Sport Physical Activity 2022 Eb525 Report en
Sport Physical Activity 2022 Eb525 Report en
Survey co-ordinated by the European Commission, Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture
ISBN 978-92-76-56432-4
DOI 10.2766/356346
https://www.europa.eu/eurobarometer
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Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION 4
MAIN FINDINGS 6
V. VOLUNTEERING IN SPORT 62
10. Citizens’ engagement in volunteering in sport 63
CONCLUSIONS 90
Technical Specifications 91
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Sport and Physical Activity
INTRODUCTION
The Directorate General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture Frequency and levels of engagement in sport and other
(DG EAC) is the branch of the European Commission charged with physical activity
the development and implementation of European policy in the Places where citizens engage in sport and other physical
field of sport. The activities of DG EAC in the field of sport are activity
mainly outlined by:
Europeans’ motivators and barriers to sports participation
The European Union Work Plan for Sport (2021-2024)
Opportunities for sports participation in citizens’ local areas
The Communication on Developing the European Dimension in
Sport (2011) Europeans’ engagement in volunteering in sport
The White Paper on Sport (2007) Impact of COVID-19 on the frequency of sport and physical
activity
The White Paper on Sport issued in 2007 by the European Awareness of the impact of sport and physical activity on the
Commission was a pivotal policy document addressing sport on environment and perceptions of measures taken to support the
behalf of the European Union. The Lisbon Treaty, in force since environment
December 2009, gave the EU a new supporting, coordinating and Opinions about gender equality issues in sport and physical
supplementing competence for sport, with provisions for activity
promoting European sporting issues and developing the European
dimension in sport. Where possible, the results of the current survey are compared
with those of previous surveys on this topic.
Following the current European Union Work Plan for Sport, DG EAC
has three main areas of activity in the field of sport: This survey was carried out by the Kantar network in the 27
Member States of the European Union between 19 April and 16
Integrity of sport: in particular promoting good governance
including the safeguarding of minors, taking account of the May 2022. 26,578 EU citizens from different social and
specificity of sport, combatting corruption and match fixing, demographic categories were interviewed face-to-face at their
and fighting doping home and online.
Economic dimension of sport: in particular innovation in sport,
and sport and the digital single market
Sport and society: in particular social inclusion, the role of
coaches, education in and through sport, sport and health,
sport and environment, sport and media and sport diplomacy
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https://europa.eu/eurobarometer/surveys/detail/2164 https://europa.eu/eurobarometer/surveys/detail/1403
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https://europa.eu/eurobarometer/surveys/detail/1116 https://europa.eu/eurobarometer/surveys/detail/291
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https://europa.eu/eurobarometer/surveys/detail/776 https://europa.eu/eurobarometer/surveys/detail/371
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Sport and Physical Activity
Methodology
This survey was carried out by the Kantar network in the 27 EU We wish to thank the people throughout the
Member States between 19 April and 16 May 2022. Some 26,580 European Union who have given their time to take
respondents from different social and demographic groups were part in this survey.
interviewed. This survey was commissioned by the European
Commission, Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Without their active participation, this study would
Culture (DG EAC). not have been possible
Belgium BE Lithuania LT
Bulgaria BG Luxembourg LU
Czechia CZ Hungary HU
Denmark DK Malta MT
Germany DE The Netherlands NL
Estonia EE Austria AT
Ireland IE Poland PL
Greece EL Portugal PT
Spain ES Romania RO
France FR Slovenia SI
Croatia HR Slovakia SK
Italy IT Finland FI
Republic of Cyprus CY * Sweden SE
Latvia LV
7
Online interviewing took the form of probabilistic panels and access panels,
depending on what is available in the country.
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MAIN FINDINGS
Nearly four in ten Europeans say they exercise or play sport Close to half of Europeans (49%) who exercise, play sport or
at least once a week engage in other physical activity spend 31 to 90 minutes doing a
vigorous physical activity on the days when they do so, and 16%
More than four in ten respondents (45%) report that they never spend 30 minutes or less.
exercise or play sport. Conversely, nearly four in ten (38%) do so
at least once a week, and less than one in ten (6%) five times a Close to six in ten Europeans (59%) who exercise, play sport or
week or more. engage in other physical activity generally spend an hour or less
doing a moderate physical activity on the days when they do so.
The share of respondents who say they never exercise or play sport
has lost one percentage point since 2017, but it has gained six
percentage points since 2009, up from 39% to 45%. 13% of Europeans do not walk for ten minutes at a time at
all in a weekly period, while 11% sit for more than 8.5 hours
Half of Europeans (50%) say that they engage in other physical per day
activity at least once a week, while nearly a third (31%) never do
this kind of activity at all. Six in ten Europeans (61%) walked for at least ten minutes at a
time on four or more days in the week before the survey. However,
Europeans are now more likely to engage in other physical
13% (-2 compared to 2017) did not walk for at least ten minutes
activities than in 2017. In particular, the proportion that does this
at a time on any day within the week.
type of activity one to four times a week has increased, from 30%
to 36%. A majority of respondents (43%, +3 percentage points since 2017)
report that they sit for between 2 hours 31 minutes and 5 hours
Overall in the EU, men exercise, play sport or engage in other
30 minutes on a usual day, but slightly more than one in ten (11%,
physical activity more than women. In addition, the amount of
-1) sit for more than 8 hours and 30 minutes.
regular activity that people do tends to decrease with age. Finally,
engagement in sport and physical activity is also less prevalent
among people with lower levels of education or with financial
Nearly half of Europeans who exercise, play sport or engage
difficulties.
in other physical activity do so in a park, outdoors, etc.
Respondents in Finland (71%), Luxembourg (63%), the
Netherlands (60%), and Denmark and Sweden (59% in both The most popular settings in which to engage in sport or another
countries) are the most likely to exercise or play sport at least once physical activity are a park, outdoors, etc. (47%, +7 percentage
a week. Conversely, over half of respondents in eight countries say points since 2017), at home (37%, +5) and on the way between
they never exercise or play sport, with the highest levels in Portugal home and school, work or shops (24%, +1).
(73%), Greece (68%) and Poland (65%).
Since 2017, larger increases have been registered in the proportion
Respondents in Malta (-24 percentage points), Latvia (-23), Estonia of respondents mentioning they do sport in a park, outdoors, etc.
(-18), Croatia (-16) and Czechia (-15) are now far less likely to say and at home.
they never exercise or play sport. Conversely, this proportion has
In a park, outdoors, etc. is the most mentioned setting in 17 EU
risen in Poland (+9), Hungary (+6) and Portugal (+5).
Member States, with the highest proportions among respondents
in Finland (66%), Austria (61%) and Slovenia (60%). At home is the
most common answer in nine EU Member States, including
Over four in ten Europeans who practice a sport or a physical
Lithuania (68%), Hungary (63%) and Slovakia (61%), while on the
activity had undertaken vigorous physical activity on at least
four of the previous seven days, and a third had done way between home and school, work or shops is the most
moderate physical activity mentioned setting in Malta (56%).
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Sport and Physical Activity
More than half of Europeans (54%, unchanged since 2017) who Around half of Europeans pay little attention to the impact
exercise, play sport or engage in other physical activity say they do that sport or physical activity can have on the environment
so to improve their health, substantially ahead of improving fitness and are unaware of any sustainability actions currently
undertaken by their sports organisation
(43%, -4 percentage points) and to relax (39%, +1).
The main reason currently preventing Europeans from practising Slightly more than half of respondents (51%) report that they pay
sport more regularly is a lack of time (41%, +1 percentage point no attention to the impact that the practice of sport or physical
since 2017), ahead of lacking motivation or not being interested activity can have on the environment, whereas a similar proportion
(25%, +5) and having a disability or illness (14%, unchanged). (46%) say they do pay attention to this aspect.
Slightly more than three-quarters of respondents (76%, +2 Close to a quarter of Europeans (24%) who are members of a club
percentage points since 2017) agree that the area where they live say their club is currently working to reduce waste or improve
offers them many opportunities to be physically active, and over waste management, but nearly half (48%) say no actions to
seven in ten (72%, -1) agree that local sports clubs and other local promote sustainability are currently undertaken by their sports
providers offer these opportunities. organisation, as far as they know.
Nearly six in ten Europeans (57%) say they like to follow female
During COVID-19, slightly more than a third of Europeans sport in the media (online, written, tv) as much as male sport.
were either less physically active than before or were active Conversely, over a third of respondents (36%) disagree with this
at the same level statement.
Slightly more than a third of Europeans (34%) say they continued Three-quarters of Europeans (75%) agree that gender-based
to be physically active during COVID-19, but less frequently, and violence in sport deserves more attention. Meanwhile, over one in
the same proportion (34%) were physically active at the same level ten respondents (14%) disagree with this statement.
as before. In addition, 9% were physically active more frequently.
Conversely, 18% stopped being physically active.
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Sport and Physical Activity
This first chapter focuses on the frequency and level at which QB1R How often do you exercise or play sport? By “exercise” we mean any
form of physical activity which you do in a sport context or sport-related
Europeans engage in sport and other physical activity. It examines setting, such as swimming, training in a fitness centre or a sport club, running
the amount of time respondents spend undertaking vigorous and in the park.
moderate physical activity. It also assesses the time they spend (% - EU)
Don't know Regularly
walking and sitting down. 0(0) 6 (-1)
20178) report that they never exercise or play sport9. In addition, Base: All Respondents (N=26,578)
nearly one in five (17%, +3) say they exercise or play sport
seldom10. On the other hand, close to a third of respondents (32%, A national analysis shows that respondents in Finland (71%).
-1) do so with some regularity, and less than one in ten (6%, -1) Luxembourg (63%), the Netherlands (60%), and Denmark and
regularly. Sweden (59% in both countries) are the most likely to exercise or
play sport. Symmetrically, respondents in Nordic countries are also
Over the longer term, the share of respondents who say they never the least likely to ‘never’ do so: Finland (8%), Sweden (12%) and
exercise or play sport has gained six percentage points since 2009, Denmark (20%). On the other end of the scale, ‘never’ is the most
up from 39% to 45%. common answer in 15 EU Member States. Over half of respondents
in eight countries say they never exercise or play sport, with the
highest levels in Portugal (73%), Greece (68%) and Poland (65%).
8
In 2017, the United Kingdom was an EU Member State, which is no related setting, such as swimming, training in a fitness centre or a sport
longer the case. This might have an impact on the changes registered at club, running in the park.
10
EU level. “Regularly” means the respondent exercises 5 times a week or more;
9
QB1. How often do you exercise or play sport? By “exercise” we mean "with some regularity" means 1 to 4 times a week; and "seldom" means 3
any form of physical activity which you do in a sport context or sport- times a month or less often.
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Sport and Physical Activity
In terms of evolutions since 2017, the share of respondents who Since 2017, the proportion of respondents who exercise or play
say that they never exercise or play sport has fallen in 17 EU sport regularly has increased in 14 EU Member States, particularly
Member States, and by two digits in five countries: Malta (31%, -25 in Latvia (9%, +3), Germany (8%, +3) and Austria (7%, +3). It has
percentage points), Latvia (33%, -23), Estonia (30%, -18), Croatia decreased in 11 countries, most notably in Sweden (9%, -5), and
(40%, -16) and Czechia (26%, -15). Conversely, it has risen in Hungary (4%, -5), and is unchanged in Cyprus and Ireland.
seven countries, most notably in Poland (65%, +9), Hungary (59%,
+6) and Portugal (73%, +5). Finally, it is unchanged in Greece,
Denmark and Cyprus.
QB1R How often do you exercise or play sport? By “exercise” we mean any form of physical activity which you do in a sport context or sport-related setting, such as swimming, training in a
fitness centre or a sport club, running in the park.
(%)
EU27 DE LV AT BG CZ EL FR IT EE HR LU NL SK FI IE CY DK PT LT ES PL BE MT RO SI HU SE
Apr/May 2022 6 8 9 7 4 7 4 8 3 8 6 13 7 6 18 13 11 11 4 9 11 2 4 7 2 11 4 9
Regularly
Δ Dec 2017 q1 p3 p3 p3 p2 p2 p2 p2 p2 p1 p1 p1 p1 p1 p1 = = q1 q1 q2 q3 q3 q4 q4 q4 q4 q5 q5
Apr/May 2022 32 35 30 35 17 37 19 33 31 34 24 50 53 29 53 41 29 48 18 23 31 21 39 25 18 41 22 50
With some regularity
Δ Dec 2017 q1 q8 p8 p1 p3 p10 q2 q3 p4 p6 p5 p6 p2 p6 p1 p1 p1 q3 q3 p1 p2 q2 q2 p6 p5 p5 q2 q3
Apr/May 2022 17 25 28 23 18 30 9 14 10 28 30 16 15 22 21 11 14 21 5 15 11 12 29 37 18 23 15 29
Seldom
Δ Dec 2017 p3 p11 p12 p1 p3 p3 = p2 = p11 p10 q1 p3 q1 p3 q2 q1 p4 q1 q1 = q3 p7 p23 = q2 p1 p11
Apr/May 2022 45 32 33 35 61 26 68 45 56 30 40 21 25 43 8 35 46 20 73 53 47 65 28 31 62 25 59 12
Never
Δ Dec 2017 q1 q6 q23 q5 q7 q15 = q1 q6 q18 q16 q6 q6 q6 q5 p1 = = p5 p2 p1 p9 q1 q25 q1 p1 p6 q3
Apr/May 2022 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Don't know
Δ Dec 2017 = = = = q1 = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = q1 = = = = = =
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QB1R How often do you exercise or play sport? By “exercise” we mean any form of physical activity which you do in a
sport context or sport-related setting, such as swimming, training in a fitness centre or a sport club, running in
the park.
