The vision focuses on creating a wide range of positive experiences, so that everyone can enjoy sport and activity.
This section focuses on exploring the ‘Demand’ and ‘Unmet Demand’ for sport and physical activity in adults. These figures indicate where activities have the potential to grow, and in turn, provide more opportunities for adults to enjoy.
5.1 National Demand
Adults with ‘Demand’ refers to those who said they wanted to do more of a sport and/or activity. These adults might already participate in sport and/or physical activity.
Across the 2.5 million adults in Wales, 773,000 said they had a demand to participate in at least one sport or physical activity, representing 31% of all adults.
Graph 8: The proportion of adults who have a demand for at least one type of activity
Across the broad activity categories1617 , 20% (500,000 people) had a demand for at least one ‘Fitness Activity’, 10% (260,000 people) had a demand for at least one ‘Sport and/or Game’ activity, and 5% (123,000 people) had a demand for at least one ‘Outdoor Pursuit’ activity.
This equates to approximately 1 million additional opportunities for participation across the adult population.
Table 9: The proportion and number of adults who have a demand for more activity, by frequency of participation.
Percentage of Adults (%)
Number of Adults
Participated in three or more times per week
43%
328,000
Participated 2 times per week
10%
79,000
Participated 1 time per week
11%
82,000
Participated less than once per week
37%
281,000
Amongst adults who have a demand for sport, 43% participated, on average, three or more times per week during the previous four weeks. Conversely, 37% of adults who had demand participated on average less than once per week, or not at all, during the previous four weeks.
5.2 Geography
Table 10: The proportion and number of adults who have a demand for more sport/physical activity, by Regional Sport Partnership Area.
Percentage of Adults (%)
Number of Adults
Regional Sport Partnership Areas
North Wales
30%
165,000
Mid Wales
33%
55,000
West Wales
27%
156,000
Central South
35%
265,000
Gwent
28%
132,000
Population Density
Urban
32%
529,000
Rural
29%
244,000
Wales Total
31%
773,000
Central South had the highest proportion of adults with a demand for at least one type of sport/physical activity (35%), equating to 265,000 adults. The proportion of adults with demand in Central South is significantly greater than North Wales, Mid Wales, West Wales and Gwent.
Further, the proportion of adults with demand in West Wales and Gwent was significantly lower when compared with the national average of 31%
Additionally, the number of adults who have demand for at least one type of sport/physical activity in Urban areas were more than double that of Rural areas, representing a statistically different proportion of demand between populations with varying density characteristics.
Table 11:The proportion and number of adults who have a demand for more sport and/or physical activity, by Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation (WIMD):
Percentage of Adults (%)
Number of Adults
Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation
Q1 (20% most deprived)
28%
113,000
Q2
27%
126,000
Q3
31%
164,000
Q4
30%
168,000
Q5 (20% least deprived)
35%
202,000
Wales Total
31%
773,000
Table 11 illustrates the proportion and number of adults who had a demand for more sport and/or physical activity by quintiles of Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation (WIMD). The Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation (WIMD) is the Welsh Government’s official measure of relative deprivation for small areas in Wales. Each quintile has a similar population size within it, and so the proportion and number of adults who have a demand for more sport and/or physical activity can be compared against each other.
There was a significant 7-percentage-point difference in the proportion of adults who had a demand for more sport and/or physical activity between those who live in the most deprived compared to those who live in the least deprived areas in Wales. This is a difference of 89,000 adults.
5.3 Ages
Graph 9: The proportion and number of adults who have a demand for more sport and/or physical activity, by Age Group
Overall, the proportion of adults who have a demand for more sport and/or physical activity declines with age. Those aged between 16-24-years, 25-34-years, 35-44-years, and 45-54-years were more likely to report have a demand to participate compared to those aged 55-56-years, 65-74-years and 75+ years.
5.4 Demographics
Table 12: The proportion and number of adults with a demand to do more of at least one type of sport or physical activity.
Percentage of Adults (%)
Number of Adults
Sex:
Female
32%
382,000
Male
30%
390,000
Ethnicity:
White (Welsh, English, British, etc.)
30%
697,000
White – Other
40%
26,000
Any other Ethnic Group
44%
49,000
Illness, Disability, or Infirmity
Long-standing illness, disability or infirmity
28%
341,000
No longstanding illness, disability or infirmity
32%
430,000
Deprivation
In material deprivation
31%
89,000
Not in material deprivation
31%
684,000
Welsh Language
People using Welsh language in everyday life (FG36)
33%
94,000
People not using Welsh language in everyday life
30%
678,000
Wales Total
31%
773,000
Table 12 illustrates the proportion of adults who said they have a demand for more sport and/or physical activity, by demographic characteristics.
Between the broad ethnicity groups23, those who reported being ‘White – Other’, and ‘Any other Ethnic Group’ were more likely to report having a demand for at least one sport or physical activity. Both of these groups had a greater demand for more activity compared with those who reported being ‘White – (Welsh, English, British, etc.)’
Further, those who did not report having a longstanding illness, disability or infirmity were more likely to report a demand for more sport and/or physical activity compared to those who did have a longstanding illness, disability or infirmity.
Conversely, no differences were found between Males and Females, those who do and do not live in material deprivation, and those who do and do not speak Welsh daily.
