After rising by 4.4 percent in 2016, memberships in health and fitness clubs grew by 4.0 percent to 60.0 million in 2017 as compared to 2016, according to an annual report released by Europe Active and Deloitte ahead of the Fibo trade show in Cologne. Germany continued to strengthen its leading position with a 5.3 percent increase to 10,610,000 members, followed by the U.K. with a 5.1 percent rise to 9,720,000 members. France, Italy and Spain came next with increases of 4.6 percent, 1.3 percent and 2.8 percent, respectively. Overall, 7.6 percent of the total European population were members of a health or fitness club. The highest penetration rates were recorded in Northern and Central European countries, with Sweden holding the leadership with a penetration rate of 21.4 percent, followed by Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands and the U.K.

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