Sport and Active Lifestyle Survey

About the National Survey for Wales

The National Survey for Wales (NSW) is a nationally representative household survey targeted at adults (ages 16 and over). 

The NSW involves around 12,000 people each year and covers a wide range of topics. It runs all year round, across the whole of Wales. The results are used by the Welsh Government to help make Wales a better place to live. 

The National Survey for Wales contains a Sport and Active Lifestyles section.  The headline findings from the 2022-23 survey were released on July 11th 2023 as Official Statistics. 

Headline Findings

The headline findings from the Sport and Active Lifestyles section of the 2022-23 survey are:

Participation

The number of people who say they participate in sporting activities three or more times per week increased from 34% in 2021-22 to 39% in 2022-23. 

We asked people which activities they take part in. 

• 56% of people say they participate in fitness activities (such as fitness classes, running/jogging, cycling, or swimming) and 16% participate in sports or games (such as football, rugby, table tennis or golf). 6% participate in outdoor pursuits like kayaking or sailing.

Demand

People were also asked whether there were any sports or activities they would like to do, or to do more of. 

• 27% say they want to do more sport or physical activity in general, a decrease from 31% in 2021-22.
• In 2022-23, 16% say they want to do more fitness activities and 10% want to do more sports or games, and 5% would like to do more outdoor pursuits.  This decline in overall demand appears to be mainly due to the decrease in people wanting to do more fitness activities, as this was 20% in 2021-22.
• 26% of all people participate in sporting activities three or more times a week and say they are content with that amount, while 13% of people participate three or more times a week and would like to do more.  14% of people participate less often than three times per week and would also like to do more sporting activities.

Headline findings and background information are available on the Welsh Government website: National Survey for Wales | GOV.WALES.

Further results exploring these results by a range of social and geo-demographic factors will be available this autumn and will be released on the Sport Wales website: Statistics | Sport Wales.

Classification of ‘Fitness Activity’, ‘Sport and Games’, and ‘Outdoor Pursuits’: