
AusPlay provides national, state and territory data on almost 400 different participation sports and activities in Australia and who is participating in them.
Data collection for AusPlay has been continuous since the survey commenced on 22 October 2015.
On 28 April 2023 the Australian Sports Commission released:
- New national, state/territory and sport data tables for the 2022 calendar year.
- A year-on-year comparison of selected measures across the seven calendar years from 2016 to 2022. These can be found in the national data tables.
- Updated data visualisations and data portal. These are based on AusPlay’s 140,000+ cumulative sample to date (October 2015 to December 2022), and include almost 60 individual sport and physical activity reports.
- A new data visualisation showing expenditure on participation in sport and physical activity, for both adults and children. A summary of the key figures is also available.
Results can be downloaded below.
This report provides a high-level snapshot of the prevalence of injuries from community sport and physical activity. Data was collected in the 2022 calendar year through a collaboration with the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) and is an input to their National Sports Injury Data Strategy. It is the first time AusPlay has collected and reported injury data.
The ASC has built a data portal for AusPlay users to view and interrogate the wealth of data collected in the survey. It has been developed using the Microsoft Power BI platform and can be experienced online.
Latest release
Results from the most recent 12 months of AusPlay data.
National data tables include a year-on-year comparison of selected measures.
State and territory
- ACT data tables - January 2022 to December 2022
- NSW data tables - January 2022 to December 2022
- NT data tables – January 2022 to December 2022
- Qld data tables – January 2022 to December 2022
- SA data tables – January 2022 to December 2022
- Tas data tables – January 2022 to December 2022
- Vic data tables – January 2022 to December 2022
- WA data tables – January 2022 to December 2022
Data visualisations
Results using the entire aggregated AusPlay data set.
What sports and physical activities are most popular in Australia
The way in which Australians choose to be active as they move through each life stage.
The health of Australians and how they compare against the health guideline criteria.
Participant behaviour across states and territories.
PDF versions of some reports are also available below under Historical publications
Archery
Athletics/running
Australian Football
Badminton
Baseball
Basketball
Boxing
Bowls
Bush walking
Canoeing/Kayaking
Cricket
Crossfit
Cycling
Dancing
DanceSport
Equestrian
Fishing
Fitness/gym
Football/soccer
Golf
Past and future releases
Previous data releases
National
State and territory
- ACT data tables – January 2022 to December 2022
- NSW data tables – January 2022 to December 2022
- NT data tables – January 2022 to December 2022
- Qld data tables – January 2022 to December 2022
- SA data tables – January 2022 to December 2022
- Tas data tables – January 2022 to December 2022
- Vic data tables – January 2022 to December 2022
- WA data tables – January 2022 to December 2022
Sports and activities
National
State and territory
- ACT data tables – July 2021 to June 2022
- NSW data tables – July 2021 to June 2022
- NT data tables – July 2021 to June 2022
- Qld data tables – July 2021 to June 2022
- SA data tables – July 2021 to June 2022
- Tas data tables – July 2021 to June 2022
- Vic data tables – July 2021 to June 2022
- WA data tables – July 2021 to June 2022
Sports and activities
National
State and territory
- ACT data tables – January 2021 to December 2021
- NSW data tables – January 2021 to December 2021
- NT data tables – January 2021 to December 2021
- Qld data tables – January 2021 to December 2021
- SA data tables – January 2021 to December 2021
- Tas data tables – January 2021 to December 2021
- Vic data tables – January 2021 to December 2021
- WA data tables – January 2021 to December 2021
Sports and activities
National
State and territory
- ACT data tables – July 2020 to June 2021
- NSW data tables – July 2020 to June 2021
- NT data tables – July 2020 to June 2021
- Qld data tables – July 2020 to June 2021
- SA data tables – July 2020 to June 2021
- Tas data tables – July 2020 to June 2021
- Vic data tables – July 2020 to June 2021
- WA data tables – July 2020 to June 2021
Sports and activities
National
State and territory
- ACT data tables - January 2020 to December 2020
- NSW data tables - January 2020 to December 2020
- NT data tables – January 2020 to December 2020
- Qld data tables – January 2020 to December 2020
- SA data tables – January 2020 to December 2020
- Tas data tables – January 2020 to December 2020
- Vic data tables – January 2020 to December 2020
- WA data tables – January 2020 to December 2020
Sport and activities
National
State and territory
- ACT data tables – July 2019 to June 2020
- NSW data tables – July 2019 to June 2020
- NT data tables – July 2019 to June 2020
- Qld data tables – July 2019 to June 2020
- SA data tables – July 2019 to June 2020
- Tas data tables – July 2019 to June 2020
- Vic data tables – July 2019 to June 2020
- WA data tables – July 2019 to June 2020
Sports and activities
National
State and territory
- ACT data tables – January 2019 to December 2019
- NSW data tables – January 2019 to December 2019
- NT data tables – January 2019 to December 2019
- Qld data tables – January 2019 to December 2019
- SA data tables – January 2019 to December 2019
- Tas data tables – January 2019 to December 2019
- Vic data tables – January 2019 to December 2019
