and wearables, businesses are moving towards fitness app development to capitalize on the market.

After seeing the fitness industry statistics, we hope you are clear that as it continues to evolve we can expect even more groundbreaking advancements and trends to emerge.

Empowering people of all ages and backgrounds to lead healthier and more active lifestyles is the mission of these apps and they are doing it well.

With technology, expertise, and a growing sense of community, the future of fitness looks promising and boundless.

FAQs

Niketan Sharma

Niketan Sharma is the CTO of Nimble AppGenie, a prominent website and mobile app development company in the USA that is delivering excellence with a commitment to boosting business growth & maximizing customer satisfaction. He is a highly motivated individual who helps SMEs and startups grow in this dynamic market with the latest technology and innovation.