National sport and physical activity participation
Older Australians Aged 55+
Headline indicators
Participate in sport or physical activity 1+ per week
2022-23 77% [5,790,000]
Participate in sport-related activity 1+ per week
2022-23 31% [2,292,000]
Participate through a sports club or association 1+ per year
2022-23 16% [1,186,000]
Take on a non-playing role 1+ per year
2022-23 10% [769,000]
Top motivations in 2022–23
Physical health or fitness
2022-23 85%
Fun/enjoyment
2022-23 42%
Social reasons
2022-23 31%
Psychological/mental health/therapy
2022-23 21%
To be outdoors/enjoy nature
2022-23 18%
What’s changed?
Like adults overall, older Australians are less likely to be motivated by mental health, social reasons and being outdoors than they were in 2021-22.
Based on all participants (1+ per year).
Top barriers in 2022–23
Poor health or injury
2022-23 43%
Increasing age/too old
2022-23 19%
Not enough time/too many other commitments
2022-23 14%
Disability
2022-23 9%
Have a physical job
*Response option only identified from 20172022-23 7%
Based on all non-participants.
All participation rates 2016–17 to 2022–23
Frequency of participation
1+ per year, 1+ per week, 3+ per week, 5+ per week, 7+ per week.
What’s changed?
Participation rates among older Australians across all frequencies have decreased since 2021-22.
Most popular sport-related activities 2022–23
Estimated number of participants
Males aged 55+
Cycling
619,000
Swimming
542,000
Golf
474,000
Running/athletics
259,000
Tennis
190,000
Fishing
143,000
Bowls
123,000
Surfing
119,000
Canoeing/kayaking
76,000
Sailing
72,000
Females aged 55+
Swimming
659,000
Cycling
324,000
Running/athletics
195,000
Golf
175,000
Tennis
157,000
Bowls
110,000
Martial arts
75,000
Canoeing/kayaking
73,000
Surfing
60,000
DanceSport
49,000
Top 10 sports/activities shown.
Most popular non-sport-related activities 2022–23
Estimated number of participants
Males aged 55+
Walking (recreational)
1,887,000
Fitness/gym
952,000
Bushwalking
245,000
Yoga
70,000
Exergaming*
56,000
Pilates
56,000
Females aged 55+
Walking (recreational)
2,494,000
Fitness/gym
1,431,000
Yoga
344,000
Bushwalking
323,000
Pilates
317,000
Dancing (recreational)
111,000
Exergaming*
72,000
Activities with estimates of less than 40,000 not shown.
*Virtual/technology-based/gaming exercise, for example, motion sensing console games, smart treadmills, online platforms such as Zwift.
Children aged 0-14
Young adults aged 15–19
Australians aged 15+
Older Australians aged 55+
Girls aged 0-14
Females aged 15+
Boys aged 0-14
Males aged 15+
Australians aged 18+ with disability
Children 0-14 LOTE
Australians 18+ LOTE
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders aged 18+
Children aged 0-14 in major cities
Australians aged 15+ in major cities
Children aged 0-14 in regional/rural areas
Australians aged 15+ in regional/rural areas
Children aged 0-14 by state / territory 2022-23
Australians aged 15+ by state / territory 2022-23