5.5 Self-Reported Health and Wellbeing
Table 13: The number and percentage of adults who have a demand for more sport and/or physical activity, by health and well-being question responses.
Percentage of Adults (%)
Number of Adults
General Health
Very good or good
32%
587,000
Fair
29%
142,000
Bad or very bad
21%
44,000
Loneliness
Not lonely
24%
177,000
Sometimes lonely
33%
484,000
Lonely
35%
111,000
Satisfaction with Life
Very high
27%
214,000
High
33%
407,000
Medium
32%
111,000
Low
30%
39,000
Overall Happiness
Very high
27%
263,000
High
33%
325,000
Medium
34%
122,000
Low
33%
63,000
Overall Anxiety
Very low
27%
292,000
Low
34%
174,000
Medium
33%
130,000
High
34%
176,000
Overall extent of feeling that the things done in life are worthwhile
Very high
28%
268,000
High
32%
369,000
Medium
34%
101,000
Low
31%
32,000
Have a sense of community (belonging; different backgrounds get on, treat with respect)
Yes
29%
451,000
No
34%
296,000
Wales Total
31%
773,000
Table 13 shows how people who have a demand for more sport and/or physical activity responded to self-reported health and wellbeing questions.
Those who reported their general health as ‘Very good or Good’ were more likely to have a demand for sport and/or physical activity compared to those who reported ‘Bad or Very bad’ health.
Demand rates across ‘Overall Life Satisfaction’ and ‘Overall Happiness’ response groups were mixed. Those who reported having ‘Low’ or ‘Medium’ overall happiness, alongside those who reported ‘Low’, Medium’ or ‘High’ or Life Satisfaction were significantly more likely to have a demand for more sport and/or physical activity compared to those who reported ‘Very High’ happiness and life satisfaction.
Those who reported being ‘Lonely’ or ‘Sometimes Lonely’ were more likely to have a demand for more sport and/or physical activity compared to those who reported being ‘Not Lonely’.
Further, the proportion of adults with a demand for sport and/or physical activity was higher amongst adults who reported ‘High’ levels of overall anxiety compared to those who reported ‘Very Low’ overall anxiety.
The proportion of adults who had a demand for more sport/physical activity was statistically similar across ‘Overall extent of feeling that the things done in life are worthwhile’ response groups.
Finally, those who do not have a sense of community were more likely to report having a demand for more sport and/or physical activity compared to those who do report having a sense of community.
5.6 Food Affordability, Living Situation, and Access to Vehicles.
Graph 10: The percentage of adults who have a demand for more sport and/or physical activity, by food affordability25.
Graph 10 presents the proportion of adults who have a demand for more sport/physical activity by food affordability questions
Those who reported having had a meal with meat/vegetarian equivalent at least every other day were less likely to report having a demand for more sport and/or physical activity compared to those who had had smaller or skipped meals, or had a day in the previous fortnight with no substantial meal.
Graph 11: The percentage of adults who have a demand for sport and/or physical activity, by vehicle access.
As shown in Graph 11, those who have access to a car or van were more likely to report having a demand in sport/physical activity compared those who do not have access to a vehicle.
5.7 Unmet Demand
For the purposes of this report, those with an ‘Unmet Demand’ refers exclusively to those who did not participate in a sport/activity already, but said they would like to do so in the future.
In 2021-22, 44% or 1,104,000 adults, said they had not participated in any sport or physical activity during the previous four weeks. However, 20% of these adults say they want to participate in at least one type of sport or physical activity. This represents 224,000 people, or 9% of the total adult population in Wales.
Graph 12: The number of adults who do not yet participate in Fitness Activities, Sports & Games and/or Outdoor Pursuits, but say they would like to27.
Graph 12 illustrates that, in 2021-22, there were 183,000 adults who did not participate in any ‘Fitness Activity’ in 2021-22 but said they would like to. Further, 191,000 adults who did not participate in any ‘Sport or Game’, but said they would like to. Finally, 101,000 adults said they did not participate in an Outdoor Pursuit, but said they would like to.
Overall, this equates to almost half a million opportunities in sport amongst adults, which were yet to be met during 2021-22.
Table 14: The proportion and number of adults who have an unmet demand for activity, by Regional Sport Partnership Area.
Adults with Unmet Demand (%)
Adults with Unmet Demand
Regional Sport Partnership Areas
North Wales
8%
44,000
Mid Wales
10%
17,000
West Wales
9%
49,000
Central South
11%
79,000
Gwent
8%
36,000
Population Density
Urban
10%
161,000
Rural
7%
64,000
Wales Total
9%
224,000
Central South had the highest proportion of adults with an unmet demand for sport and/or physical given the total number of adults in this region. The rate of unmet demand in Central South is higher than in North Wales and Gwent. Table 14 illustrates that there are many more adults with unmet demand in Central South than there are in other parts of Wales. For example, despite having a similar rate to Mid Wales the actual number of adults with unmet demand in Central South is over 4 times greater.
Further, a higher proportion of adults from urban areas reported an unmet demand for sport and/or physical activity than in rural areas. Moreover, approximately 2.5 times the number of adults with unmet demand live in urban areas compared to rural areas.