- WA data tables – January 2019 to December 2019
Sport and activities
National
State and territory
- A story of state and territory participation
- ACT data tables – July 2018 to June 2019 data
- NSW data tables – July 2018 to June 2019 data
- NT data tables – July 2018 to June 2019 data
- Qld data tables – July 2018 to June 2019 data
- SA data tables – July 2018 to June 2019 data
- Tas data tables – July 2018 to June 2019 data
- Vic data tables – July 2018 to June 2019 data
- WA data tables – July 2018 to June 2019 data
Sports and activities
National
State and territory
- ACT data tables – January 2018 to December 2018 data
- NSW data tables – January 2018 to December 2018 data
- NT data tables – January 2018 to December 2018 data
- Qld data tables – January 2018 to December 2018 data
- SA data tables – January 2018 to December 2018 data
- Tas data tables – January 2018 to December 2018 data
- Vic data tables – January 2018 to December 2018 data
- WA data tables – January 2018 to December 2018 data
Sport and activities
- By sport data tables - January 2018 to December 2018 data
- Online Animated Story - a story of sports and physical activities
- State of Play Report - Australian Football
- State of Play Report - Basketball
- State of Play Report - Bush Walking
- State of Play Report - Cricket
- State of Play Report - Cycling
- State of Play Report - Dancing
- State of Play Report - Fitness Gym
- State of Play Report - Football
- State of Play Report - Golf
- State of Play Report - Gymnastics
- State of Play Report - Martial arts
- State of Play Report - Netball
- State of Play Report - Pilates
- State of Play Report - Running Athletics
- State of Play Report - Surfing
- State of Play Report - Swimming
- State of Play Report - Tennis
- State of Play Report - Touch Football
- State of Play Report - Walking
- State of Play Report - Yoga
National
- Online animated story: A Story of Older Australians' Participation in Sport and Physical Activity
- AusPlay Focus: Older Australians’ Participation in Sport and Physical Activity
- National data tables – July 2017 to June 2018 data
State and territory
- ACT data tables – July 2017 to June 2018 data
- NSW data tables – July 2017 to June 2018 data
- NT data tables – July 2017 to June 2018 data
- Qld data tables – July 2017 to June 2018 data
- SA data tables – July 2017 to June 2018 data
- Tas data tables – July 2017 to June 2018 data
- Vic data tables – July 2017 to June 2018 data
- WA data tables – July 2017 to June 2018 data
Sports and activities
National
- AusPlay Focus: Children’s Organised Out-of-school Participation
- National data tables – January 2017 to December 2017 data
State and territory
- ACT data tables – January 2017 to December 2017 data
- NSW data tables – January 2017 to December 2017 data
- NT data tables – January 2017 to December 2017 data
- Qld data tables – January 2017 to December 2017 data
- SA data tables – January 2017 to December 2017 data
- Tas data tables – January 2017 to December 2017 data
- Vic data tables – January 2017 to December 2017 data
- WA data tables – January 2017 to December 2017 data
Sports and activities
National
State and territory
- ACT data tables – July 2016 to June 2017 data
- NSW data tables – July 2016 to June 2017 data
- NT data tables – July 2016 to June 2017 data
- Qld data tables – July 2016 to June 2017 data
- SA data tables – July 2016 to June 2017 data
- Tas data tables – July 2016 to June 2017 data
- Vic data tables – July 2016 to June 2017 data
- WA data tables – July 2016 to June 2017 data
Sports and activities
National
- Interactive charts - AusPlay participation data for the 2016 calendar year
- Fact sheet – Australian kids need active, sporty parents
- National data tables – January 2016 to December 2016 data
State and territory
- ACT data tables – January 2016 to December 2016 data
- NSW data tables – January 2016 to December 2016 data
- NT data tables – January 2016 to December 2016 data
- Qld data tables – January 2016 to December 2016 data
- SA data tables – January 2016 to December 2016 data
- Tas data tables – January 2016 to December 2016 data
- Vic data tables – January 2016 to December 2016 data
- WA data tables – January 2016 to December 2016 data
Sports and activities
National
- Summary of key National findings – October 2015 to September 2016 data - updated 21 December 2016
- Summary of key National findings – October 2015 to September 2016 data (ebook) - updated 21 December 2016
- National data tables – October 2015 to September 2016 data
- Adults summary – October 2015 to September 2016 data
- Children's summary – October 2015 to September 2016 data
State and territory
- ACT data tables – October 2015 to September 2016 data
- NSW data tables – October 2015 to September 2016 data
- NT data tables – October 2015 to September 2016 data
- Qld data tables – October 2015 to September 2016 data
- SA data tables – October 2015 to September 2016 data
- Tas data tables – October 2015 to September 2016 data
- Vic data tables – October 2015 to September 2016 data
- WA data tables – October 2015 to September 2016 data
Sports and activities
A more detailed report of AusPlay findings from October 2015 to September 2016 data is available upon request. Please contact ausplay@sportaus.gov.au.
Future releases
The Australian Sports Commission (ASC) released the first results from AusPlay on 8 December 2016 for data collected from October 2015 to September 2016. This release filled a major data gap for the sport sector, which had been without national participation estimates since 2014 when the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) ceased all sport and recreation data collection.