(% - EU)
Don't know
Regularly
Seldom
Never
EU27 6 32 17 45 0
Gender
Man 8 35 17 40 0
Woman 5 30 16 49 0
Age
15-24 12 54 15 19 0
25-39 6 42 20 32 0
40-54 6 32 21 41 0
55 + 5 21 13 61 0
Education (End of)
15- 4 13 9 74 0
16-19 5 25 18 52 0
20+ 8 42 19 31 0
Still studying 12 58 15 15 0
Socio-professional category
Self-employed 6 36 20 38 0
Managers 7 45 21 26 1
Other white collars 4 39 21 36 0
Manual workers 6 29 19 46 0
House persons 4 16 12 68 0
Unemployed 10 22 19 49 0
Retired 6 20 12 62 0
Students 12 58 15 15 0
Difficulties paying bills
Most of the time 7 20 12 61 0
From time to time 4 26 18 52 0
Almost never/ Never 7 36 17 40 0
Base: All Respondents (N=26,578)
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1.2 Engaging in other physical activity QB2R And how often do you engage in other physical activity such as cycling
from one place to another, dancing, gardening, etc.? By "other physical
Half of Europeans engage in other physical activity at least activity" we mean physical activity for recreational or non-sport-related
reasons.
once a week
(% - EU) Don't know
0(0) Regularly
Nearly four in ten respondents (36%, +6 percentage points since 14 (0)
2017) say they engage in physical activity for recreational or non-
sport-related reasons11 with some regularity12. In addition, 14% Never
31 (-4)
(unchanged) do so regularly. However, slightly more than three in
ten (31%, -4) answer that they never engage in other physical
activity such as cycling from one place to another, dancing,
gardening, etc., while close to one in five (19%, -2) seldom do so.
With some regularity
Seldom 36 (+6)
19 (-2)
A national analysis reveals that most respondents say they Malta is also the only country where a majority of respondents say
engage in other physical activity with some regularity in 17 EU they seldom engage in other physical activity (39%). Over a
Member States, with the highest levels in Finland (54%), Austria quarter of respondents give this answer in Czechia (29%), Croatia
(48%), and Sweden and Estonia (47% in both countries).Never is (29%) and Belgium (25%).
the most common answer in nine countries: Portugal (72%), far
ahead of Greece (53%), Romania (52%), Italy (46%), Spain (45%),
Poland and Bulgaria (42% in both countries), Cyprus (41%) and
Hungary (34%). In addition, more than a third of respondents say
that they never engage in other physical activity in Malta (35%).
11 12
QB2. And how often do you engage in other physical activity such as “Regularly” means the respondent engages in other physical activity 5
cycling from one place to another, dancing, gardening, etc.? By "other times a week or more; "with some regularity" means 1 to 4 times a week;
physical activity" we mean physical activity for recreational or non-sport- and "seldom” means 3 times a month or less often.
related reasons.
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Finally, respondents who engage in physical activity regularly for Respondents in countries in Southern Europe seem to be more
recreational or non-sport-related reasons do not form a majority likely than those in Northern European countries to never engage
in any EU Member State. At least one in five respondents do so in in other physical activity.
eight Member States, most notably in the Netherlands (43%),
Denmark (32%) and Sweden (31%). Conversely, less than one in
ten respondents engage in other physical activity in seven
countries, with the lowest levels in Portugal and Malta (4% in both
countries), and Italy and Romania (both 5%).
Since 2017, the share of respondents who never engage in other Conversely, it has increased in four countries: Portugal (72%, +8),
physical activity has decreased in 23 EU Member States, and by Greece (53%, +8), Poland (42%, +3) and Romania (52%, +1).
two digits in seven countries, most dramatically in Malta (35%, -33
percentage points), Czechia (13%, -16) and Lithuania (19%, -16).
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QB2R And how often do you engage in other physical activity such as cycling from one place to another, dancing,
gardening, etc.? By "other physical activity" we mean physical activity for recreational or non-sport-related
reasons.
(% - EU)
Don't know
Regularly
Seldom
Never
EU27 14 36 19 31 0
Gender
Man 15 38 19 28 0
Woman 13 33 19 35 0
Age
15-24 20 44 20 16 0
25-39 14 38 23 25 0
40-54 12 36 24 28 0
55 + 14 31 15 40 0
Education (End of)
15- 9 23 13 55 0
16-19 12 32 20 35 1
20+ 17 43 20 20 0
Still studying 20 46 20 14 0
Difficulties paying bills
Most of the time 12 24 16 48 0
From time to time 10 30 21 39 0
Almost never/ Never 16 39 19 26 0
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2. Levels of engagement
2.1 Vigorous physical activity
Over four in ten Europeans who practice a sport or a physical More than four in ten respondents (44%, +6 percentage points
activity had engaged in vigorous physical activity on one to since 2017) say they had undertaken vigorous physical activity on
three of the previous seven days one to three of the previous seven days. Meanwhile, close to a
quarter (23%, +3) had done so on four to seven days. Conversely,
Respondents who exercise, play sport or engage in other physical a third of respondents (33%, -8) say that they never had done any
activity were asked on how many of the last seven days they had vigorous physical activity during the previous seven days.
undertaken vigorous physical activity, like lifting heavy things,
digging, aerobics or fast cycling13. It is worth noting that the proportion of respondents who had never
done any vigorous physical activity in the previous week has lost
eight percentage points since 2017, down from 41% to 33%.
QB3R In the last 7 days, on how many days did you do vigorous physical
activity like lifting heavy things, digging, aerobics or fast cycling?
(% - EU)
Don't know
0 (-1)
4-7 days
Never
23 (+3)
33 (-8)
1-3 days
44 (+6)
13
QB3. In the last 7 days, on how many days did you do vigorous physical
activity like lifting heavy things, digging, aerobics or fast cycling?
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In 22 EU Member States, most respondents say they had done In terms of evolutions since 2017, the share of respondents who
vigorous physical activity on one to three of the previous seven say they had never done any vigorous physical activity in the
days. At least half of respondents had done so in Malta (57%), previous week has lost ground in 26 EU Member States, and by
Germany and Poland (51% in both countries), and the Netherlands two digits in 14 countries, most strikingly in Malta (28%, -26
(50%). percentage points), Cyprus (35%, -16) and Romania (29%, -15).
Meanwhile, it has risen only in Austria (37%, +3).
In five EU Member States, a majority of respondents answer that
they had never done any vigorous physical activity in the previous
week: in Portugal (49%), Italy (44%), Greece (40%), Spain (39%)
and Lithuania (38%). This proportion is also higher than the other
categories in France (40%).
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QB3R In the last 7 days, on how many days did you do vigorous physical activity like lifting heavy things,
digging, aerobics or fast cycling?
(% - EU)
Don't know
1-3 days
4-7 days
Never
EU27 44 23 33 0
Gender
Man 45 26 29 0
Woman 43 19 38 0
Age
15-24 47 30 23 0
25-39 49 24 27 0
40-54 46 21 33 0
55 + 39 19 42 0
Education (End of)
15- 32 19 49 0
16-19 42 24 34 0
20+ 47 21 32 0
Still studying 47 28 25 0
Socio-professional category
Self-employed 47 25 28 0
Managers 51 23 26 0
Other white collars 51 16 33 0
Manual workers 43 30 27 0
House persons 32 19 49 0
Unemployed 39 23 38 0
Retired 36 18 46 0
Students 47 28 25 0
Difficulties paying bills
Most of the time 34 29 37 0
From time to time 42 24 34 0
Almost never/ Never 45 22 33 0
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14
QB4. In general, on days when you do a vigorous physical activity, how
much time do you spend at it?
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A national analysis shows that, in all 27 EU Member States, most Finally, over one in five respondents answer that they spend 91
respondents say they spend 31 to 90 minutes doing a vigorous minutes or more doing a vigorous physical activity in Latvia (31%),
physical activity on the days when they do it. At least six in ten give Lithuania (25%) and Estonia (24%), compared with less than one
this answer in Finland (65%), Sweden (64%) and Poland (60%). in ten in Portugal (4%), Italy (6%) and Cyprus (9%).
The lowest proportions are registered in Lithuania (37%), Austria
(40%), and France, Belgium and Latvia (42% in the three In terms of evolutions since 2017, the share of respondents who
countries). spend 31 to 90 minutes doing a vigorous physical activity on the
days when they do it has increased in 23 EU Member States, most
Respondents in Belgium and Cyprus (24% in both countries), and dramatically in Malta (50%, +14 percentage points), Poland (60%,
Malta (23%) are the most likely to spend 30 minutes or less doing +12), Slovenia (53%, +11) and Portugal (50%, +11). This
a vigorous physical activity. At the other end of the scale, one in proportion has decreased in Austria (40%, -7), Slovakia (53%, -2)
ten respondents report this level of activity in Italy, Spain and and Ireland (51%, -1). Finally, it is unchanged in Lithuania.
Lithuania (10% in the three countries).
QB4 In general, on days when you do a vigorous physical activity, how much time do you spend at it?
(%)
EU27 BE BG CZ DK DE EE IE EL ES FR HR IT CY LV LT LU HU MT NL AT PL PT RO SI SK FI SE
30 minutes or less 16 24 17 14 21 22 14 18 21 10 15 16 10 24 11 10 13 18 23 14 12 13 18 22 14 14 16 14
31 to 60 minutes 32 29 30 33 31 31 27 33 34 31 27 29 35 34 25 23 25 33 38 33 23 40 30 24 34 28 45 44
61 to 90 minutes 17 13 21 18 16 16 21 18 12 21 15 21 14 12 17 14 22 15 12 22 17 20 20 19 19 25 20 20
91 to 120 minutes 7 5 7 9 6 6 9 7 6 7 9 8 4 5 9 8 6 7 7 9 8 7 3 11 8 9 5 6
Don't know 0 0 1 1 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 0
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QB4 In general, on days when you do a vigorous physical activity, how much time do you spend at it?
(% - EU)
31min to 90min
91min or more
30min or less
Never
EU27 21 16 49 14
Gender
Man 18 15 49 18
Woman 25 17 48 10
Age
15-24 10 12 62 16
25-39 15 16 56 13
40-54 21 17 48 14
55 + 30 17 39 14
Socio-professional category
Self-employed 18 15 49 18
Managers 14 16 57 13
Other white collars 20 15 56 9
Manual workers 17 15 49 19
House persons 33 18 40 9
Unemployed 28 17 43 12
Retired 33 17 35 14
Students 11 14 63 12
Base: If practices a sport or a physical activity (N=19,246)
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Nearly half the Europeans who exercise, play sport or engage In terms of evolutions since 2017, the share of respondents who
in other physical activity did moderate physical activity on at say that they had done moderate physical activity on one to three
least one to three of the previous seven days of the previous seven days has risen in 21 EU Member States, most
significantly in Malta (57%, +25 percentage points), Poland (57%,
Respondents who exercise, play sport or engage in other physical +15), Italy (56%, +10), Estonia (44%, +10) and Czechia (55%,
activity were asked on how many days they did moderate physical +10). Conversely, it has fallen in three countries, particularly in
activity like carrying light loads, cycling at normal pace or doubles Austria (49%, -6). It is unchanged in Portugal and Belgium.
tennis in the last seven days15.
15
QB5. In the last 7 days, on how many days did you do moderate
physical activity like carrying light loads, cycling at normal pace or
doubles tennis? Please do not include walking.
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Respondents aged 55 and over (22%) are the most likely to Respondents who see themselves as working class (23%) are
never engage in any moderate physical activity, particularly far more likely than those who consider themselves as upper
when compared with those aged 15-24 years (14%). On the class (8%) to never engage in any moderate physical activity
other hand, they are almost as likely to have done some
moderate physical activity on four to seven days (36%
compared with 37%)
Respondents who left school at age 15 or earlier (27%) are the
most likely to never engage in any moderate physical activity,
compared with 20% of those who left school between 16-19
years and 18% of those who continued education up to the
age of 20 or beyond
QB5R In the last 7 days, on how many days did you do moderate physical activity like carrying light loads,
cycling at normal pace or doubles tennis? Please do not include walking.
