Gym and Fitness in Australia
AusPlay participation figures for gym and fitness activities, and 5,148 outdoor gyms to find by suburb, postcode or state.
- people aged 15+ did gym or fitness activities in 2025
- 7.72m
- of people aged 15+
- 34.1%
- participants since 2024
- +987k
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5,148 outdoor gyms listed across 8 states and territories
Gym and Fitness Participation in Australia
- people aged 15 and over did gym or fitness activities in 2025Margin of error about 118,000 either way
- 7.72million
- of people aged 15 and over, at least once in the 12 months
- 34.1%
- children aged 0 to 14 in organised gym and fitness activities outside school hours1.6% of children aged 0 to 14
- 76,000
- people aged 15 and over took part through a club, centre or other organiser13.5% of people aged 15 and over
- 3.06million
2024 to 2025, aged 15 and over
- 2024
- 6.73 million participants, 30.3% of people aged 15 and over
- 2025
- 7.72 million participants, 34.1% of people aged 15 and over
The 2025 estimate is 987,000 higher than 2024. The difference is larger than the combined margin of error of the two estimates.
By age, the rate was highest among people aged 18 to 24 (43.4%). By state, the highest published rate was Australian Capital Territory (44.2%). State estimates have wider margins of error than the national estimate.
By state and territory, 2025
| State | Aged 15+ rate | PeopleAged 15+ participants | Children 0 to 14 (organised) |
|---|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | 32.5% | 2.29 million | 28,000 (1.8%) |
| Victoria | 35.0% | 2.03 million | 18,000 (1.4%) |
| Queensland | 34.8% | 1.61 million | 14,000 (1.4%) |
| Western Australia | 35.8% | 883,000 | 7,400 (1.4%)* |
| South Australia | 31.0% | 490,000 | 6,400 (2.1%)* |
| Tasmania | 29.9% | 145,000 | Not published |
| Australian Capital Territory | 44.2% | 176,000 | Not published |
| Northern Territory | 43.1% | 90,000 | Not published |
Who organised it, aged 15 and over
- Gym / fitness club / sports / leisure centre1.47 million
- Individual personal trainer or coach714,000
- Private or commercial business667,000
- Sports club or association199,000
- Recreation club or association139,000
- Educational institution96,000
Source: Australian Sports Commission, AusPlay, January to December 2025, released 30 April 2026. Category: Fitness/Gym. * Flagged for caution by AusPlay. A person can take part through more than one type of organiser. About the data
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Council outdoor gyms, fitness stations and calisthenics parks from the free outdoor gyms directory. Every location is in a public park.
- Free Outdoor Gyms in Melbourne702
- Free Outdoor Gyms in Bendigo21
- Other areas396
- Free Outdoor Gyms in Perth323
- Other areas161
- Free Outdoor Gyms in Adelaide250
- Other areas173
- Free Outdoor Gyms in Hobart45
- Other areas116
Calories Burned in a Gym Workout
| Activity | MET | 30 min at 70 kg | 60 min at 70 kg | 60 min at 85 kg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bodyweight exercises (moderate) | 3.8 | 556 kJ | 1,113 kJ | 1,351 kJ |
| Weight lifting (moderate) | 5 | 732 kJ | 1,464 kJ | 1,778 kJ |
| Weight lifting (vigorous) | 6 | 879 kJ | 1,757 kJ | 2,134 kJ |
| Circuit training | 8 | 1,172 kJ | 2,343 kJ | 2,845 kJ |
281 calories (kcal)
Weight lifting (moderate), 75 kg, 45 minutes
Related Activities
Gym and Fitness: Questions and Figures
How many Australians do gym or fitness activities?
An estimated 7.72 million people aged 15 and over did gym or fitness activities at least once in 2025, which is 34.1% of that age group. Source: Australian Sports Commission, AusPlay, released 30 April 2026.
Which state has the highest gym and fitness activities participation rate?
In AusPlay 2025, Australian Capital Territory had the highest published rate for Fitness/Gym among people aged 15 and over, at 44.2%. State estimates have wider margins of error than the national estimate.
How many calories does a gym workout burn?
Using the MET formula (MET x body weight in kg x hours), a 75 kg person doing "Weight lifting (moderate)" (MET 5) for 60 minutes uses about 1,569 kJ (375 calories). The figure changes with body weight, intensity and time.
About the Data
- Participation source
- Australian Sports Commission, AusPlay, a national survey. AusPlay method
- Reference period
- January to December 2025, released 30 April 2026.
- Who is counted
- People aged 15 and over who took part at least once in the 12 months. Children aged 0 to 14 are counted for organised activity outside school hours only.
- Reporting category
- Fitness/Gym.
Figures are survey estimates and are shown rounded. * marks an estimate AusPlay flags for caution (relative margin of error between 50% and 100%). Estimates AusPlay marks as too unreliable to use are not published here. AusPlay moved from telephone to online collection in July 2023. The Australian Sports Commission states that results from July 2023 are not directly comparable with earlier results. These pages use the online series only, and year-on-year figures come from the release's own comparison table. Energy figures use MET values from the Compendium of Physical Activities: energy (kJ) = MET x body weight (kg) x hours x 4.184. They are averages for an activity, so a person's own figure varies with fitness and effort.