EVIDENCE BASE FOR SPORT
Men in Sport
In 2022 Australia’s estimated resident population was 26,315,575 people, 49.6% (13,060,220) were men and boys and around 49% of the male population participated in a sport-related activity at least once a week. 1, 10
PARTICIPATION - 2022
Estimated sport-related participation by age group 1
Estimated sport-related participation at least once a week by State/Territory, Men [15+] 1
- Australian Capital Territory - 56%
- New South Wales - 51%
- Northern Territory - 49%
- Queensland - 48%
- South Australia - 44%
- Tasmania - 44%
- Victoria - 50%
- Western Australia - 52%
An estimated 548,000 [32% of] Australian men [aged 18+] with a disability participated in a sport-related activity at least once a week. 1
An estimated 104,000 [40% of] First Nations' men [aged 18+] participated in a sport-related activity at least once a week. 1
![](https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0020/1081370/Speech-bubbles-1165724605_colour-navy-green-01.png)
An estimated 899,000 [49% of] Australian men [aged 18+] who speak a language other than English (LOTE) at home participated in a sport-related activity at least once a week. 1
Most popular sport-related activities with estimated participants 12
Boys aged 0-14
![](https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0009/1092366/Swimming-AUSLAY-Icon-Navy-Green.png)
Swimming - 868,000
![](https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0005/1085918/Soccer-colour-navy-green.png)
Football/Soccer - 511,000
![](https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0007/1092373/AFL-AUSPLAY-Icon-Navy-Green.png)
Australian Football - 342,000
![](https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0004/1092370/Basketball-AUSPLAY-Icon-Navy-Green.png)
Basketball - 325,000
![](https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0009/1095543/Cricket-bat-and-ball-Ausplay-Icons_Colour-Navy-Green1.png)
Cricket - 195,000
![](https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0008/1092365/Gymnastics-AUSLAY-Icon-Navy-Green.png)
Gymnastics - 179,000
![](https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0003/1092369/Tennis-AUSPLAY-Icon-Navy-Green.png)
Tennis - 156,000
![](https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0016/1101274/Rugby-League-Custom-Navy-Green.png)
Rugby League - 133,000
![](https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0005/1092371/Runner-AUSPLAY-Icon-Navy-Green.png)
Running/Athletics - 127,000
![](https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0010/1095553/Rugby-Union-Ausplay-Icons-Colour-Navy-Green.png)
Rugby Union - 80,000
Young Adult aged 15-24
![](https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0005/1092371/Runner-AUSPLAY-Icon-Navy-Green.png)
Running/Athletics - 429,000
![](https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0004/1092370/Basketball-AUSPLAY-Icon-Navy-Green.png)
Basketball - 367,000
![](https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0005/1085918/Soccer-colour-navy-green.png)
Football/Soccer - 362,000
![](https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0009/1092366/Swimming-AUSLAY-Icon-Navy-Green.png)
Swimming - 220,000
![](https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0007/1092373/AFL-AUSPLAY-Icon-Navy-Green.png)
Australian Football - 189,000
![](https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0006/1092642/Triathon-iStock-1363881419-Navy-Green.png)
Cycling - 173,000
![](https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0009/1095543/Cricket-bat-and-ball-Ausplay-Icons_Colour-Navy-Green1.png)
Cricket - 122,000
![](https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0003/1092369/Tennis-AUSPLAY-Icon-Navy-Green.png)
Tennis - 111,000
![](https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0007/1092643/Volleyball-AUSPLAY-Icon-Navy-Green.png)
Volleyball - 109,000
![](https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0016/1101274/Rugby-League-Custom-Navy-Green.png)
Rugby League - 104,000
Adult aged 25-54
![](https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0005/1092371/Runner-AUSPLAY-Icon-Navy-Green.png)
Running/Athletics - 1,440,000
![](https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0006/1092642/Triathon-iStock-1363881419-Navy-Green.png)
Cycling - 1,052,000
![](https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0009/1092366/Swimming-AUSLAY-Icon-Navy-Green.png)
