France’s sports economy worth €78bn as industry grows 31%

“Le Sport: Un Poumon Économique, Social et Territorial” (Sport as an economic, social and territorial driving force) reveals substantial expansion in the sector, with the number of sports companies growing 31 percent since 2019 to reach 147,000 businesses in 2024. Activity concentrates in three primary sectors: retail leads the market, followed by manufacturing, management and construction, and finally sports events and entertainment.

Household spending drives the majority of economic value, representing 78 percent of total activity through equipment purchases and gym memberships. Investment spending accounts for the remaining share, mirroring broader economic patterns. However, the sports sector distinguishes itself through its revenue origins: 37 percent comes from the non-profit sector, compared to 31 percent across the overall economy.

Olympics impact fuels business optimism

The Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games created measurable commercial momentum. One year after the event, in summer 2025, Audirep and BPCE L’Observatoire surveyed sports companies employing six or more people. The results showed 55 percent reporting activity growth, with 65 percent forecasting expansion over the next two years.

The Olympics effect proved significant: 42 percent of sports companies reported a positive impact from the Games, compared to only 5 percent of businesses in other sectors. This disparity highlights the concentrated commercial benefit within the sporting goods and services ecosystem.

Swimming pool infrastructure reveals municipal challenges

Swimming pool expenditure constitutes 26 percent of total sports equipment spending, yet operating costs create financial pressure for smaller municipalities. More than half – 60 percent – of French swimming pools still rely on fossil fuels for heating, presenting both environmental and budgetary concerns.

Municipalities increasingly pool resources to manage these facilities, with attention shifting from new construction to renovating existing infrastructure. Regional disparities persist markedly: local authorities invest an average of €33 per capita annually on swimming facilities, but this ranges from €10 in some départements to more than €60 in others. Major urban centers receive substantially greater investment compared to rural areas.

Participation and funding dynamics

Organized sports participation in France has reached record levels, with more than 19 million people holding licenses and membership credentials. This growth accompanies a rise in event-based competitions.

The supply side remains primarily non-profit: 220,000 economically active sports associations demonstrate resilience through private funding combined with large-scale volunteer mobilization. State and local authorities provide most funding for school and high-level sports – exceeding €24 billion – notably through physical education teacher salaries and sports facility funding.

The commercial sector complements this infrastructure with 147,000 companies that generated €80 billion in net sales in 2024. This dual structure – non-profit associations supported by volunteers and public funding alongside a substantial commercial sector – characterizes France’s sports economy model.

The report underscores that the 2.7 percent GDP figure likely underestimates sport’s full economic, social and territorial contribution due to the significant public authority involvement.