Wales Activity Tracker Survey 11 - January 2024

Savanta interviewed 1,016 respondents aged 16+ online between 26th - 31st January 2024. Savanta is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules. All participants were from Wales and data has been weighted to be representative of the population in Wales by age, gender, region and socio-economic status. 

Executive summary

• Almost half (47%) of adults in Wales are doing physical activity on 2-4 days a week, which is in line with Oct 23 (48%) and Jan 23 (46%) and remains higher than Feb 22 (41%). The proportion of people doing physical activity on 5+ days (24%) has also remained higher than Jan 23 (19%).
• The most common activity done by adults in Wales remains walking for leisure (59%), whilst the proportion of respondents saying they have done home-based activities (21%) is higher than Oct 23 (17%), and the highest it has been since Aug 21 (21%). This is likely due to the impact of storms Isha and Jocelyn in late January, when Wales experienced widespread flooding and loss of power.
• Whilst the proportion of adults in Wales doing no exercise (0 days) remains lower than Jan 23 (19% vs. 22%), groups including older respondents (55+, 25%) and respondents with a disability (23%) continue to be more likely to say they are inactive. Similarly, male respondents are more likely than female to have been very active (5+ days, 27% vs. 21%).
• Whilst older respondents are likely doing less due to enjoying exercise less than their younger counterparts, female respondents and those with a disability are also less likely to agree that they have the confidence to be active. Similarly, both females and those with a disability are also more likely to say they worry about leaving their home to take part in physical activity, suggesting that they need additional encouragement and support to increase their activity levels.
• The proportion of adults in Wales saying they exercise to manage their mental health (54%) has decreased compared to Oct 23 (60%) and Jan 23 (61%), as has the proportion saying they exercise to manage their physical health (53%) compared to Jan 23 (59%) and Feb 22 (57%). This decrease has been driven partly by males (55% vs. 65% in Oct 23 and 63% in Jan 23) and those aged 55+ (47% vs. 59% in Jan 23).
• The cost-of-living continues to negatively impact two in five (39%) adults’ ability to be active, with a third (33%) saying they have been doing less sport and physical activity as a result. It has had a particularly strong impact on adults in the 30% most deprived, who are significantly more likely say it has had a negative impact on their ability to be active (44%) and that they have been doing less activity as a result (36%).
• Approximately one in seven (14%) are currently volunteering, with almost a third saying they are likely to volunteer to support sport and physical activity (32%) in the next 12 months.
• Two in five respondents (40%) agree that they take steps to act sustainably and reduce negative impact on the natural environment when participating in sport or physical activity, but just under a third (32%) agree that they could do more to reduce negative impact on the natural environment when taking part.
• Sustainability is most important to males and young people (16-34), with both groups significantly more likely to agree that they take steps to act sustainably and reduce negative impact on the natural environment when participating in sport or physical activity (44% and 52% respectively).
• Sustainability is also more important for adults in the 30% most deprived, who are significantly more likely to agree that environmental sustainability is an important factor for them (38%), but also that they could do more to reduce negative impact on the natural environment when taking part (37%)

Activity levels

Physical activity is defined as a total of 30 mins or more of exercise which was enough to raise breathing rate.

• Almost half of adults in Wales did physical activity on 2-4 days (47%), which is in line with Oct 23 (48%) and Jan 23 (46%) and remains higher than Feb 22 (41%).
• The proportion of people who did physical activity on 5+ days (24%) remains higher than Jan 23 (19%).
• The proportion who did no exercise remains lower than Jan 23 (19% vs. 22%), but in line with Oct 23 (18%), Jul 23 (18%) and Apr 23 (18%).
  • Male respondents are more likely than female to have done physical activity on 5+ days (27% vs 21%)
  • Respondents aged 35-54 and 55+ are significantly more likely than 16-34s to have done no physical activity (19% and 25% vs. 11%).
  • Respondents with a physical disability or illness are more likely than those with no condition or illness to have done no physical activity (23% vs. 17%).

Activity type and frequency

• The most common activities done by respondents in the week preceding the survey period are walking for leisure (59%), walking for travel (27%), gym, fitness or exercise class away from home (16%) and running or jogging (14%).
  • The proportion of people doing home-based activity (21%) is higher than Oct 23 (17%), and the highest it has been since Aug 21 (21%).
• Just over three in five respondents say they have walked for either leisure or travel regularly (at least once per month) in the last three months (62%), just under one in four say they have gone to the gym, fitness or exercise class (23%), and just under one in five have been running or jogging (19%) and swimming (17%).
• Just over one in ten (12%) say they have done no regular physical activity in the last three months.

