Gym Membership Statistics in 2024: Trends and Insights

In 2024, an increasing number of individuals are prioritizing physical activities and joining gyms. This surge can be attributed to factors such as the lingering impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the growing availability and popularity of online fitness options, and a heightened awareness of the importance of health and wellness. 

If you’re a journalist, reporter, or industry analyst looking to understand the fitness industry’s current trends and future outlook, this gym membership statistics research by PTPioneer offers valuable insights.

Explore gym membership trends, popular workout activities, and the financial health of the fitness industry in 2024 to gain a comprehensive view of why fitness continues to be a thriving sector. This information can help you craft compelling stories and reports on the growing importance of fitness and its impact on health and wellness and its relationship to the fitness club industry.

Key Statistics

• The 18-34 age group had the highest gym membership, making up 31% of total US gym memberships.

• Strength training is the most popular workout in the US, with 65% of males and 52% of females participating.

• New York and California had the highest gym membership rates at 29.7% and 29.2%, respectively.

• 70% of US gym-goers emphasized investing in health and personal appearance, with 60% consistently making time to exercise.

• 41% of cancelations of gym memberships in the US were due to cost, 25% due to changing personal circumstances, and 19% believed they could achieve fitness goals independently.

• The number of US health clubs has grown by an average of 2.98% annually over the last 10 years.

• Strength training led with 58.5% US gym goers, followed by running/jogging at 32.5%, and yoga at 20.5%.

• Planet Fitness leads membership count with 15.2 million members, followed by Life Time Fitness with $1.32 billion in revenue and 160 clubs, and LA Fitness with $2.1 billion revenue. 

Gym Membership Demographics

Gym Membership Statistics Among Genders in the US

• Over the last 10-15 years, gym male memberships increased by 23.2% in the US, while female memberships saw a higher growth rate of 32.2% during the same period.

These gym statistics suggest a growing trend among women to join health and fitness clubs, possibly due to increased awareness and emphasis on health and fitness among females.

• Male gym members in the US paid an average of $54 per month for gym membership dues, while females paid slightly less, averaging $50 per month. 

Membership costs for women are slightly less, showing that men tend to pay a slight premium over their female counterparts.

• On average, US male members visited health and fitness facilities 106 times a year, whereas females visited slightly less frequently, with an average of 102 visits per year.

This gender breakdown means that despite the average costs being higher for men, male members of gyms still visit more often, although the difference between genders isn’t as disparate as it used to be. 

• Male gym members in the US are more likely to pay for premium access, with 65% of those paying over $200 monthly being men. Over half of those spending under $100 monthly are women. 

• A significant 51% of male gym members in the US aim to increase their physical activity, compared to an even higher 65% of women who have the same goal.

• As of last year, strength training is the most popular workout among both males and females in the US, with 65% of males and 52% of females participating.

Strength training has increased in popularity over the last 10-20 years.

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• Running/jogging outside is the second most popular activity in the US among males (41%) and the third among females (24%).

• Currently, yoga is more popular among female gym members in the US (24%) than male gym members (17%). 

• Dance cardio classes is the least popular among both genders in the US, with females participating at 16% twice the rate of males at 8%.

Age Distribution Among Health Club Members in the US

• US gym members in the 6-17 age group saw the highest membership growth over the last fifteen years, with an increase of 69.81%.

Increased awareness of the importance of physical activity for children and teenagers, along with more youth-oriented fitness programs and facilities, likely contributed to this significant growth.

• The 6-17 age group constituted 16.1% of US gym members, indicating a stable membership proportion.

• There were 19.83 million gym members in the 18-34 age group in the USA, the highest among all age groups, making up 30.90% of the total gym memberships.

This could be due to a heightened focus on health and fitness within this age group during the COVID-19 pandemic, coupled with their ability to adapt to new fitness trends and virtual workout options.

• There were 19.72 million members in the 35-54 age group in the US, which made up 30.73% of the total gym memberships.

• US gym members in the 35-54 age group experienced the lowest growth over the last 15 years at 11.55%.

The lower growth rate might be due to time constraints faced by this demographic, balancing work and family commitments, making it challenging to maintain regular gym attendance.

• Gym members in the US aged 55+ made up approximately 22.69% of gym memberships with 14.32 million members.

Geographical Distribution

• New York and California had the highest health club membership penetration rates, at 29.7% and 29.2%, respectively.

New York and California both offer significant metropolitan areas where gyms and health clubs can thrive, in contrast to other US states with a more spread-out population.

• The presence of several East Coast states in the top ranks suggests a regional preference or higher availability of health clubs.

The East Coast states prioritize health club availability over other regional US areas. This could be due to a greater health awareness combined with the temperature decreases in the winter months that make outdoor exercise less accessible. 

Popular Gym Activities and Trends

Most Popular Gym Activities 

• In 2023, strength training is the dominant activity among gym-goers in the US, with 58.5% participating.

• Running/jogging outside appeals to 32.5% of US gym-goers, while dance cardio classes attract 12%.

Both activities highlight the importance of cardiovascular workouts in gym routines, although dance cardio is less popular.

• Yoga has a 20.5% participation rate among US gym-goers, showing that they value activities that promote flexibility, relaxation, and mental well-being alongside physical fitness.