(% - EU)
Don't know
1-3 days
4-7 days
Never
EU27 46 34 19 1
Gender
Man 48 35 17 0
Woman 45 33 22 0
Age
15-24 49 37 14 0
25-39 51 32 17 0
40-54 48 32 20 0
55 + 41 36 22 1
Education (End of)
15- 41 32 27 0
16-19 45 35 20 0
20+ 48 34 18 0
Still studying 48 37 14 1
Socio-professional category
Self-employed 46 35 19 0
Managers 52 34 14 0
Other white collars 54 26 20 0
Manual workers 46 36 18 0
House persons 41 34 25 0
Unemployed 40 36 24 0
Retired 39 36 24 1
Students 48 37 14 1
Consider belonging to
The working class 41 36 23 0
The lower middle class 43 36 20 1
The middle class 49 32 19 0
The upper middle class 47 39 13 1
The upper class 54 38 8 0
Base: If practices a sport or a physical activity (N=19,246)
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Close to six in ten Europeans who exercise, play sport or engage However, nearly a third of respondents (31%, +2) say they spend
in other physical activity generally spend an hour or less doing more than an hour doing a moderate physical activity on the days
a moderate physical activity on the days when they do it when they do it, with 17% (+2) doing the activity for 61 to 90
minutes, 7% (+1) for 91 to 120 minutes and 7% (-1) for more than
Respondents who exercise, play sport or engage in other physical 120 minutes.
activity were asked how much time they generally spend doing a
moderate physical activity on the days when they do it 16. Among Finally, one in ten respondents (10%, -3) say that they never do
these respondents, a large majority (59%, +3 percentage points any moderate physical activity.
since 2017) say that they spend an hour or less doing a moderate
physical activity on the days when they do it. This result includes
22% (unchanged) who spend 30 minutes or less doing the activity,
and 37% (+3) who do it for 31 to 60 minutes.
16
QB6. In general, on days when you do a moderate physical activity, how
much time do you spend at it?
23
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Sport and Physical Activity
A national analysis shows that, in all 27 EU Member States, most Finally, more than four in ten respondents spend more than an
respondents say they spend 31 to 60 minutes doing a moderate hour doing a moderate physical activity on the days when they do
physical activity on the days when they do it, with the highest it in Estonia and Lithuania (47% in both countries), and Slovakia
proportions in Finland (50%), Malta (47%) and Poland (45%). The (45%). At the other end of the scale, no more than one in five spend
lowest levels are found in Romania (25%), Lithuania (28%), and more than an hour at it in Malta (17%), Portugal (18%), Italy and
France, Slovakia and Latvia (30% in the three countries). Cyprus (20%).
QB6 In general, on days when you do a moderate physical activity, how much time do you spend at it?
(%)
EU27 BE BG CZ DK DE EE IE EL ES FR HR IT CY LV LT LU HU MT NL AT PL PT RO SI SK FI SE
30 minutes or less 22 29 21 18 27 20 15 24 22 17 27 20 22 27 15 13 15 19 25 21 20 22 17 25 19 18 20 25
31 to 60 minutes 37 34 35 34 40 36 31 39 42 41 30 32 43 36 30 28 38 40 47 43 34 45 43 25 37 30 50 42
61 to 90 minutes 17 15 14 16 12 21 18 16 12 19 15 21 15 11 14 19 19 19 9 17 19 17 16 17 21 25 16 14
91 to 120 minutes 7 6 7 8 5 8 11 5 5 6 8 8 4 4 8 11 8 7 4 7 9 6 1 9 9 11 4 6
Don't know 0 0 1 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 0
24
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QB6 In general, on days when you do a moderate physical activity, how much time do you spend at it?
(% - EU)
91 to 120 minutes
31 to 60 minutes
61 to 90 minutes
Don't know
EU27 22 37 17 7 7 10 0
Gender
Man 20 36 19 8 8 9 0
Woman 23 39 16 6 5 11 0
Age
15-24 21 39 22 7 5 6 0
25-39 21 41 19 6 5 8 0
40-54 23 37 17 6 7 10 0
55 + 22 35 15 8 7 12 1
Education (End of)
15- 25 35 10 5 7 18 0
16-19 21 36 17 7 8 11 0
20+ 22 39 18 7 6 8 0
Still studying 22 41 21 6 4 5 1
Socio-professional category
Self-employed 18 35 20 7 11 9 0
Managers 21 42 18 8 5 6 0
Other white collars 23 44 17 3 3 10 0
Manual workers 20 35 18 7 10 10 0
House persons 22 37 18 4 6 13 0
Unemployed 27 30 18 8 5 12 0
Retired 23 33 14 9 6 14 1
Students 22 41 21 6 4 5 1
Difficulties paying bills
Most of the time 23 30 17 8 9 13 0
From time to time 22 38 16 6 6 12 0
Almost never/ Never 21 38 18 7 7 9 0
Subjective urbanisation
Rural village 19 36 18 8 9 10 0
Small/ mid size town 23 38 18 6 6 9 0
Large town 24 39 16 6 5 10 0
25
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2.3 Walking QB7R In the last 7 days, on how many days did you walk for at least 10
minutes at a time?
(% - EU)
Six in ten Europeans had walked for at least ten minutes at a
time on four or more days in the week before the survey
Don't know Never
0 (-1) 13 (-2)
When asked on how many days in the last week they had walked
for at least ten minutes at a time 17, six in ten respondents (61%,
unchanged since 2017) report that they had done so on at least
four days. Slightly more than a quarter (26%, +3) say they had
1-3 days
walked for at least ten minutes at a time on one to three days in 26 (+3)
the previous week. However, over one in ten respondents (13%, -2) 4-7 days
had never walked for at least ten minutes at a time in the previous 61 (0)
seven days.
A national analysis shows that most respondents say they had Since 2017, the proportion of respondents who had walked for at
walked for at least ten minutes at a time on at least four days in least ten minutes at a time on four or more days in the previous
the previous week in all 27 EU Member States. More than seven in week has increased in 16 EU Member States, most dramatically in
ten had done so in Spain (77%), Germany (73%) and Finland Finland (71%, +11 percentage points). Conversely, it has decreased
(71%). At the other end of the scale, less than half of respondents in 11 countries, most notably in Poland (41%, -9 and Bulgaria
report this level of walking in seven countries: in Poland (41%), (63%, -7).
Austria and Cyprus (45% in both countries), Hungary (45%), Malta
and Italy (both 48%), and Portugal (49%).
In six countries, more than one in five respondents say that they
had never walked for at least ten minutes at a time in the previous
seven days, with the highest levels in Portugal (29%), Cyprus
(25%) and Hungary (24%). Just 6% give this answer in Sweden,
Finland and Czechia.
17
QB7. In the last 7 days, on how many days did you walk for at least 10
minutes at a time?
26
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QB7R In the last 7 days, on how many days did you walk for at least 10 minutes at a time?
(% - EU)
Don't know
1-3 days
4-7 days
Never
EU27 26 61 13 0
Gender
Man 27 60 13 0
Woman 25 62 13 0
Age
15-24 22 71 7 0
25-39 25 64 11 0
40-54 27 61 12 0
55 + 26 56 18 0
27
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Over two-thirds of Europeans generally spend an hour or less However, one in five respondents (20%, +3) say they spend more
walking on days when they walk for at least ten minutes at a than an hour walking on days when they walk for at least ten
time minutes at a time, including 11% (+2) who walk for 61 to 90
minutes, 5% (+1) for 91 to 120 minutes and 4% (unchanged) for
When asked how much time they generally spend walking on the more than 120 minutes.
days when they walk for at least ten minutes at a time18, close to
seven in ten respondents (69%, -1 percentage point since 2017) Finally, one in ten respondents (10%, -1) say that they never walk
report that they spend an hour or less walking. This result includes for ten minutes at a time.
35% (-5) who spend 30 minutes or less walking, and a similar
proportion (34%, +4) who walk for 31 to 60 minutes.
18
QB8. In general, on days when you walk for at least 10 minutes at a
time, how much time do you spend walking?
28
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Sport and Physical Activity
A national analysis shows that in 17 EU Member States most Finally, the highest proportions of respondents who spend more
respondents say that they spend 30 minutes or less walking on than an hour walking on days when they walk for at least ten
days when they walk for at least ten minutes at a time. Over four minutes at a time are found in Latvia (35%), Estonia (34%) and
in ten respondents do so in Portugal (47%), Greece and Bulgaria Spain (29%). At the other end of the scale, at most one in ten
(45% in both countries), and Cyprus (44%). The lowest proportions respondents walk for more than an hour in Portugal and Cyprus
are registered in Latvia (22%), Estonia (24%) and Finland (27%). (9% in both countries), and Greece (10%).
QB8 In general, on days when you walk for at least 10 minutes at a time, how much time do you spend walking?
(%)
EU27 BE BG CZ DK DE EE IE EL ES FR HR IT CY LV LT LU HU MT NL AT PL PT RO SI SK FI SE
30 minutes or less 35 38 45 36 35 28 24 32 45 29 38 37 39 44 22 38 32 40 38 33 37 36 47 37 34 34 27 33
31 to 60 minutes 34 30 29 35 34 38 33 42 32 38 32 30 32 26 34 29 36 26 42 38 31 34 25 26 33 28 49 44
61 to 90 minutes 11 12 7 15 13 15 15 11 6 18 8 14 7 6 16 12 18 9 7 13 12 10 5 11 17 16 14 14
91 to 120 minutes 5 5 3 5 5 7 7 3 2 6 6 5 3 1 8 5 3 3 4 4 4 3 2 7 5 5 4 3
Don't know 1 1 1 0 1 1 4 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 2 0 0
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QB8 In general, on days when you walk for at least 10 minutes at a time, how much time do you spend walking?
(% - EU)
91 to 120 minutes
31 to 60 minutes
61 to 90 minutes
Don't know
EU27 35 34 11 5 4 10 1
Gender
Man 35 34 11 5 4 10 1
Woman 35 35 12 5 3 10 0
Age
15-24 35 38 13 5 4 5 0
25-39 34 36 12 5 4 8 1
40-54 35 34 12 5 5 9 0
55 + 35 32 11 5 3 13 1
Education (End of)
15- 36 30 8 4 3 18 1
16-19 35 33 11 5 4 11 1
20+ 34 37 13 5 4 6 1
Still studying 38 37 13 4 3 4 1
Difficulties paying bills
Most of the time 38 27 11 5 5 14 0
From time to time 38 31 11 5 3 12 0
Almost never/ Never 33 36 12 5 4 9 1
Consider belonging to
The working class 35 32 11 4 4 14 0
The lower middle class 35 32 11 5 5 12 0
The middle class 35 36 12 5 4 8 0
The upper middle class 35 36 12 6 4 6 1
The upper class 24 46 17 7 1 5 0
Subjective urbanisation
Rural village 33 32 13 6 4 12 0
Small/ mid size town 34 35 11 5 4 10 1
Large town 38 35 11 4 3 8 1
Base: All Respondents (N=26,578)
30
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2.4 Sitting
19
QB9. How much time do you spend sitting on a usual day? This may
include time spent at a desk, visiting friends, studying or watching
television.
31
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A national analysis shows that in 24 EU Member States most Conversely, at least one in five respondents spend more than 8
respondents say they spend between 2 hours 31 minutes and 5 hours and 30 minutes sitting on a usual day in two countries: in
hours 30 minutes sitting on a usual day, with the highest scores in the Netherlands (26%) and Denmark (20%). Less than one in ten
Spain (56%), Ireland (50%), Portugal (47%) and Lithuania (48%). respondents do so in eight countries, with the lowest proportions
in Ireland (6%), and Italy and Hungary (7% in both countries)
In three countries, a majority of respondents say that they usually
sit for between 5 hours 31 minutes and 8 hours 30 minutes: in
Malta (44%), the Netherlands (39%) and Denmark (37%). This
proportion is also high in Greece (37%). In terms of evolutions since 2017, the share of respondents who
spend 2 hours 30 minutes or less sitting on a usual day has risen
In six EU Member States, more than one in five respondents say in 14 EU Member States, most notably in Luxembourg (20%, +4
they sit for 2 hours 30 minutes or less on a usual day, with the percentage points) and Slovakia (19%, +5). It has fallen in ten
highest levels in Hungary (24%), and Poland, Croatia and Romania countries, particularly in Malta (11%, -10), Romania (23%, -8) and
(23%). At the other end of the scale, less than one in ten Spain (10%, -8) and is unchanged in Slovenia and Czechia.
respondents give this answer in Greece (5%), the Netherlands
(7%), Sweden (8%) and Denmark (9%).
32
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QB9R How much time do you spend sitting on a usual day? This may include time spent at a desk, visiting
friends, studying or watching television.
(% - EU)
2h31min to 5h30min
5h31min to 8h30min
8h31min or more
2h30min or less
EU27 16 43 28 11
Gender
Man 16 42 28 12
Woman 15 44 29 10
Age
15-24 12 37 37 13
25-39 19 40 28 12
40-54 18 44 26 11
55 + 14 46 28 10
Education (End of)
15- 15 45 27 11
16-19 18 47 25 8
20+ 14 41 30 14
Still studying 9 34 43 13
Socio-professional category
Self-employed 20 44 26 9
Managers 12 35 36 16
Other white collars 13 33 35 17
Manual workers 24 51 18 5
House persons 17 44 28 9
Unemployed 18 48 20 14
Retired 13 47 28 10
Students 9 34 43 13
Consider belonging to
The working class 17 45 25 11
The lower middle class 18 44 26 11
The middle class 15 44 29 10
The upper middle class 11 36 34 18
The upper class 12 32 38 18
Subjective urbanisation
Rural village 18 45 25 11
Small/ mid size town 15 44 28 11
Large town 14 40 32 12
Base: All Respondents (N=26,578)
33
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34
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Sport and Physical Activity
3. Different settings
Nearly half of Europeans (47%, +7 percentage points since More than one in ten engage in sport or another physical
201721) engage in sport or another physical activity in a park, activity at a health or fitness centre (13%, -2), at a sport
outdoors, etc. club (12%, -1) or at work (11%, -2)
Nearly four in ten (37%, +5) do so at home Finally, less than one in ten do so at a sport centre (8%, -4)
or at school or university (4%, -1)
Close to a quarter of respondents (24%, +1) say they are
physically active on the way between home and school,
work or shops
20
QB10. Earlier you said you engage in sport or another physical activity, place where people can do different sports (e.g. playing tennis, running).
vigorous or not. Where do you do this? A sport club is an organised setting (MULTIPLE ANSWERS POSSIBLE)
21
(for example karate club, football club). A sport centre is more generally a In 2017, there was no definition of a sport club and of a sport centre in
the question label.