Reasons for taking part

• Just over half (54%) of respondents agree that they exercise to help manage their mental health or to help manage their physical health (53%).
  • The proportion saying they exercise to manage their mental health has decreased significantly compared to Jan 23 (61%). This decrease has been driven partly by males (55% vs. 63% in Jan 23) and those aged 55+ (47% vs. 59% in Jan 23).
  • The proportion saying they exercise to manage their physical health has also decreased compared to Jan 23 (59%) and Feb 22 (57%). This decrease is partly driven again by males (57% vs. 64% in Jan 23) and those aged 55+ (53% vs. 62% in Jan 23).
• Those who agree that they exercise to manage their mental health say that it does this by clearing their head or taking their mind off things (14%), helps them to feel better about themselves (10%) and relieves stress (7%).
• Of those who have done physical activity regularly in the last three months, almost three in five respondents (57%) rank being physically healthy as their top reason for taking part, whilst one in five (20%) rank feeling good as their top reason.

Opportunity & ability 

• Just under three in four (72%) respondents agree that they have the ability to be physically active.
  • 16-34s and 35-54s are significantly more likely than 55+ to agree they have the ability to be physically active (84% vs. 75% vs. 62%).
  • Respondents with no disability are significantly more likely than those with a disability to agree they have the ability to be physically active (85% vs. 52%).
• Just under three in four (73%) respondents agree that they have the opportunity to be physically active.
  • Male respondents are significantly more likely than female to agree they have the opportunity to be physically active (77% vs. 70%).
  • Respondents with no disability are significantly more likely than those with a disability to agree they have the opportunity to be physically active (84% vs. 55%).
• One third (34%) of respondents agree that they don’t have enough time to be physically active due to other commitments.
  • 16-34s and 35-54s are significantly more likely than 55+ to agree that they don’t have enough time to be physically active due to other commitments (51% vs. 41% vs. 17%).
  • Those with children are significantly more likely than those without to agree that they don’t have enough time to be physically active due to other commitments (49% vs. 26%).

Attitudes to activity 

Enjoyability, importance and confidence

• Just under three in five (57%) respondents agree that they find exercise enjoyable and satisfying.
  • Male respondents are significantly more likely than female to agree that they find exercise enjoyable and satisfying (61% vs. 53%).
  • 16-34s and 35-54s are significantly more likely than 55+ to agree that they find exercise enjoyable and satisfying (67% vs. 59% vs. 49%).
  • Respondents with no disability are significantly more likely than those with a disability to agree that they find exercise enjoyable and satisfying (62% vs. 49%).
• Two thirds (66%) of respondents agree that it is important to them to exercise regularly.
  • Male respondents are significantly more likely than female to agree (71% vs. 62%) that it is important to them to exercise regularly.
• Approximately three in five (59%) respondents agree that they have the confidence to be physically active.
  • Male respondents are significantly more likely than female to agree that they have the confidence to be physically active (67% vs. 52%).
  • Respondents with no disability are significantly more likely than those with a disability to agree that they have the confidence to be physically active (68% vs. 43%).
• Just under a quarter (23%) of respondents agree that they worry about leaving their home to take part in physical activity.
  • Female respondents are significantly more likely than male to agree that they worry about leaving their home to take part in physical activity (27% vs. 19%).
  • Respondents with a disability are significantly more likely than those without to agree that they worry about leaving their home to take part in physical activity (35% vs. 16%).

Location confidence 

• Confidence in indoor locations continues to plateau as the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic fade, with 42% confident at gyms/health and fitness suites (same as Oct 23) and 30% confident in sports halls (30% vs. 31% in Oct 23).
  • The one exception is swimming pools, which have seen a significant decline in confidence when compared to Jan 23 (47% vs. 55%).
• Of those who have participated in a sport or activity in an indoor facility in the past week, around nine in ten say they were comfortable at indoor gyms or fitness centres (90%), indoor swimming pools (90%) and indoor grass/artificial pitches (88%), whilst four in five are confident in indoor courts (80%).

