New Spanish sports survey shows 6 in 10 Spaniards now active

A recent survey of sports habits in Spain in 2024/25, carried out by the Ministry of Education, Vocational Training and Sport in collaboration with the Higher Council of Sports (Consejo Superior de Deportes – CSD), shows an increase in participation by 5.4 percent since 2022. The increase is by 3.1 percent when compared to the 2020 edition, during the COVID-19 crisis. According to the report, six out of ten Spaniards (62.7 percent) get active, up from 57.3 percent in 2022. The survey involved people aged 15 and over.

The report shows that 25.5 percent of the population get active daily and 53.9 percent at least once a week. Men (66.2 percent) are still more sporty than women (59.5 percent), but the difference is now of 6.7 percentage points, as compared to 11.3 percentage points in 2022. Men are more likely to engage in cycling, football, weight training and weightlifting, hiking and mountaineering, intensive training and swimming. Fitness in general, swimming, and hiking and mountaineering dominate amongst women.

The entry age to sports also matters. According to the report, a majority (59.4 percent) of people who participate in sports began before turning 15 years old. Another 20.5 percent started between ages 15 and 24, while 12.6 percent took up sports between 25 and 44. Only 7.5 percent began participating in sports at age 44 or older.

In 2024/25, 42.5 percent of sports participants engaged with a professional coach or as part of a team, which is a 7.4 percent increase from the 2022 figure of 35.1 percent.