From the second release onwards the ASC will follow a regular cycle of calendar and financial year reporting. The ASC has committed to report data every six months.
Release dates:
- Release 2: 26 April 2017 for data collected January 2016 – December 2016
- Release 3: 16 November 2017 for data collected July 2016 – June 2017
- Release 4: 30 April 2018 for data collected January 2017 – December 2017
- Release 5: 31 October 2018 for data collected July 2017 – June 2018
- Release 6: 30 April 2019 for data collected January 2018 – December 2018
- Release 7: 31 October 2019 for data collected July 2018 – June 2019
- Release 8: 30 April 2020 (re-issued 24 June 2020) for data collected January 2019 – December 2019
- Release 9: Results released on 30 October 2020 for data collected July 2019 – June 2020
- Release 10: Results released on 30 April 2021 for data collected January 2020 – December 2020
- Release 11: Results released on 29 October 2021 for data collected July 2020 – June 2021
- Release 12: Results released on 29 April 2022 for data collected January 2021 - December 2021
- Release 13: Results released on 31 October 2022 for data collected July 2021 – June 2022
- Release 14: Results released on 28 April 2023 for data collected January 2022 – December 2022
- Release 15: Results to be released in late October 2023 for data collected July 2022 – June 2023
The first three releases have overlapping data and therefore time series comparisons cannot be made. Time series comparisons are possible from release 4 onwards by using two discrete data collection periods e.g. the 2016 and 2017 calendar years. However, users of AusPlay data should also be aware of some methodological changes made to the survey in 2019 that may impact time series comparisons. Any comparison of results within AusPlay that cross the 1 July 2019 data collection point should take these methodological changes into account. More information about the changes is provided on the AusPlay methodology page.
A tool to test whether the difference between estimates is statistically significant is available for download below. If you have any questions about the tool or would like assistance with it please send an email to ausplay@ausport.gov.au.
What next?
The Australian Sports Commission is working closely with its stakeholders to make the most of the AusPlay results for the benefit of the sport sector and all Australians. AusPlay results are updated every six months.
Please note that the impact of the coronavirus on participation rates is still being revealed. The upcoming AusPlay release in October 2023 should round out the picture as the vast majority of participation by survey respondents in July 2022 to June 2023 will have been recalled after pandemic-related restrictions had ceased.
Historical publications
The Australian Sports Commission (ASC) released a number of AusPlay publications between 2016 and 2023.






AusPlay Focus
Australians’ participation and involvement in summer Olympic and Paralympic sports
May 2021


State of play
On 30 April 2019 the ASC released individual reports for 20 of the most popular participation activities in Australia.
- State of Play Report - Australian Football
- State of Play Report - Basketball
- State of Play Report - Bush Walking
- State of Play Report - Cricket
- State of Play Report - Cycling
- State of Play Report - Dancing
- State of Play Report - Fitness Gym
- State of Play Report - Football
- State of Play Report - Golf
- State of Play Report - Gymnastics
- State of Play Report - Martial arts
- State of Play Report - Netball
- State of Play Report - Pilates
- State of Play Report - Running Athletics
- State of Play Report - Surfing
- State of Play Report - Swimming
- State of Play Report - Tennis
- State of Play Report - Touch Football
- State of Play Report - Walking
- State of Play Report - Yoga





Additional AusPlay data
Online portal
An online data portal has been developed by the Australian Sports Commission (ASC) so that AusPlay users can view and interrogate the wealth of data from the survey in tabular format. The ASC updates all data in the portal every six months when new AusPlay results are released.
Please note, the AusPlay results are based on a sample and are therefore subject to sample error. Sample error is measured by the standard error and the margin of error. Knowledge of the standard error, or the margin of error, enables 95% confidence intervals to be constructed around survey results and also enables statistical significance testing to be carried out. In the portal any data with high error is marked as follows:
- Number in green = Data has relative margin of error between 50% and 100% and should be used with caution
- Number in red = Data has relative margin of error greater than 100% and is considered too unreliable to use
To calculate the exact size of the error, the 95% confidence interval or to conduct statistical significance testing, please download the AusPlay Estimate Reliability Checker below.
Online portal resources
If you have any questions about the online data portal, please contact the Insights team at the ASC via ausplay@ausport.gov.au.
Other AusPlay publications
A number of non-Australian Sports Commission researchers have published papers based on their own analyses of AusPlay raw data.
- Gender inclusive sporting environments: the proportion of women in non-player roles over recent years (2021), Eime, R., Charity, M., Foley, B.C. et al. BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil 13, 58
- Sport participation settings: where and ‘how’ do Australians play sport? (2020), Eime, R., Harvey, J. & Charity, M. BMC Public Health 20, 1344.
- Participation in physical activity by Australian adults with a disability (2019), Hassett, L., Cole, J., Shields, N., Sherrington, C.
Further information
Any questions or requests for further information about AusPlay can be directed to the Insights team at the Australian Sports Commission.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)