35
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Sport and Physical Activity
In a park, outdoors, etc. is the most cited setting in 17 EU None of the five other items heads the list of settings where
Member States, with the highest proportions among respondents Europeans engage in sport or another physical activity in any of
in Finland (66%), Austria (61%) and Slovenia (60%), and the lowest the 27 EU Member States. However:
among those in Malta (20%), Romania (22%) and Croatia (23%).
At a health or fitness centre is cited by more than a quarter
of respondents in four EU Member States: Sweden (31%),
At home is the most common answer in nine EU Member States:
Portugal (30%), Cyprus (28%) and Denmark (26%)
Lithuania (68%), Hungary (63%), Slovakia (61%), Romania (58%),
Latvia (54%), Croatia (53%), Bulgaria (47%), Denmark (46%) and At a sport club registers its highest levels in the Netherlands
Sweden (41%). At least half of respondents also say they engage (19%), Luxembourg (17%), France, Denmark and Ireland (16%
in sport or another physical activity at home in Slovenia (58%), and in the three countries)
Austria and Estonia (50% in both countries). At the other end of
the scale, less than a quarter do so in Portugal (14%), Italy (16%) Slightly more than a fifth of respondents engage in sport or
and Spain (21%). another physical activity at work in Hungary and Lithuania
(21% in both countries)
On the way between home and school, work or shops is the
At least one in ten do so at a sport centre in five countries:
most mentioned setting in Malta (56%). However, more than a
Italy (20%), ahead of the Netherlands (15%), Luxembourg
third of respondents cite this setting in Slovakia (48%), Greece
(13%), Finland (12%) and Estonia (10%)
(44%), Austria (35%) and Belgium (34%). The lowest figures are
seen in Ireland (10%), Luxembourg (13%) and Lithuania (15%). Finally, Portugal (11%) is the only country where slightly more
than one in ten respondents engage in sport or another
physical activity at school or university
QB10 Earlier you said you engage in sport or another physical activity, vigorous or not. Where do you do this? A sport club is an organised setting (for example karate club, football club). A sport centre is
more generally a place where people can do different sports (e.g. playing tennis, running).
(MULTIPLE ANSWERS POSSIBLE) (%)
EU27 BE BG CZ DK DE EE IE EL ES FR HR IT CY LV LT LU HU MT NL AT PL PT RO SI SK FI SE
At home 37 36 47 45 46 48 50 33 40 21 28 53 16 34 54 68 38 63 41 32 50 42 14 58 58 61 48 41
At a sport club 12 15 4 5 16 15 11 16 3 8 16 7 9 5 6 11 17 2 8 19 12 7 5 3 7 8 9 10
At work 11 12 13 9 14 14 17 5 12 8 9 13 5 13 15 21 10 21 10 13 9 9 5 11 7 18 14 9
At a sport centre 8 8 4 9 7 5 10 9 5 7 4 6 20 5 4 3 13 4 7 15 5 9 3 4 8 3 12 6
At school or university 4 7 4 4 2 3 4 5 6 2 3 2 4 6 3 4 3 4 4 1 4 6 11 5 4 5 3 2
Elsewhere 1 1 2 1 1 2 1 1 2 1 2 2 1 2 0 2 1 1 2 1 1 1 3 2 0 1 0 1
Don't know 2 1 2 1 2 1 0 2 0 1 5 2 1 1 0 2 3 1 1 1 1 2 3 1 0 2 1 1
36
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Sport and Physical Activity
QB10 Earlier you said you engage in sport or another physical activity, vigorous or not. Where do you do this? A sport club is an organised setting (for example karate club, football club). A sport centre is more
generally a place where people can do different sports (e.g. playing tennis, running).
(MULTIPLE ANSWERS POSSIBLE) (%)
EU27 EL CY BG IT DE CZ LT LV HU PT SI SK EE AT BE RO PL LU NL FR ES FI DK HR IE MT SE
Apr/May 2022 13 25 28 13 12 13 9 1 5 8 30 5 10 13 21 11 9 7 12 19 6 19 21 26 9 16 10 31
At a health or fitness centre
Δ Dec 2017 q2 p3 p7 q1 q3 q1 q6 q2 q1 q1 p3 q1 q4 = = p1 = q4 q1 p3 p1 p1 q4 = p2 q4 p3 q13
Apr/May 2022 12 3 5 4 9 15 5 11 6 2 5 7 8 11 12 15 3 7 17 19 16 8 9 16 7 16 8 10
At a sport club
Δ Dec 2017 q1 q2 = q1 p3 q6 q5 p1 = q3 q2 q5 p3 q5 q1 p1 q1 = p2 q5 q2 q2 = q2 p2 p1 q9 p1
Apr/May 2022 8 5 5 4 20 5 9 3 4 4 3 8 3 10 5 8 4 9 13 15 4 7 12 7 6 9 7 6
At a sport centre
Δ Dec 2017 q4 = q3 = q7 q4 q4 q2 q4 q2 q2 q5 q5 q1 q4 q3 p1 q6 q2 q1 q4 q3 q7 q6 q2 q4 = q4
Apr/May 2022 4 6 6 4 4 3 4 4 3 4 11 4 5 4 4 7 5 6 3 1 3 2 3 2 2 5 4 2
At school or university
Δ Dec 2017 q1 p1 p1 q2 p1 q1 = q3 q2 = p5 q1 p1 q3 q2 p2 q2 q1 q5 q4 q1 = q1 q4 q2 q2 q1 p1
Apr/May 2022 11 12 13 13 5 14 9 21 15 21 5 7 18 17 9 12 11 9 10 13 9 8 14 14 13 5 10 9
At work
Δ Dec 2017 q2 q1 p2 q2 p1 q4 q7 q1 q11 p2 q7 q5 p6 q9 q3 q3 q2 p1 q5 q3 q4 p4 p4 q4 = q2 p3 q4
Apr/May 2022 37 40 34 47 16 48 45 68 54 63 14 58 61 50 50 36 58 42 38 32 28 21 48 46 53 33 41 41
At home
Δ Dec 2017 p5 p3 p2 q2 = p7 p8 p9 = p4 q3 p9 q1 p2 p9 p2 q2 p6 q1 p1 p8 p5 p4 p19 p3 p9 p15 p7
Apr/May 2022 24 44 23 28 27 23 23 15 20 31 26 16 48 30 35 34 18 28 13 22 16 27 31 18 23 10 56 23
On the way between home and school, work or shops
Δ Dec 2017 p1 p2 p1 p8 p8 q6 p1 q8 q11 p2 p9 = p17 p5 p9 p9 q7 p7 q8 q17 p1 p4 p2 q6 q7 q5 p25 q9
Apr/May 2022 47 51 43 41 50 51 52 43 53 26 52 60 49 58 61 48 22 46 50 43 41 52 66 42 23 41 20 37
In a park, outdoors, etc.
Δ Dec 2017 p7 p19 p18 p15 p15 p12 p11 p10 p9 p9 p9 p9 p8 p7 p7 p6 p5 p4 p2 p2 p1 q1 q1 q2 q4 q6 q6 q15
Apr/May 2022 1 2 2 2 1 2 1 2 0 1 3 0 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 2 1 0 1 2 1 2 1
Elsewhere
Δ Dec 2017 q4 = q3 q5 q5 q2 q1 q3 q3 q2 q2 q4 q7 q3 q4 q2 q7 q3 q1 q5 q6 q3 q3 q4 q1 q2 q1 q2
Apr/May 2022 2 0 1 2 1 1 1 2 0 1 3 0 2 0 1 1 1 2 3 1 5 1 1 2 2 2 1 1
Don't know
Δ Dec 2017 = = p1 q1 = q1 = p1 q1 = p2 = q1 q1 q2 = q2 = p1 p1 p1 = q1 p1 = = q1 p1
37
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Sport and Physical Activity
QB10 Earlier you said you engage in sport or another physical activity, vigorous or not. Where do you do this? A sport club is an organised setting (for example karate club, football
club). A sport centre is more generally a place where people can do different sports (e.g. playing tennis, running). (MULTIPLE ANSWERS POSSIBLE)
(% - EU)
Don't know
Elsewhere
At home
At work
EU27 13 12 8 4 11 37 24 47 1 2
Gender
Man 12 14 8 3 12 35 22 48 1 2
Woman 14 9 8 4 9 40 27 45 2 2
Age
15-24 20 19 13 19 9 28 25 41 1 1
25-39 18 12 11 2 13 35 26 43 1 1
40-54 12 9 7 1 15 36 27 47 1 2
55 + 8 9 5 0 7 43 21 50 2 3
Education (End of)
15- 5 5 3 0 9 43 25 52 1 3
16-19 9 9 6 1 13 41 26 46 2 2
20+ 17 14 10 1 10 36 23 48 1 1
Still studying 21 19 13 23 6 25 26 42 1 1
Difficulties paying bills
Most of the time 10 7 7 4 14 35 31 46 2 2
From time to time 12 9 8 4 14 36 28 42 1 2
Almost never/ Never 13 13 8 3 9 38 23 48 1 2
Subjective urbanisation
Rural village 10 13 6 4 13 44 23 46 1 2
Small/ mid size town 12 11 9 3 10 37 24 47 1 2
Large town 19 11 9 4 10 30 26 46 2 1
38
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Sport and Physical Activity
4. Club membership
22
QB15. Are you a member of any of the following clubs where you
participate in sport or recreational physical activity? (MULTIPLE ANSWERS
POSSIBLE)
39
Special Eurobarometer 525
Sport and Physical Activity
A national analysis shows that, in two EU Member States, a Few respondents spontaneously say they are members of other
majority of respondents say they are members of a club where types of club in any of the 27 EU Member States, the highest
they participate in sport or recreational physical activity: in Sweden scores being found in Belgium and Luxembourg (3% in both
(51% versus 48% who are not members of a club) and the countries).
Netherlands (50% versus 47%). Respondents in Denmark are
divided (49% vs. 49%).
In 24 EU Member States, only a minority of respondents are In terms of evolutions since 2017, the share of respondents who
members of a club where they participate in sport or recreational are members of a health or fitness centre has increased in 24
physical activity, with the lowest levels in Romania, Portugal and EU Member States, most notably in Estonia (16%, +12 percentage
Bulgaria (15% in the three countries). points), Croatia (14%, +8) and the Netherlands (29%, +7). It has
decreased only in Sweden (35%, -6). It is unchanged in Portugal
A health or fitness centre is the most cited type of club in 17 and Lithuania.
EU Member States. Over a quarter of respondents are members of
a health or fitness centre in Sweden (35%), the Netherlands (29%) Membership of a sport club has gained ground in 16 EU Member
and Denmark (26%). The lowest proportions are found in Lithuania States, particularly in Italy (13%, +8 percentage points).
(2%), and France and Romania (6% in both countries). Conversely, it has lost ground slightly in six countries, including the
Netherlands (22%, -5) and Germany (18%, -5). It is unchanged in
A sport club is the most common answer in 11 EU Member States, five countries.
with the highest proportions in Ireland (20%, same score as health
or fitness centre), and Belgium and Luxembourg (19% in both The proportion of respondents who are members of a socio-
countries). At the other end of the scale, just 2% of respondents cultural club that includes sport in its activities has risen in
are members of a sports club in Greece, Portugal and Bulgaria. 21 EU Member States, most notably in Poland and Croatia (11%,
+9 percentage points in both countries). It has fallen slightly in
A socio-cultural club that includes sport in its activities (e.g. Luxembourg (4%, -2), France (4%, -1) and Cyprus (1%, -1). Finally,
employees’ club, youth club, school or university-related club) is it is unchanged in Sweden, Denmark and Greece.
the most mentioned type of club in Poland (11%). It is also cited
by at least one in ten respondents in Belgium and Croatia (11% in
both countries), and Slovenia (10%). The lowest proportions are
seen in Cyprus (1%), Greece (2%) and Spain (3%).
