Running: children's sports participation in England 2018

In 2018, a national governmental annual survey found out that approximately 4.5 percent of 5 to 10 year olds and 17.5 percent of 11 to 15 year old children in England go cross country, jogging or road running on a monthly basis. Running is the most popular sport in England, followed by fitness class. When it comes to adults, roughly 6.8 million people go running at least twice per month.

Other UK countries

 In Scotland, roughly 14 percent of adults go running or jogging on a monthly basis, meaning at least on one occasion in the previous month at the time of being asked. Wales shows the same rate, also resulting in 14 percent of the population running at least once a month. Northern Ireland shows a very similar trend.

Other sports

Those living in the United Kingdom can participate in an almost endless array of sports, including golf, football, dance, hockey, cricket as well as many water and winter sports. For almost every sport there are club membership opportunities in the UK.

Share of children participating in cross country, jogging or road running in the last 4 weeks in England from 2010 to 2018

Characteristic	5-10 years	11-15 years
2017/18	4.5%	17.5%
2016/17	5.6%	18.4%
2015/16	3.6%	22.8%
2014/15	3.6%	26.6%
2013/14	3.4%	21.7%
2012/13	2.3%	22.1%
2011/12	2.7%	21.3%
2010/11	2.5%	17.9%

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Release date

August 2018

More information

Region

United Kingdom (England)

Survey time period

2010/11 to 2017/18**

Number of respondents

1,580*

Age group

5-15 years

Method of interview

Face-to-face interview

Supplementary notes

* Previous base:
2017/18: 5-10 year olds n= 909; 10-15 year olds n = 671;
2016/17: 5-10 year olds: n= 967; 10-15 year olds n=638.
2015/16: 5-10 year olds: n= 1,096; 10-15 year olds n=684.
2015/14: 5-10 year olds: n= 1,104; 10-15 year olds n=721.
2013/14: 5-10 year olds: n= 1,233; 10-15 year olds n=786.
2012/13: 5-10 year olds: n= 1,136; 10-15 year olds n=801.
2011/12: 5-10 year olds: n= 1,040; 10-15 year olds n=771.
2010/11: 5-10 year olds: n= 1,590; 10-15 year olds n=1,116.

Survey periods run April to March.

The source provides the following additional information: 'Data for 5-10 year olds relates to out of school activities only. Data for 11-15 years olds relates to activities undertaken both in and out of school.'
This statistic using original data from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport and includes copyright material licensed under © Crown, the Open Government License v3.0

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