Christina Gough
Research expert covering sports and video gaming
Fitness industry in Europe - statistics & facts
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The fitness industry in Europe is thriving, driven by growing demand for health, wellness, and innovative workouts experiences. In 2023, the revenue of the health and fitness market in Europe hit 31.8 billion euros. This not only showed a significant recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic, but it also marked the first time that the industry revenue had exceeded 30 billion euros. When it came to the leading fitness club operators in Europe in 2023, Basic-Fit topped the list, reporting revenue of over one billion euros. Rounding out the top three were two British brands - David Lloyd Leisure and PureGym.
As the industry evolves, Europe's fitness landscape will continue to shape the future of health and wellness, offering new opportunities for growth and new and exciting ways for consumers to hit their fitness goals. One thing is clear, the fitness industry in Europe is not breaking a sweat when it comes to continual growth.
Industry overview
Looking at the largest fitness markets in Europe, the United Kingdom marginally outperformed Germany in 2023, with the two countries generating 5.5 and 5.4 billion euros in revenue, respectively, that year. In both countries it was also clear that consumers were willing to spend money to help them on their fitness journeys. Alongside gym memberships, some of the most popular fitness and health service purchases in the UK in 2024 included fitness apps, wellness services, and personal trainers. The outlook was similar when looking at the fitness and health service purchases in Germany, although German consumers were less likely to spend money on personal trainers than their British counterparts. In order to cope with the demand, the supply of fitness facilities has had to keep up. As a result, the number of gyms and health clubs in Europe has increased by over 15,000 since 2009.Gym membership bigger than ever
Gym and health club memberships in Europe, which declined by nearly 15 percent between 2019 and 2020 due to the global health crisis, increased by 12 percent in 2022 over the previous year, showing signs of recovery after COVID-19-related safety measures led to the closure of many fitness establishments. Indeed, by 2023, gym memberships had even exceeded pre-pandemic levels, with a reported 67.6 million members at gyms and health clubs across Europe in that year. One of the key selling points of going to the gym is the extra motivation and fun provided through group fitness classes. In England alone, the number of people participating in fitness classes in 2023 exceeded 6.2 million. However, the pandemic trend of home workouts still endured, as highlighted by a survey in 2024, which revealed that over half of European fitness fans worked out at home.Digital fitness applications
Health and fitness apps provide people with a digital tool to access a variety of exercises, track progress with their workouts, and measure their personal health over time. In 2024, sports apps and health & fitness apps had among the highest average revenue per download from all mobile apps in Europe. Digital fitness even extends beyond mobile applications, with eHealth devices being another product that has benefitted from the growth of the fitness industry. According to a Statista Consumer Insights survey at the end of 2024, Apple produced the most used eHealth trackers or smartwatches in the United Kingdom, while Apple also slightly outpaced Xiaomi/Mi in Spain. As more and more fitness fans turn to technology to help them achieve their goals, the number of fitness tracking wristwear users worldwide was also forecast to grow by over 30 percent between 2024 and 2029.As the industry evolves, Europe's fitness landscape will continue to shape the future of health and wellness, offering new opportunities for growth and new and exciting ways for consumers to hit their fitness goals. One thing is clear, the fitness industry in Europe is not breaking a sweat when it comes to continual growth.
Christina Gough
,
Mar 12, 2025
Christina Gough
Research expert covering sports and video gaming