EU27 BE BG CZ DK DE EE IE EL ES FR HR IT CY LV LT LU HU MT NL AT PL PT RO SI SK FI SE
Sport club 12 19 2 9 21 18 13 20 2 7 15 10 13 5 7 9 19 5 10 22 13 9 2 5 12 8 16 14
Socio-cultural club that includes sport in its activities (e.g. employees club, youth club, school- and university-
6 11 5 6 8 5 6 9 2 3 4 11 8 1 6 8 4 4 4 6 9 11 4 4 10 7 7 8
related club)
Other 1 3 0 0 2 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 1 3 0 1 2 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 1
Don't know 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 0 2 4 5 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 0 1 2 2 3 0 1 1 0
Total 'Yes' 28 40 15 24 49 32 32 44 16 23 25 34 31 21 19 18 36 17 21 50 34 28 15 15 27 22 34 51
40
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Sport and Physical Activity
QB15 Are you a member of any of the following clubs where you participate in sport or recreational physical activity? (MULTIPLE ANSWERS
POSSIBLE)
(% - EU)
Don't know
Sport club
Total 'Yes'
Other
EU27 12 12 6 1 69 2 28
Gender
Man 12 16 6 1 67 2 31
Woman 12 10 6 1 71 2 26
Age
15-24 19 24 9 0 51 2 47
25-39 19 15 5 1 62 1 36
40-54 13 11 6 1 70 2 28
55 + 6 9 6 1 78 2 20
Education (End of)
15- 4 5 5 1 84 3 13
16-19 9 10 5 1 75 2 23
20+ 17 16 6 1 61 1 36
Still studying 18 24 10 1 51 1 48
Socio-professional category
Self-employed 15 15 5 1 66 1 32
Managers 20 17 7 2 56 2 41
Other white collars 16 14 6 1 64 1 34
Manual workers 13 11 5 1 70 2 27
House persons 6 5 4 0 85 1 14
Unemployed 8 8 3 0 80 2 18
Retired 6 8 6 1 78 2 19
Students 18 24 10 1 51 1 48
Difficulties paying bills
Most of the time 9 6 4 0 80 2 18
From time to time 11 9 6 1 73 2 24
Almost never/ Never 13 15 6 1 66 1 31
41
Special Eurobarometer 525
Sport and Physical Activity
42
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Sport and Physical Activity
5. Motivators
More than half of Europeans engage in sport or physical
activity to improve their health
More than half of Europeans (54%, unchanged since 2017) say More than one in ten Europeans engage in sport or physical
they engage in sport or physical activity to improve their activity to counteract the effects of ageing (17%, +3) or
health, far ahead any other reason to improve their self-esteem (13%, +1)
Around four in ten engage in sport or physical activity to Finally, less than one in ten do so to develop new skills
improve fitness (43%, -4 percentage points) or to relax (6%, -1), for the spirit of competition (6%, +1), to make
(39%, +1) new acquaintances (5%, -1), to meet people from other
cultures (3%, +1) or to better integrate into society (3%,
At least a quarter of respondents say they do so to have fun -1)
(27%, -3), to improve physical performance (27%, -1) or
to control their weight (25%; +2);
23
QB11. Why do you engage in sport or physical activity? (MULTIPLE
ANSWERS POSSIBLE)
43
Special Eurobarometer 525
Sport and Physical Activity
A national analysis reveals that, in 22 EU Member States, to To relax is the most mentioned reason in Cyprus (67%) and
improve health is the most cited reason to engage in sport or Bulgaria (33%, same score as to improve health). In addition, at
physical activity, with the highest proportions among respondents least half of respondents cite this reason in Slovenia (58%), the
in Sweden (71%), Denmark (70%) and Slovenia (69%). Conversely, Netherlands (56%) and France (50%). The lowest figures are seen
the lowest levels are found in Romania (31%), Bulgaria (33%) and in Slovakia (20%), Poland (22%) and Denmark (23%).
Hungary (40%).
Respondents in Lithuania (46%) are more likely to engage in sport
To improve fitness is the most common answer in four EU or physical activity to have fun. Over half of respondents also
Member States: Greece (67%), Luxembourg (56%), Ireland (55%, give this reason in the Netherlands (52%). The lowest scores are
same score as to improve health) and France (54%). More than found in Hungary (10%), Cyprus (12%) and Croatia (13%).
half of respondents also engage in sport or physical activity to
improve fitness in Finland (64%), the Netherlands (60%), Sweden
(52%) and Cyprus (51%). However, less than a third do so in
Bulgaria (19%), Romania (25%) and Spain (32%).
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None of the 11 other items heads the list of reasons for engaging
in sport or physical activity in any of the 27 EU Member States.
However:
To improve physical performance is cited by at least four At least a fifth of respondents engage in sport or physical
in ten respondents in Poland (47%), Slovenia (43%) and activity to improve their self-esteem in Denmark (27%),
Sweden (40%) Portugal and Bulgaria (20% in both countries)
To control weight registers its highest levels in the One in ten respondents do so to develop new skills in
Netherlands (41%), Finland (39%) and Malta (37%) Denmark, Austria and Estonia (10% in the three countries) and
for the spirit of competition in Malta and Luxembourg (10%
Over a quarter of respondents engage in sport or physical in both countries)
activity to improve their physical appearance in Italy
(31%), Greece and Portugal (26% in both countries) To make new acquaintances is the reason given by at least
one in ten respondents in Austria (11%) and Romania (10%)
More than a quarter do so to be with friends in Austria (34%),
Slovenia (29%) and Portugal (27%) Finally, respondents in Romania and Malta are the most likely
to mention to meet people from other cultures (7% in both
Over a quarter engage in sport or physical activity to countries) and to better integrate into society (9% in both
counteract the effects of ageing in Finland (39%), Sweden countries)
(29%) and Austria (28%)
EU27 BE BG CZ DK DE EE IE EL ES FR HR IT CY LV LT LU HU MT NL AT PL PT RO SI SK FI SE
To improve fitness 43 44 19 43 49 40 48 55 67 32 54 42 42 51 38 38 56 38 37 60 38 37 34 25 40 37 64 52
To relax 39 49 33 24 23 41 36 28 49 31 50 33 39 67 31 30 43 34 39 56 40 22 46 26 58 20 41 28
To have fun 27 34 21 38 33 38 25 25 22 24 18 13 17 12 16 46 23 10 24 52 39 23 22 15 20 15 20 31
To be with friends 19 24 21 19 21 22 18 18 19 14 18 15 21 12 11 10 18 12 17 20 34 12 27 12 29 24 19 18
Other 1 1 6 1 2 1 4 1 5 2 1 3 1 3 2 9 2 3 1 1 3 0 1 2 1 2 1 1
Don't know 2 1 3 1 3 2 3 1 0 3 4 2 1 2 1 5 3 2 3 0 2 0 2 2 0 3 2 1
45
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EU27 EL CZ HR IT DE FI BG BE NL ES LV AT SK SI HU PT IE FR LT PL DK CY RO MT EE LU SE
Apr/May 2022 54 58 54 47 48 63 67 33 51 64 59 64 56 50 69 40 49 55 47 43 48 70 66 31 47 50 53 71
To improve your health
Δ Dec 2017 = p10 p9 p7 p5 p4 p3 p2 p1 p1 = = = = q1 q2 q2 q3 q3 q3 q3 q4 q4 q4 q10 q11 q12 q12
Apr/May 2022 21 26 20 25 31 19 24 21 17 17 25 24 21 24 19 25 26 16 15 20 20 23 23 20 25 20 20 17
To improve your physical appearance
Δ Dec 2017 p1 p9 q3 p8 q2 = p5 = p1 p4 q6 q3 q5 q1 = p1 p4 q8 q2 p1 q1 p2 p2 p4 p6 p1 q7 q6
Apr/May 2022 17 11 19 16 19 24 39 14 23 20 7 16 28 14 13 16 15 9 12 8 7 22 16 13 18 24 12 29
To counteract the effects of ageing
Δ Dec 2017 p3 p2 p3 p1 p4 p6 p4 q1 p7 q3 q3 p1 p4 p3 p3 p1 p4 q2 = q4 p1 q2 p8 q2 p11 p5 q3 q7
Apr/May 2022 27 22 38 13 17 38 20 21 34 52 24 16 39 15 20 10 22 25 18 46 23 33 12 15 24 25 23 31
To have fun
Δ Dec 2017 q3 p1 p5 q4 q2 q4 q6 p5 q3 q13 q1 q5 q5 q1 q4 q1 q2 q4 q3 p4 q2 q5 p1 q2 q8 q2 q6 q15
Apr/May 2022 39 49 24 33 39 41 41 33 49 56 31 31 40 20 58 34 46 28 50 30 22 23 67 26 39 36 43 28
To relax
Δ Dec 2017 p1 p23 p3 q3 p3 q1 q9 p9 p1 q7 q3 q9 p4 p2 q6 p6 p8 q8 q4 p4 p1 q6 p15 q9 q3 = q4 q20
Apr/May 2022 19 19 19 15 21 22 19 21 24 20 14 11 34 24 29 12 27 18 18 10 12 21 12 12 17 18 18 18
To be with friends
Δ Dec 2017 = p6 q4 = p2 q1 q7 p7 p5 q2 q1 q9 p4 q2 q4 q1 p3 q9 q1 = p2 q8 = q1 q2 q1 q6 q3
Apr/May 2022 5 2 4 7 6 6 5 5 6 6 3 5 11 7 5 3 6 6 6 2 3 7 5 10 8 5 6 4
To make new acquaintances
Δ Dec 2017 q1 = q2 p1 = = q2 p2 q1 q3 q2 q4 = q1 q3 = p1 q4 = q1 p1 q3 p1 p3 p1 = q2 q5
Apr/May 2022 3 1 1 2 4 3 0 1 4 1 1 2 5 2 2 1 3 4 4 0 2 1 2 7 7 2 5 1
To meet people from other cultures
Δ Dec 2017 p1 p1 q1 p1 p3 p1 q1 q2 p1 = q1 q2 p1 p1 q2 = p1 q3 = q2 p1 q1 = p5 p3 p1 p1 q1
Apr/May 2022 27 30 16 29 21 36 34 9 18 27 26 17 32 32 43 34 27 19 14 22 47 27 27 20 23 16 24 40
To improve physical performance
Δ Dec 2017 q1 p8 q5 p5 p2 q3 q7 q1 q3 q1 q11 q8 q3 p4 p4 p2 q4 q8 q1 q8 p3 q3 p8 p8 p3 q4 q8 q13
Apr/May 2022 43 67 43 42 42 40 64 19 44 60 32 38 38 37 40 38 34 55 54 38 37 49 51 25 37 48 56 52
To improve fitness
Δ Dec 2017 q4 p10 p2 p8 = q7 q3 q3 q2 q4 q6 q10 q7 q3 p4 p1 q2 q6 q3 q4 q5 q9 p2 p5 q3 q3 q1 q20
Apr/May 2022 25 34 23 28 26 28 39 26 33 41 18 17 27 21 25 15 27 28 20 16 14 34 36 22 37 29 23 31
To control your weight
Δ Dec 2017 p2 p6 p5 p9 p3 p10 p5 p4 p5 q1 q4 q2 q5 q4 p4 q1 p6 q7 q3 q1 p1 q2 q3 p1 p3 q1 q6 q8
Apr/May 2022 13 11 8 8 8 19 15 20 14 12 13 11 17 15 15 9 20 15 11 6 11 27 13 11 14 15 12 17
To improve your self-esteem
Δ Dec 2017 p1 q2 p1 p3 p2 p5 q1 p5 p4 p2 p3 q7 q1 p1 = p1 p5 q7 = = q2 q1 q2 p4 q4 q5 q3 q4
Apr/May 2022 6 6 5 9 4 9 8 8 7 7 5 8 10 5 8 6 5 7 6 4 4 10 5 8 9 10 9 6
To develop new skills
Δ Dec 2017 q1 p1 = p4 = p2 q4 p1 p1 q3 = q4 q1 = q3 = q1 q6 p1 p1 q2 q1 q5 p3 q1 = p1 q8
Apr/May 2022 6 1 5 5 8 4 7 7 6 8 5 4 7 5 6 4 8 7 5 2 6 6 5 8 10 7 10 5
For the spirit of competition
Δ Dec 2017 p1 q2 = = p5 = q3 p1 p1 q2 = q5 = p1 q1 = p3 q5 q1 p1 = q2 p1 p4 p1 p1 p2 q5
Apr/May 2022 3 2 3 3 5 4 1 5 3 2 1 3 5 4 3 7 3 5 2 1 3 1 2 9 9 3 6 1
To better integrate into society
Δ Dec 2017 q1 q1 q1 p1 p2 = q2 p2 = = q1 q3 q2 q1 = p4 q1 q3 q1 q1 = q1 = p1 p5 p1 p3 q1
Apr/May 2022 1 5 1 3 1 1 1 6 1 1 2 2 3 2 1 3 1 1 1 9 0 2 3 2 1 4 2 1
Other
Δ Dec 2017 q7 q7 q8 q10 q5 q6 q4 q14 q5 q6 q5 q12 q4 q11 q6 q9 q8 q2 q8 q4 q5 q9 q8 q18 q6 q10 q8 q3
Apr/May 2022 2 0 1 2 1 2 2 3 1 0 3 1 2 3 0 2 2 1 4 5 0 3 2 2 3 3 3 1
Don't know
Δ Dec 2017 q1 q1 q1 q1 q1 q2 q1 q4 = q1 p2 q1 q1 = q1 = q1 q1 = p2 q7 = p2 q3 p1 = p2 =
46
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QB11 Why do you engage in sport or physical activity? (MULTIPLE ANSWERS POSSIBLE)
(% - EU)
To improve your physical appearance
Don't know
To relax
Other
EU27 54 21 17 27 39 19 5 3 27 43 25 13 6 6 3 1 2
Gender
Man 54 20 16 29 38 21 5 3 29 44 24 14 7 7 4 1 2
Woman 55 21 19 25 39 17 5 2 25 43 26 13 6 4 3 1 2
Age
15-24 49 33 5 40 36 34 9 3 38 47 21 19 13 14 5 1 2
25-39 52 27 9 29 38 20 6 4 33 46 30 17 8 6 4 1 2
40-54 54 21 16 26 40 14 3 2 23 41 29 13 6 4 2 2 1
55 + 58 12 29 21 38 15 4 2 22 42 21 9 3 2 2 2 3
Education (End of)
15- 53 10 24 19 35 16 4 2 21 31 18 9 3 2 2 3 4
16-19 52 20 18 24 36 16 5 3 25 40 24 12 5 4 3 2 3
20+ 59 21 19 29 43 18 5 2 28 49 29 14 6 5 3 1 1
Still studying 49 32 6 41 38 36 9 4 39 48 21 19 12 13 5 1 1
47
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6. Barriers
Slightly more than four in ten Europeans (41%, +1 percentage At most one in twenty mention that there is no suitable or
point since 201725) say not having the time is one of the accessible sport infrastructure close to where they live
main reasons currently preventing them from practising sport (5%, +2), they do not have friends to do sports with (5%,
more regularly, far ahead of any other reason +2), they feel there is a lack of opportunities to practice
sport with people of their gender (2%, new item) or they
A quarter (25%, +5) answer that they lack motivation or are feel discriminated against by other participants (1%, =)
not interested
In addition, it is interesting to note that one in ten respondents
More than one in ten have a disability or illness (14%, (10%, -7 percentage points) spontaneously26 say they are
unchanged) already doing sports regularly
24
QB14. What are the main reasons currently preventing you from gender’. This may have an impact on the evolutions registered for other
practising sport more regularly? (MULTIPLE ANSWERS POSSIBLE) items since 2017.
