Exercising more is again one of the most popular New Year’s resolutions in the United States. Yet where data shows that January tends to see a higher number of gym sign ups than other months, it also reveals that the goal falls by the wayside for many not long after.
According to Statista data, only 15 percent of U.S. adults had paid for a gym membership in the 12 months prior to the survey. How many actually used the service regularly though is another question. French and Italian respondents were even less enthusiastic about the gym, with only eight percent and 13 percent, respectively, saying they had invested in a gym membership. By comparison, going to the gym was far more popular in Brazil and India.
Posted by Prestigious-Back-981
17 Comments
Are gyms even that common in Brazil and India? About 60% of India lives in rural areas, somehow I doubt that commercial gyms are common sight in rural villages.
This one is going to be completely dependent on the sample size and population. How many were asked, how old, what setting. Younger people in the city are more likely than older people in rural areas for instance. Without a huge and diverse sample size, this is basically worthless.
That’s because they only go to the gym of BBL
Almost surprising it’s that low. I feel like I constantly run into people who are dropping that they go to the gym in as many sentences as they can.
And I belong to a gym. I think it’s a great thing. But shouldn’t be a brag.
French: “just walk more and eat less. wtf is wrong with you?”
Wait, India? Where the median income is around $300 USD? 28% of the population pays for a gym membership? Wow. I understand that it’s all relative but that’s … dedication
Gyms are mainly needed in dense urban areas. In environments less dominated by cars and concrete you can just go outside and run and buy a few weights if needed. It’s been said that capitalism takes away natural things and then sells it back to you as a premium product.
I don’t know how this survey was done, but 28% of Indians paying for a gym membership is an obvious tell that there is not much concern for finding a representative sample.
For comparison, Deloitte’s
India fitness market report 2025
study puts the member penetration rate at 0.8%
https://www.deloitte.com/in/en/Industries/consumer/perspectives/india-fitness-market-report-2025.html
Gym oh gym lift that weight to cure such fatassness
Interesting but I’m not buying it. I see next to NO Indians at Planet Fitness and it’s the cheapest place in town. And there is a big Indian population in my city due to various IT-heavy industries. And yet in actual India with lower income, double the percentage go to the gym than Americans? Nope, no way. Sorry, but even AT the gym Indians do calisthenics and are very uneducated about workout culture.
Finding a decent gym in France is damn near impossible. (I should say, “not possible” for my French friends)
Surprised to see USA so high, i guess it’s true what they say about diet rather than exercise being key for weightloss
Indian here…we have a bunch of gyms in metropolitan cities as well as rural areas. Fitness culture has progressed lately with influencers and access to nearly free wifi for everyone, as well as a startup culture which embraces health foods. Also, our cities and towns aren’t the most walkable or runnable (lack of sidewalks, hawkers, stray dogs) so the only realistic way to stay healthy is going to the gym.
I wonder if locations where driving is difficult, people would tend to workout in local parks or at home?
Also to people who doubt people in poor countries won’t be able to afford gyms, are you serious? People can afford smartphones there, they’re not living in huts lmao.
What a sheltered mindset.
Edit: I looked at OOP’s link and there was no mention of the methodology or the sample sizes. It did contain links to two websites:
1. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-01-16/here-s-how-quickly-people-ditch-weight-loss-resolutions/
No mention of sample size or methodology, but it does mention some data was taken from a fitness app .
2. https://www.statista.com/global-consumer-survey/tool/10/gcs_gbr_202503?token=0&index=0&absolute=1&population=1
You have to pay to unlock survey details.
So this should be taken with a grain of salt.
If you’re going to do a global study, do a global study
(I spent too long trying to page down to the rest of the data)
14% for New Zealand
Why such a small group of countries?
This is crazy i feel everybody in my life goes to the gym and im not even in shape. Maybe a socal thing.