Swimming - 918,000
![](https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0005/1085918/Soccer-colour-navy-green.png)
Football/Soccer - 593,000
![](https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0011/1092638/Golf-AUSPLAY-Icon-Navy-Green.png)
Golf - 476,000
![](https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0004/1092370/Basketball-AUSPLAY-Icon-Navy-Green.png)
Basketball - 433,000
![](https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0003/1092369/Tennis-AUSPLAY-Icon-Navy-Green.png)
Tennis - 285,000
![](https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0009/1095543/Cricket-bat-and-ball-Ausplay-Icons_Colour-Navy-Green1.png)
Cricket - 360,000
![](https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0005/1092641/Surfing-AUSPLAY-Icon-Navy-Green.png)
Surfing - 294,000
![](https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0007/1092373/AFL-AUSPLAY-Icon-Navy-Green.png)
Australian Football - 266,000
Mature Adult aged 55+
![](https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0006/1092642/Triathon-iStock-1363881419-Navy-Green.png)
Cycling - 623,000
![](https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0009/1092366/Swimming-AUSLAY-Icon-Navy-Green.png)
Swimming - 524,000
![](https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0011/1092638/Golf-AUSPLAY-Icon-Navy-Green.png)
Golf - 523,000
![](https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0005/1092371/Runner-AUSPLAY-Icon-Navy-Green.png)
Running/Athletics - 249,000
![](https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0003/1092369/Tennis-AUSPLAY-Icon-Navy-Green.png)
Tennis - 187,000
![](https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0010/1092637/Lawn-Bowls-AUSPLAY-Icon-Navy-Green.png)
Bowls - 135,000
![](https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0005/1092641/Surfing-AUSPLAY-Icon-Navy-Green.png)
Surfing - 115,000
![](https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0004/1092640/Canoeing-Kayaking-AUSPLAY-Icon-Navy-Green.png)
Canoeing/Kayaking - 99,000
![](https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0011/1095545/Sailing-Ausplay-Icons_Colour-Navy-Green.png)
Sailing - 82,000
![](https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0006/1092642/Triathon-iStock-1363881419-Navy-Green.png)
Mountain Bike - 69,000
References +
- AusPlay Data Portal: Sport-related participation – frequency of participation, Australian Sports Commission, (accessed 1 May 2023).
- AusPlay National Sport and Physical Activity Participation Report, Australian Sports Commission, (November 2022)
- Sons of the West [program], Western Bulldogs, (accessed 15 August 2023).
- The community network: an Aboriginal community football club bringing people together, Alister Thorpe, Wendy Anders, Kevin Rowley, Australian Journal of Primary Health, Volume 20(4), pp.356-364, (August 2014).
- The longitudinal study of Australian children: 2015 Annual report: Chapter 5, Australian children’s screen time and participation in extracurricular activities, Maggie Yu and Jennifer Baxter, Growing up in Australia, Australian Institute of Family Studies, (September 2016).
- Sport participation and academic performance in children and adolescents: A systematic review and meta-analysis, Katherine Owen, Bridget Foley, Katrina Wilhite, et al., Medicine and Science in Sport and Exercise, Volume 54(2), pp.299-306, (February 2022).
- Overweight and obese men’s experiences in a sport-based weight loss intervention for men, Timothy Budden, James A. Dimmock, Brett Smith, et.al., Psychology of Sport and Exercise, Volume 50, 101750, (2020).
- Effectiveness of Adult Health Promotion Interventions Delivered Through Professional Sport: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis, Emma George, Aymen El Masri, Dominika Kwasnicka, Sports Medicine, Volume 52, pp.2637-2655, (June 2022).
- Value and Benefits of Sport: Social and mental wellbeing, Clearinghouse for Sport, (accessed 15 August 2023).
- National, state and territory population: December 2023, Australian Bureau of Statistics, (13 June 2024)
- AusPlay Data Portal: non-playing roles, Australian Sports Commission, (accessed 13 July 2023)
- AusPlay Data Portal: Participation by activity, Australian Sports Commission, (accessed 1 May 2023)
Last updated: 28 June 2023
Content disclaimer: See Clearinghouse for Sport disclaimer
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