25 26
Since 2017, a new item has been added in the list of reasons: ‘You feel The item ‘You are already doing sports regularly’ was spontaneous in
there is a lack of opportunities to practice sport with people of your both 2017 and 2022, and it has registered a sharp decrease particularly
in Finland (11%, -18), Germany (20%, -13) and Slovakia (10%, -11)
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None of the nine other items comes in first position among these
reasons for not practising sport more regularly in any of the 27 EU
Member States. However:
Respondents in Sweden (38%), Denmark (33%), and Greece At least one in ten respondents say there is no suitable or
and Portugal (29% in both countries) are the most likely to say accessible sports infrastructure close to where they live
they lack motivation or are not interested in Romania (11%), and Croatia and Lithuania (10% in both
countries)
Having a disability or illness is cited by at least one in five
respondents in Finland and Czechia (22% in both countries), Respondents in Czechia (10%) and Romania (9%) are the most
and Denmark and Bulgaria (both 20%) likely not to have friends to do sports with
At least one in ten respondents answer that practising sport is Feeling that there is a lack of opportunities to practice
too expensive in 14 EU Member States, particularly in Cyprus sport with people of their gender registers its highest
(16%), Belgium (14%) and Lithuania (13%) levels in Romania (7%) and Austria (6%)
In 13 countries, at least one in ten respondents do not like Finally, respondents in Romania are the most likely to mention
competitive activities, with the highest scores in Italy (16%), they feel discriminated against by other participants
and Belgium and Hungary (13% in both countries) (5%)
EU27 BE BG CZ DK DE EE IE EL ES FR HR IT CY LV LT LU HU MT NL AT PL PT RO SI SK FI SE
It is too expensive 10 14 8 9 11 8 12 7 11 6 11 9 10 16 11 13 5 11 2 12 12 11 8 8 9 9 7 11
You feel there is a lack of opportunities to practice sport with people of your gender 2 3 1 2 1 2 1 3 4 1 2 5 4 4 2 1 2 3 4 1 6 3 2 7 1 3 0 1
Other 3 2 4 1 2 4 5 3 4 3 5 2 3 2 3 5 8 1 2 4 3 1 2 6 4 2 1 2
Don't know 2 1 2 1 4 2 2 4 0 1 4 3 1 0 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 3 1 1 2 2 6 2
49
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Sport and Physical Activity
QB14 What are the main reasons currently preventing you from practising sport more regularly?
(MULTIPLE ANSWERS POSSIBLE) (%)
EU27 SK DE EE EL FI LT NL BG DK LV PT IE IT PL BE ES HU HR MT SE FR CZ CY AT LU SI RO
Apr/May 2022 41 47 37 40 46 35 44 42 44 45 42 44 45 40 46 40 46 44 42 49 41 37 46 53 32 39 41 38
You do not have the time
Δ Dec 2017 p1 p9 p7 p7 p6 p6 p4 p4 p3 p3 p1 p1 = = = q1 q1 q1 q2 q2 q2 q3 q4 q4 q6 q7 q7 q12
Apr/May 2022 10 9 8 12 11 7 13 12 8 11 11 8 7 10 11 14 6 11 9 2 11 11 9 16 12 5 9 8
It is too expensive
Δ Dec 2017 p3 q1 p3 p2 p2 = p1 p5 p2 p7 p4 q5 p1 p1 p6 p2 p2 = q4 = p5 = = p3 p4 p1 q2 =
Apr/May 2022 9 4 6 11 6 12 7 11 9 10 11 12 9 16 7 13 7 13 9 10 12 9 6 2 9 9 10 10
You do not like competitive activities
Δ Dec 2017 p3 q1 p2 p6 p1 p7 p4 p5 p1 p7 p6 p4 p5 p5 p4 p3 p2 p2 p1 p6 p6 p1 = = p5 p5 p3 p3
Apr/May 2022 5 7 3 5 8 7 10 2 7 3 8 4 4 7 7 5 3 6 10 4 6 3 6 7 5 2 8 11
There is no suitable or accessible sport infrastructure close to where you live
Δ Dec 2017 p2 p2 p1 = p3 p4 p3 p1 p2 p2 p3 p2 p1 p3 p4 p2 p1 p1 p5 p3 p3 p1 p2 p2 p2 p1 p6 q2
Apr/May 2022 14 14 16 19 12 22 15 16 20 20 19 11 10 7 17 15 11 19 13 12 16 17 22 10 16 12 13 17
You have a disability or illness
Δ Dec 2017 = p2 p3 q5 q1 p1 q3 p2 p1 p1 q2 p1 q1 = p3 q1 q2 p1 p1 = q4 p1 p4 q2 p1 p4 = p5
Apr/May 2022 5 8 5 5 8 6 6 4 5 5 7 6 3 7 7 8 1 4 6 4 8 4 10 6 8 3 5 9
You do not have friends to do sports with
Δ Dec 2017 p2 p3 p2 p1 = p2 p3 p3 p1 p2 p3 p5 = p4 p4 p2 = = p1 p1 p4 q1 p4 p3 p2 = p3 p4
Apr/May 2022 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 3 1 2 0 3 2 1 1 1 0 1 3 2 1 5
You feel discriminated against by other participants
Δ Dec 2017 = p1 p1 p1 = = = = = p1 p1 p1 = p3 = = = p2 p2 p1 p1 p1 q1 p1 p1 p2 p1 p3
Apr/May 2022 2 3 2 1 4 0 1 1 1 1 2 2 3 4 3 3 1 3 5 4 1 2 2 4 6 2 1 7
You feel there is a lack of opportunities to practice sport with people of your gender
Δ Dec 2017 p2 p3 p2 p1 p4 = p1 p1 p1 p1 p2 p2 p3 p4 p3 p3 p1 p3 p5 p4 p1 p2 p2 p4 p6 p2 p1 p7
Apr/May 2022 25 20 24 16 29 25 24 24 28 33 24 29 16 27 23 26 25 21 28 21 38 24 25 16 25 10 22 22
You lack motivation or are not interested
Δ Dec 2017 p5 p5 p3 p3 q1 p9 p2 p1 = p10 p5 q4 p1 p4 p4 p5 p4 p1 = = p9 p4 p3 p1 q2 q7 p3 p4
Apr/May 2022 8 15 5 8 11 3 4 6 7 8 4 10 10 13 11 13 9 11 10 15 6 6 10 8 11 9 11 7
You are afraid of the risk of injuries
Δ Dec 2017 p3 p7 p1 p4 p4 q1 = p1 p2 p2 p1 p7 p1 p7 p3 p2 p4 p6 q1 p6 p2 p1 p1 p3 p4 p5 p4 p4
Apr/May 2022 10 10 20 12 9 11 7 12 5 4 6 11 11 9 1 7 14 4 4 13 6 8 4 13 22 18 9 3
You are already doing sports regularly
Δ Dec 2017 q7 q11 q13 q4 q3 q18 q2 q9 p1 q11 q3 q5 q8 q7 q7 q3 q2 q5 q4 p3 q8 q5 q2 p1 q1 q1 q7 q6
Apr/May 2022 3 2 4 5 4 1 5 4 4 2 3 2 3 3 1 2 3 1 2 2 2 5 1 2 3 8 4 6
Other
Δ Dec 2017 q4 q5 q1 q5 q4 q5 q4 q4 q3 q9 q7 q3 q1 q4 q5 q5 q2 q2 q4 q6 q3 q2 q4 q4 q5 q2 q1 q3
Apr/May 2022 2 2 2 2 0 6 1 2 2 4 1 1 4 1 3 1 1 1 3 2 2 4 1 0 2 1 2 1
Don't know
Δ Dec 2017 q1 q2 q2 = = p4 q1 = q2 p3 = = p1 q1 q5 p1 = = p1 p1 = p3 = = = p1 p1 q1
50
Special Eurobarometer 525
Sport and Physical Activity
QB14 What are the main reasons currently preventing you from practising sport more regularly? (MULTIPLE ANSWERS POSSIBLE)
You feel there is a lack of opportunities to practice sport with people of your gender
(% - EU)
There is no suitable or accessible sport infrastructure close to where you live
It is too expensive
Don't know
Other
EU27 41 10 9 5 14 5 1 2 25 8 10 3 2
Gender
Man 41 8 10 5 13 5 1 2 24 8 12 3 2
Woman 40 11 9 5 16 6 1 3 26 9 9 3 2
Age
15-24 49 11 7 6 3 6 2 2 24 4 17 3 2
25-39 55 12 8 6 5 6 2 3 22 4 12 2 1
40-54 55 11 9 5 9 5 1 3 24 6 9 2 1
55 + 23 7 11 4 26 5 1 2 27 13 9 5 3
Education (End of)
15- 22 8 12 5 26 5 1 3 31 15 5 5 1
16-19 40 10 9 5 16 5 1 3 26 8 9 2 2
20+ 47 9 8 5 10 5 1 2 22 7 12 4 2
Still studying 48 10 7 6 3 6 1 2 23 3 19 3 2
Difficulties paying bills
Most of the time 33 20 11 5 19 9 2 4 33 8 6 2 2
From time to time 42 15 10 6 14 7 3 4 25 10 7 3 1
Almost never/ Never 41 7 9 4 14 4 1 2 24 8 12 3 2
51
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Sport and Physical Activity
52
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Sport and Physical Activity
This fourth chapter focuses on Europeans’ perceptions of support A national analysis shows that more than half of respondents in
for sports participation in their local area. It looks at respondents’ 26 EU Member States consider that the area where they live offers
views about opportunities in their local area and those offered by them many opportunities to be physically active, with the highest
local sports clubs and other providers. It then examines their proportions among respondents in the Netherlands (91%), and
opinions about their local authority’s provision. Sweden and Denmark (89% in both countries). However, this
majority is smaller in Romania (53%), Slovakia (59%) and Greece
(61%).
7. Opportunities in the local area At least one in five respondents totally agree that the area where
they live offers them many opportunities to be physically active in
25 EU Member States, and over half do so in the Netherlands
More than three-quarters of Europeans agree that the area (59%), Denmark (53%) and Sweden (51%).
where they live offers them many opportunities to be
physically active Bulgaria is the sole country where only a minority of respondents
agree with this statement (41% versus 47%). Moreover, a quarter
of respondents in Bulgaria totally disagree (25%).
Slightly more than three-quarters of respondents (76%, +2
percentage points since 2017) agree that the area where they live QB13.1 To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following
offers them many opportunities to be physically active27. This statements about sport and physical activity?
result includes over a third of respondents (36%, +5) who ‘totally The area where you live offers you many opportunities to be physically active
agree’ and four in ten who ‘tend to agree’ (40%, -3). Meanwhile, (% - EU)
less than one in five respondents (19%, unchanged) disagree with Don't know
this statement, including 6% (=) who ‘totally disagree’ and more Totally disagree 5(-2)
than one in ten (13%, =) who ‘tend to disagree’. Finally, one in 6 (0)
twenty respondents (5%, -2) ‘don’t know’. Totally agree
36 (+5)
Tend to disagree
13 (0)
Tend to agree
40 (-3)
(Apr.-May 2022 - Dec. 2017)
Base: All Respondents (N=26,578)
27
QB13.1. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following
statements about sport and physical activity? The area where you live
offers you many opportunities to be physically active
53
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Sport and Physical Activity
54
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Sport and Physical Activity
QB13.1 To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements about sport and physical activity?