Fitness businesses should be aware of the large group of participants who prefer fitness classes like yoga. Group classes like yoga and Pilates can help a fitness studio or larger gym appeal to a certain segment of the population who value their flexibility and mental health.

What Are the Main Reasons Consumers Returned to Gyms After COVID-19 

• 70% of US gym members stated that maintaining their overall health was one reason for returning to the gym after COVID-19.

Health is a major priority for US gym-going members. 

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• 55% of gym members in the US indicated that their primary reason for returning to the gym after COVID-19 was to get stronger. 

Over 50% of gym members returned to the gym to increase overall strength over any other reason. 

• Nearly equal proportions of US gym members returned to gyms after COVID-19 to boost their mood (49%), improve flexibility (48%), and build muscle (48%), indicating that these three motivations were similarly important.

What Are the Common Attitudes Towards Fitness Among US Gym-goers 

• 70% of gym-goers in the US emphasize the importance of investing in their health and personal appearance.

This indicates that fitness is seen as an important aspect of overall well-being and self-presentation.

• 60% of the US gym-goers consistently make time to exercise, showcasing a strong commitment to maintaining fitness routines despite potential lifestyle challenges.

• 55% of US gym-goers exercised primarily for health reasons rather than to improve appearance.

• For 60% of gym-goers in the US, the gym is a core component of their fitness routine.

This highlights the significance of gym facilities in supporting fitness goals and the reliance on structured environments for workouts.

What Are the Common Reasons for Gym Membership Cancellations

• As of 2024, the leading reason why US gym goers canceled their gym membership is the cost, cited by 41% of the respondents.

More and more people are attracted by the prospect of home workouts or exercise in other places besides gyms, because of high gym costs. 

• 25% of US gym goers left their gym due to changing personal circumstances, reflecting the impact of life events on gym attendance.

• Moving away accounts for 19% of the discontinuation of gym membership among gym-goers in the US.

• 19% of US gym goers who canceled their membership believe they can achieve their fitness goals on their own.

This indicates a potential market for hybrid memberships that combine gym access with virtual training.

• Other reasons for discontinuation of gym membership among US gym goers included seeking better options (10%), the gym or studio closing (9%), and inconvenient gym hours (8%).

Gym Visit Statistics

What Are the Preferred Workout Times

• 37% of Americans exercise before 9 am and 30% after work, making these the most popular times to work out, while only 12% exercise after 8 pm, the least popular time. 

What is the Average Duration of Gym Memberships?

• The average length of gym memberships in the United States was 4.7 years, with male health club members maintaining their memberships for slightly longer periods.

Gym Membership Retention Statistics

Gym Membership Retention Rates

• Annually, 67% of members in U.S. health clubs are retained, with the average gym member staying with a gym for 3.3 years.

The average life cycle of a gym goer at a facility is around 3 years in the health club industry. 

• More than 70% of US gym goers who join a gym to lose weight remain members for over a year. 

• Retention rates for US gym goers working with personal trainers in gyms range between 60-85%.

The majority of people who work with a personal trainer in the gym stay with that gym for a significant period of time. This shows that personal training can increase gym retention rates.

What Factors Influence the Retention Rates

• 63% of US gym members attend regularly during the first month, but this percentage drops to 33% by the sixth month.

• The use of fitness apps increases gym member retention by 14%.

• A free guest pass can boost gym member retention by over 20%.

Number of Gyms and Fitness Centers

• Over the last fifteen years there has been a general upward trend in the number of health clubs in the US, with an average growth rate of approximately 2.98%.

Increased awareness of fitness and wellness, along with rising disposable household income, fueled the growth of health clubs.

• In 2020, there was a notable drop of approximately 17% in the number of US clubs. 

The COVID-19 pandemic forced temporary closures and led to permanent shutdowns of many health clubs due to financial strain.

• By 2022, the number of health clubs in the US remains below the pre-pandemic levels with 31,028 clubs showing signs of gradual recovery but not reaching previous highs. 

Gradual reopening and adaptation to new health protocols helped some clubs recover, though lingering economic impacts and shifts to home fitness options limited full recovery.

Gym Clubs Market Size and Growth

• The revenue of the US gym clubs experienced consistent growth, peaking at $45.4 billion in 2019. 

The fitness, health, and gym industry experienced consistent growth due to increasing health awareness, a rise in disposable incomes, and a growing trend of fitness and wellness among Americans.

• In 2020, US gym club revenue declined significantly, by approximately 33.04%, to $30.4 billion.

This decline was primarily due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced gyms and fitness clubs to shut down temporarily, leading to a massive loss in memberships and operational revenue. Lockdowns and social distancing measures significantly reduced the ability of gyms to operate at full capacity, while many members chose to cancel their subscriptions due to health concerns.

• Post-pandemic, there is a slow recovery in the US gym club revenue, with revenues slightly increasing in 2021 with an average growth rate of 0.32%.

This slight increase in revenue is due to the gradual return of members and the implementation of health and safety measures.

Leading Health and Gym Clubs

• Planet Fitness demonstrates a dominant position in the gym clubs in the US with 15.2 million members.

• Life Time Fitness recorded revenue of $1.32 billion with 160 health clubs across the United States.

• LA Fitness reported the highest revenue of $2.1 billion with under 800 thousand members.

References

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