Topic questions 

Volunteering

• Almost half of respondents (46%) have not volunteered in sport and physical activity in the last 12 months, with around one in seven (14%) currently volunteering.
  • Current volunteers are more likely to be aged 16-34 (26% vs. 14% vs. 6%) and have children (21% vs. 9%)
• Although just under half of respondents say it is likely they won’t be volunteering in the next 12 months (47%), almost a third say they are likely to volunteer to support sport and physical activity (32%).
  • Male respondents (35% vs. 29%) and 16-34s (52% vs. 35% vs. 17%) are significantly more likely to say they are likely to volunteer to support sport and physical activity, as are those with children (45% vs. 25%).

Cost-of-living

• Approximately two in five respondents (39%) say that the cost-of-living crisis has had a negative impact on their ability to be active.
  • 16-34s and 35-54s are significantly more likely than 55+ (42% vs. 49% vs. 30%) are more likely to agree that the cost-of-living crisis has had a negative impact on their ability to be active, as are those with children (49% vs. 34%).
  • Those in the 30% most deprived (44%) are significantly more likely than those in mid-deprivation (36%) and the 30% least deprived (29%) to say that the cost-of-living crisis has had a negative impact on their ability to be active.
• Although almost half (47%) of respondents say the changes in the cost-of-living have not impacted their participation in sport and physical activity, a third (33%) say they have been doing less sport and physical activity due to changes in the cost-of-living.
  • Respondents aged 16-34 and 35-54 are significantly more likely than 55+ (41% and 44% vs. 19%) to say they’ve been doing less sport and physical activity due to changes in the cost-of-living, as are those with children (44% vs. 27%).
  • Those in the 30% most deprived (36%) are significantly more likely than those in the 30% least deprived (26%) to say they have been doing less sport and physical activity due to changes in the cost-of-living.
• Almost three in ten (29%) respondents say the rising cost of living hasn't had any impact on their sport and physical activity choice.
• However, 23% say they have switched to cheaper/free activities, 20% say they have taken part in fewer paid activities, 19% say they have spent less on sports clothing / equipment, and 17% say their activity levels have reduced.
  • Respondents aged 55+ are significantly more likely than those aged 16-34 and 35-54 to say that the rising cost of living hasn't had any impact on their sport and physical activity choice (42% vs. 17% and 22%), whilst 16-34s and 35-54s are significantly more likely than 55+ to say it has had an impact (69% vs. 59% and 28%).
  • Those with children are significantly more likely than those without to say the rising cost of living has had an impact (63% vs. 41%).
  • Those in the 30% most deprived (50%) are significantly more likely than those in the 30% least deprived (36%) to say the rising cost of living has had an impact.

Environment and sustainability

• Two in five respondents (40%) agree that they take steps to act sustainably and reduce negative impact on the natural environment when participating in sport or physical activity.
  • Male respondents are more likely than female to agree that they take steps to act sustainably and reduce negative impact on the natural environment (44% vs. 36%), as are 16-34s compared to 35-54s and 55+ (52% vs. 34% and 36%).
• Just over a third (35%) agree that environmental sustainability is an important factor for them when choosing what sport or physical activity to take part in.
  • Male respondents are more likely than female to agree that environmental sustainability is an important factor for them (39% vs. 31%), as are 16-34s compared to 35-54s and 55+ (47% vs. 30% and 30%).
  • Those in the 30% most deprived (38%) are significantly more likely than those in the 30% least deprived (26%) to agree that environmental sustainability is an important factor for them.
• Just under a third agree that they often consider their impact on the natural environment when taking part in sport or physical activity (31%).
  • Male respondents are more likely than female to agree that they often consider their impact on the natural environment (36% vs. 25%), as are 16-34s compared to 35-54s and 55+ (45% vs. 29% vs. 22%).
• However, only around one in five (22%) worry about their impact on the natural environment when taking part in sport or physical activity, and just under a third (32%) agree that they could do more to reduce negative impact on the natural environment when taking part (32%).
  • Again, male respondents are more likely than female to agree that they worry about their impact on the natural environment (25% vs. 19%), as are 16-34s compared to 35-54s and 55+ (40% vs. 18% vs. 12%).
  • 16-34s are more likely than 35-54s and 55+ to agree they could do more to reduce negative impact on the natural environment (51% vs. 32% vs. 18%).
  • Those in the 30% most deprived (37%) are significantly more likely than those in mid-deprivation (28%) and the 30% least deprived (21%) to agree that they could do more to reduce negative impact on the natural environment when taking part.