The area where you live offers you many opportunities to be physically active
(% - EU)
Tend to disagree
Totally disagree
Total 'Disagree'
Tend to agree
Totally agree
Total 'Agree'
Don't know
EU27 36 40 13 6 5 76 19
Gender
Man 37 40 13 6 4 77 19
Woman 35 40 13 7 5 75 20
Age
15-24 39 41 13 5 2 80 18
25-39 37 41 13 6 3 78 19
40-54 37 41 13 6 3 78 19
55 + 34 38 13 7 8 72 20
Education (End of)
15- 26 38 17 10 9 64 27
16-19 33 42 13 7 5 75 20
20+ 44 38 11 4 3 82 15
Still studying 41 39 13 5 2 80 18
Socio-professional category
Self-employed 40 37 14 6 3 77 20
Managers 46 37 9 4 4 83 13
Other white collars 35 43 13 7 2 78 20
Manual workers 34 42 14 6 4 76 20
House persons 27 40 14 11 8 67 25
Unemployed 28 41 16 9 6 69 25
Retired 34 38 13 7 8 72 20
Students 41 39 13 5 2 80 18
Difficulties paying bills
Most of the time 25 37 18 13 7 62 31
From time to time 27 42 17 9 5 69 26
Almost never/ Never 41 39 11 5 4 80 16
Subjective urbanisation
Rural village 34 36 15 9 6 70 24
Small/ mid size town 37 40 13 5 5 77 18
Large town 37 43 11 5 4 80 16
Base: All Respondents (N=26,578)
55
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Sport and Physical Activity
8. Opportunities offered by local QB13.2 To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements about
sport and physical activity?
sport clubs and other providers Local sport clubs and other local providers offer many opportunities to be physically
active (% - EU)
Don't know
Totally disagree 9(0)
7 (+2)
Nearly three-quarters of Europeans agree that local sport clubs Totally agree
and other local providers offer many opportunities to be 32 (+3)
physically active Tend to disagree
12 (-1)
A national analysis highlights that, in all 27 EU Member States, In 22 EU Member States, at least one in five respondents totally
a majority of respondents believe that local sport clubs and other agree that local sports clubs and other local providers offer many
local providers offer many opportunities to be physically active. opportunities to be physically active, with the highest levels in the
This proportion is the highest among respondents in the Netherlands (54%), Denmark (51%) and Sweden (48%).
Netherlands (91%), Denmark (87%) and Sweden (86%). This
majority is narrower in Bulgaria (41% versus 38%), Slovakia (50% However, in Bulgaria, a fifth of respondents (20%) totally disagree
vs. 33%) and Romania (51%). with this statement, and a similar proportion (21%) ‘don’t know’.
28
QB13.2. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following
statements about sport and physical activity? Local sport clubs and other
local providers offer many opportunities to be physically active
56
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Sport and Physical Activity
Since 2017, the share of respondents who agree that local sport
clubs and other local providers offer many opportunities to be
physically active has fallen in 16 EU Member States, most
dramatically in Slovakia (50%, -12 percentage points), Austria
(67%, -11) and France (75%, -10). Conversely, it has risen in ten
countries, most strikingly in Malta (85%, +20). Finally, it is
unchanged in Luxembourg.
57
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Sport and Physical Activity
QB13.2 To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements about sport and physical activity?
Local sport clubs and other local providers offer many opportunities to be physically active
(% - EU)
Tend to disagree
Totally disagree
Total 'Disagree'
Tend to agree
Totally agree
Total 'Agree'
Don't know
EU27 32 40 12 7 9 72 19
Gender
Man 34 39 12 7 8 73 19
Woman 31 40 12 7 10 71 19
Age
15-24 39 40 13 4 4 79 17
25-39 33 43 12 6 6 76 18
40-54 34 41 13 6 6 75 19
55 + 29 37 12 8 14 66 20
Education (End of)
15- 24 34 15 12 15 58 27
16-19 28 41 13 8 10 69 21
20+ 40 40 10 4 6 80 14
Still studying 41 40 12 4 3 81 16
Socio-professional category
Self-employed 33 41 13 8 5 74 21
Managers 42 40 8 3 7 82 11
Other white collars 33 44 12 6 5 77 18
Manual workers 32 40 13 8 7 72 21
House persons 23 42 13 11 11 65 24
Unemployed 21 37 19 8 15 58 27
Retired 29 36 12 8 15 65 20
Students 41 40 12 4 3 81 16
Difficulties paying bills
Most of the time 23 37 17 12 11 60 29
From time to time 23 42 16 9 10 65 25
Almost never/ Never 37 39 10 6 8 76 16
Subjective urbanisation
Rural village 28 35 16 10 11 63 26
Small/ mid size town 34 40 11 6 9 74 17
Large town 35 43 9 5 8 78 14
58
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Sport and Physical Activity
9. Local authority provisions QB13.3 To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements about
sport and physical activity?
Your local authority does not do enough for its citizens in relation to physical activities
(% - EU)
A national analysis shows that a majority of respondents Conversely, only a minority of respondents agree that their local
consider that their local authority does not do enough for its authority does not do enough for its citizens in relation to physical
citizens in relation to physical activities in 14 EU Member States, activities in 13 EU Member States, with the lowest proportions in
with the highest levels in Malta (66%), and Italy and Croatia (57% Finland (20%) and Germany and Estonia (27% in both countries).
in both countries).
In eight EU Member States, at least one in five respondents totally
At least one in five respondents totally agree with this statement disagree that the local authority does not do enough for its citizens
in four countries: Malta (41%), substantially ahead of Romania in relation to physical activities, rising to more than a quarter in
(21%) and Slovenia and Cyprus (20% in both countries). Germany (33%), Finland (27%) and Austria (26%).
29
QB13.3. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following
statements about sport and physical activity? Your local authority does
not do enough for its citizens in relation to physical activities
59
Special Eurobarometer 525
Sport and Physical Activity
60
Special Eurobarometer 525
Sport and Physical Activity
Other white collars are the most likely to agree with this
statement (46%, compared with 38% among retired people)
QB13.3 To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements about sport and physical activity?
Your local authority does not do enough for its citizens in relation to physical activities
(% - EU)
Tend to disagree
Totally disagree
Total 'Disagree'
Tend to agree
Totally agree
Total 'Agree'
Don't know
EU27 14 28 29 19 10 42 48
Gender
Man 14 28 30 19 9 42 49
Woman 13 28 29 19 11 41 48
Age
15-24 14 27 32 19 8 41 51
25-39 15 31 30 17 7 46 47
40-54 15 29 29 20 7 44 49
55 + 12 26 28 20 14 38 48
Education (End of)
15- 13 30 23 19 15 43 42
16-19 14 29 30 17 10 43 47
20+ 13 26 31 22 8 39 53
Still studying 14 28 33 18 7 42 51
Socio-professional category
Self-employed 15 30 32 17 6 45 49
Managers 13 26 30 23 8 39 53
Other white collars 14 32 31 16 7 46 47
Manual workers 16 29 28 19 8 45 47
House persons 12 27 28 19 14 39 47
Unemployed 15 29 27 16 13 44 43
Retired 11 27 27 20 15 38 47
Students 14 28 33 18 7 42 51
Difficulties paying bills
Most of the time 16 31 24 17 12 47 41
From time to time 15 31 29 15 10 46 44
Almost never/ Never 13 26 30 21 10 39 51
Consider belonging to
The working class 15 28 26 17 14 43 43
The lower middle class 13 29 32 17 9 42 49
The middle class 13 29 30 20 8 42 50
The upper middle class 15 24 29 25 7 39 54
The upper class 11 22 40 21 6 33 61
Base: All Respondents (N=26,578)
61
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V. VOLUNTEERING IN SPORT
62
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One in ten European currently engage in voluntary work that However, a large majority of Europeans (89%) neither currently
supports sporting activities, or plan to do so in the next two engage nor plan to engage in voluntary work that supports sporting
months activities. In detail, close to three-quarters (74%) have never
engaged in such voluntary work and have no plans to do so, while
Just one in ten Europeans (10%) currently engage in voluntary 15% have engaged in this kind of voluntary work in the past.
work that supports sporting activities, or plan to do so in the next
two months 30. This result includes 6% of respondents who are
already engaged in voluntary work to support sporting activities,
and 4% who plan to do so in the next two months.
QB21 The next question is about volunteering in sport. By volunteering we mean doing any voluntary
work or activity for which you do not receive any payment except to cover expenses. This includes
organising or helping to run events, campaigning or raising money, providing transport or driving,
coaching, tuition, mentoring, etc. Do you currently engage, or plan to engage in the next 2 months, in
voluntary work that supports sporting activities?
(% - EU) Yes, you are already currently
engaged in voluntary work
Don't know
supporting sporting activities
1
6
(Apr.-May 2022)
30
QB21. The next question is about volunteering in sport. By volunteering or driving, coaching, tuition, mentoring, etc. Do you currently engage, or
we mean doing any voluntary work or activity for which you do not plan to engage in the next 2 months, in voluntary work that supports
receive any payment except to cover expenses. This includes organising or sporting activities?
helping to run events, campaigning or raising money, providing transport
63
Special Eurobarometer 525
Sport and Physical Activity
A national analysis shows that, in 15 EU Member States, at least However, at least one in ten respondents in 21 EU Member States
one in ten respondents say they currently engage in voluntary work have engaged in the past in voluntary work supporting sporting
that supports sporting activities or plan to do so in the next two activities, with the highest levels in Sweden (35%), Finland (32%)
months. Nearly one in five respondents say so in Ireland and and Denmark (29%).
Luxembourg (19% in both countries), and the Netherlands (18%).
At the other end of the scale, just 4% of respondents currently Finally, more than half of respondents in all 27 EU Member States
engage or plan to engage in Portugal, Greece and Lithuania. have never engaged in voluntary work supporting sporting
activities and do not plan to do so, with proportions varying
In detail, at least one in ten respondents are currently engaged in between 88% in Portugal and 51% in Sweden.
voluntary work supporting sporting activities in six EU Member
States: the Netherlands (15%), Luxembourg (13%), Ireland (12%),
Sweden and Slovenia (11% in both countries), and Denmark (10%).
90
80
51
70 55 55 61 56 56
62 59
69 65
73 73 73 75 74 75 71 65 77
60 79 77 80
85 83 86 86
86 88
50
40
30 24 26 35
18 24 24 29 32
15 24
20 13 13 13 11 15 18 19
6 7 3 9 13 15
4 6 3 4 14 13
10 9 4 2 7 9 6 7 10 6
13 12 15 10 8 8 9 4 6 2 3 3 2 2 5 3
11 9 11 10 9 9 7 3 3 4 2 3
6 3 4 4 2 6 4 6 6 6 5 2 3 3 2 2 1 1
0
LU IE NL SI BE AT SE DK MT IT RO HR FI HU EU27 SK DE CZ EE FR CY PL ES LV BG LT EL PT
64
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QB21 The next question is about volunteering in sport. By volunteering we mean doing any voluntary work or activity for which you do not
receive any payment except to cover expenses. This includes organising or helping to run events, campaigning or raising money,
providing transport or driving, coaching, tuition, mentoring, etc. Do you currently engage, or plan to engage in the next 2 months, in
voluntary work that supports sporting activities?
(% - EU)
Don't know
Total 'Yes'
Total 'No'
EU27 6 4 15 74 1 10 89
Gender
Man 7 5 17 70 1 12 87
Woman 5 4 13 77 1 9 90
Age
15-24 5 7 16 71 1 12 87
25-39 6 6 15 72 1 12 87
40-54 7 4 15 73 1 11 88
55 + 4 3 15 77 1 7 92
Education (End of)
15- 2 3 9 84 2 5 93
16-19 4 4 14 77 1 8 91
20+ 9 4 18 68 1 13 86
Still studying 5 7 17 70 1 12 87
Socio-professional category
Self-employed 7 6 16 70 1 13 86
Managers 10 5 21 62 2 15 83
Other white collars 6 5 16 72 1 11 88
Manual workers 6 5 13 75 1 11 88
House persons 2 3 8 86 1 5 94
Unemployed 4 2 12 80 2 6 92
Retired 4 2 15 78 1 6 93
Students 5 7 17 70 1 12 87
Consider belonging to
The working class 3 3 10 83 1 6 93
The lower middle class 5 3 14 77 1 8 91
The middle class 6 5 16 72 1 11 88
The upper middle class 11 6 27 55 1 17 82
The upper class 10 3 20 67 0 13 87
65
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Sport and Physical Activity
66
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Slightly more than a third of Europeans (34%) say they Conversely, close to one in ten respondents (9%) were
continued to be physically active but less frequently physically active more frequently (including sport) during
(including sport) during COVID-19 COVID-19
The same proportion (34%) answer that they were physically Finally, less than one in ten (7%) plan to be more physically
active at the same level as before (including sport) during active (including sport) after COVID-19
COVID-19
31
QB12. The COVID-19 pandemic has had an impact on individuals and physical activity which you do in a sport context or sport-related setting;
organisations involved in physical activity. Based on your personal as well as doing any other physical activity for recreational or non-sport-
experience, which of the following statements best correspond to your related reasons such as cycling, dancing, gardening, etc. (MAX. 2
personal situation? By "physically active" we mean doing any form of ANSWERS)
67
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Sport and Physical Activity
A national analysis shows that ‘during COVID-19, you None of the three other statements comes first in any of the 27
continued to be physically active but you did it less EU Member States. However:
frequently (including sport)’ is the most cited statement in 14 EU
At least a quarter of respondents say they stopped being
Member States. At least four in ten respondents choose this physically active (including sport) during COVID-19 in Italy
statement in Luxembourg (42%), Portugal (41%) and Spain (40%). and Spain (33% in both countries), and in Romania, Bulgaria
Conversely, the lowest levels are found in Lithuania (22%), and Slovakia (25% in the three countries). Less than one in ten
Romania (23%), Croatia and Estonia (28% in both countries). did so in Germany and Finland (7% in both countries), and
Poland, Slovenia and Lithuania (9% in the three countries)
In 16 EU Member States, ‘during COVID-19, you were physically
active at the same level as you did before (including sport)’ is At least one in ten respondents were physically active more
the most common answer. More than half of respondents say this frequently (including sport) during COVID-19 in 11 EU
statement best corresponds to their personal situation in Lithuania Member States, with the highest levels in the Netherlands and
(58%), Finland (52%) and Hungary (51%). On the other hand, less Belgium (16% in both countries), and Luxembourg (14%).
than one in five share this opinion in Malta (15%) and Italy and Conversely, this statement registers its lowest scores in
Spain (18% in both countries). Hungary (3%) and Bulgaria and Malta (4% in both countries)
In three EU Member States, respondents place these two In six EU Member States, at least one in ten respondents plan
statements in joint first position: in Greece and Austria (35% for to be more physically active (including sport) after COVID-
both ‘less frequently’ and ‘at the same level as before’), and France 19. This is particularly the case in Malta (27%), substantially
(both 32%). ahead of Portugal (14%) and Denmark (13%). Meanwhile, the
lowest proportions are found in Ireland and Latvia (4% in both
countries)
QB12 The COVID-19 pandemic has had an impact on individuals and organisations involved in physical activity. Based on your personal experience, which of the following statements best correspond to your personal situation? By "physically
active" we mean doing any form of physical activity which you do in a sport context or sport-related setting; as well as doing any other physical activity for recreational or non-sport-related reasons such as cycling, dancing, gardening, etc.
(MAX. 2 ANSWERS) (%)
EU27 BE BG CZ DK DE EE IE EL ES FR HR IT CY LV LT LU HU MT NL AT PL PT RO SI SK FI SE
During COVID-19, you continued to be physically active but you did it less frequently (including sport) 34 37 36 35 32 35 28 38 35 40 32 28 37 35 31 22 42 30 38 37 35 29 41 23 29 32 29 33
During COVID-19, you were physically active at the same level as you did before (including sport) 34 26 29 36 35 43 44 32 35 18 32 41 18 32 43 58 29 51 15 35 35 47 22 34 47 31 52 44
During COVID-19, you were physically active more frequently (including sport) 9 16 4 7 12 8 10 13 13 6 10 8 7 7 5 5 14 3 4 16 12 7 7 10 13 7 8 8
Don't know 2 1 3 1 2 4 2 1 0 0 1 2 0 4 2 4 2 1 0 1 2 3 2 3 0 2 1 0
68
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Sport and Physical Activity
During COVID-19, you continued to be physically active but you did it less frequently (including sport)
During COVID-19, you were physically active at the same level as you did before (including sport)
QB12 The COVID-19 pandemic has had an impact on individuals and organisations involved in physical activity. Based on your
personal experience, which of the following statements best correspond to your personal situation? By "physically active" we
mean doing any form of physical activity which you do in a sport context or sport-related setting; as well as doing any other
physical activity for recreational or non-sport-related reasons such as cycling, dancing, gardening, etc. (MAX. 2 ANSWERS)
(% - EU)
During COVID-19, you were physically active more frequently (including sport)
During COVID-19, you stopped being physically active (including sport)
Don't know
EU27 18 34 34 9 7 2
Gender
Man 17 34 36 8 7 1
Woman 19 34 33 9 7 2
Age
15-24 18 38 26 13 8 2
25-39 19 36 31 9 8 1
40-54 19 32 34 10 7 1
55 + 17 32 40 6 6 2
Education (End of)
15- 22 29 40 5 5 2
16-19 17 32 37 7 7 2
20+ 17 35 33 10 7 1
Still studying 18 40 24 13 9 1
Socio-professional category
Self-employed 17 35 33 10 7 1
Managers 17 35 33 12 9 1
Other white collars 19 36 29 10 9 1
Manual workers 19 32 36 8 7 2
House persons 18 35 35 6 7 3
Unemployed 20 32 37 7 4 2
Retired 17 32 42 5 5 2
Students 18 40 24 13 9 1
Subjective urbanisation
Rural village 15 32 39 9 6 2
Small/ mid size town 18 34 34 9 8 2
Large town 22 36 28 9 9 1
Base: If practices a sport or a physical activity (N=19,246)
69
Special Eurobarometer 525
Sport and Physical Activity
70
Special Eurobarometer 525
Sport and Physical Activity
(Apr.-May 2022)
32
QB16. In a scale of 1 to 6, where 1 means "not paying attention at all", 33
'Not paying attention' means the respondent choose a number from 1
and 6 means "paying a lot of attention", how much attention do you pay to 3; 'paying attention' from 4 to 6.
to the impact that the practice of sport or physical activity can have on
the environment?
71
Special Eurobarometer 525
Sport and Physical Activity
A national analysis shows that more than half of the Conversely, in 16 EU Member States, a majority of respondents do
respondents are currently paying attention to the impact that their not pay attention to the impact that their practice of sport or
practice of sport or physical activity can have on the environment physical activity can have on the environment. This is the case for
(giving a score from 3 to 6 on a 6-point scale) in 11 EU Member over two-thirds of respondents in Sweden (83%) and the
States, led by Cyprus (75%), and Italy, Poland and Romania (57% Netherlands and Czechia (74% in both countries).
in the three Member States).
72
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QB16 In a scale of 1 to 6, where 1 means "not paying attention at all", and 6 means "paying a lot of attention", how much attention do
you pay to the impact that the practice of sport or physical activity can have on the environment?
(% - EU)
1 Not paying attention at all
EU27 20 11 20 22 12 12 3 51 46
Gender
Man 20 11 20 22 13 12 2 51 47
Woman 21 10 20 22 12 11 4 51 45
Age
15-24 19 11 20 22 14 12 2 50 48
25-39 20 12 20 23 14 9 2 52 46
40-54 20 11 21 22 11 12 3 52 45
55 + 22 10 18 22 11 13 4 50 46
Education (End of)
15- 25 9 20 22 11 9 4 54 42
16-19 19 10 21 24 11 12 3 50 47
20+ 21 12 18 20 13 13 3 51 46
Still studying 19 10 21 22 14 12 2 50 48
Socio-professional category
Self-employed 21 10 19 22 14 12 2 50 48
Managers 21 11 17 22 14 13 2 49 49
Other white collars 20 11 20 24 13 9 3 51 46
Manual workers 19 11 22 24 11 11 2 52 46
House persons 22 8 24 21 10 10 5 54 41
Unemployed 24 12 20 16 9 14 5 56 39
Retired 21 9 18 22 11 14 5 48 47
Students 19 10 21 22 14 12 2 50 48
Difficulties paying bills
Most of the time 23 10 21 18 9 15 4 54 42
From time to time 17 12 21 26 11 11 2 50 48
Almost never/ Never 22 10 19 21 13 12 3 51 46
Consider belonging to
The working class 24 10 19 23 10 11 3 53 44
The lower middle class 19 12 22 20 11 13 3 53 44
The middle class 19 10 20 23 13 12 3 49 48
The upper middle class 24 13 16 19 15 11 2 53 45
The upper class 20 8 13 25 17 14 3 41 56
Subjective urbanisation
Rural village 24 11 19 22 11 10 3 54 43
Small/ mid size town 18 11 21 23 12 12 3 50 47
Large town 20 11 19 22 13 13 2 50 48
Base: If practices a sport or a physical activity (N=19,246)
73
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Sport and Physical Activity
Close to a quarter of respondents (24%) say their sport Close to one in ten (9%) say that their sports organisation is
organisation is working in reducing waste or improving serving food and catering taking into account
waste management sustainability criteria
Over one in ten respondents say that it is promoting the use However, nearly half of respondents (48%) answer that, as far
of green energy (16%), promoting measures to increase as they know, no actions around sustainability are currently
energy efficiency (14%) or promoting sustainable carried out by their sports organisation
transportation (12%)
34
QB17. According to what you know, which of the following actions club, health or fitness centre? Please tell all that apply. (MULTIPLE
about sustainability are currently done by your sport organisation(s), sport ANSWERS POSSIBLE)
74
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Sport and Physical Activity
A national analysis shows that, in 23 EU Member States, a In addition, at least a quarter of respondents mention this action
majority of respondents who are members of a club consider that in Hungary (26%) and Italy, Slovenia and Malta (25% in the three
their sports organisation does not currently take any actions countries). The lowest scores are seen in Luxembourg (8%),
to support sustainability, with the highest levels in Spain (71%), Sweden (9%) and Spain (10%).
Greece (65%), and Sweden and Denmark (64% in both countries).
At the other end of the scale, less than three in ten respondents Promoting measures to increase energy efficiency is the
share this opinion in Hungary (20%), Malta (27%) and Romania most mentioned action in two EU Member States: the Netherlands
(29%). (24%) and Latvia (13%). It also obtains higher proportions in Malta
(25%) and Austria (24%). This action is least widespread in France
However, the belief that their sports organisation is working to (5%), Greece (6%) and Spain (7%).
reduce waste or improve waste management comes in first
position in four EU Member States: in Austria (38%), Malta (37%), A majority of respondents say that their sports organisation is
Slovakia (35%) and Hungary (32%). It is also cited by more than currently promoting sustainable transportation in Lithuania
three in ten respondents in Slovenia (32%) and Italy, Belgium and (24%) and Portugal (20%, same score as ‘working to reduce waste
Luxembourg (31% in the three countries). The lowest proportions or improve waste management’). More than one in five
are registered in Greece (10%), Spain (11%) and Latvia (13%). respondents also cite this action in Hungary (24%), Malta (22%)
and Romania (21%). Conversely, this action receives its lowest
None of the four other items comes in first position when all the scores in Greece (4%) and the Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark and
answers are taken into account. However, if we focus only on the Cyprus (5% in the four countries).
positive statements (excluding the answer ‘none, as far as you
know’), working in reducing waste or improving waste Finally, serving food and catering taking into account
management is the most given answer in 23 EU Member States. sustainability does not top the list of sustainability measures in
any of the 27 EU Member States. It obtains its highest proportions
Most respondents mention promoting the use of green energy in Malta (31%), Austria (21%) and Hungary and Slovakia (18% in
in three EU Member States: in Croatia (21%), Greece (14%) and both countries), and its lowest in France and Finland (both 3%).
Latvia (13%, same score as both ‘working to reduce waste or
improve waste management’ and ‘promoting measures to increase
energy efficiency’).
EU27 BE BG CZ DK DE EE IE EL ES FR HR IT CY LV LT LU HU MT NL AT PL PT RO SI SK FI SE
Don't know 3 1 3 5 6 5 10 2 9 1 5 0 1 9 6 11 7 4 2 4 6 0 7 1 2 1 4 4
75
Special Eurobarometer 525
Sport and Physical Activity
QB17 According to what you know, which of the following actions about sustainability are currently done by your sport organisation(s), sport
club, health or fitness centre? Please tell all that apply. (MULTIPLE ANSWERS POSSIBLE)
(% - EU)
Don't know
EU27 16 14 12 9 24 48 3
Gender
Man 18 15 13 10 27 44 3
Woman 14 13 11 9 21 52 3
Age
15-24 17 11 12 8 22 51 5
25-39 18 15 12 10 24 45 3
40-54 15 15 14 9 24 48 2
55 + 14 14 10 10 24 49 4
Education (End of)
15- 16 14 14 11 25 45 3
16-19 18 15 12 9 27 44 3
20+ 14 15 11 10 22 52 3
Still studying 18 10 13 8 23 50 5
Socio-professional category
Self-employed 19 17 11 10 25 41 4
Managers 17 15 12 10 27 46 2
Other white collars 19 14 13 10 25 48 1
Manual workers 15 16 12 9 23 48 3
House persons 11 15 10 8 16 58 3
Unemployed 18 18 7 9 16 45 7
Retired 13 12 10 10 23 51 4
Students 18 10 13 8 23 50 5
Difficulties paying bills
Most of the time 15 18 13 13 21 45 2
From time to time 20 14 13 13 24 44 2
Almost never/ Never 15 14 11 8 24 50 4
76
Special Eurobarometer 525
Sport and Physical Activity
77
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Sport and Physical Activity
The eighth and last chapter examines the place of gender equality
in sport and physical activity. It assesses Europeans‘ knowledge of
measures to support gender equality within their sports
organisation, and more specifically in a situation of gender
discrimination. Respondents were then invited to give their opinion
on three statements relating to the importance of female role
models in sport; the attractiveness of female sport in the media;
and finally the attention that should be paid to gender-based
violence in sport.
QB18 According to what you know, would you say that the organisation where
you do sport or physical activity is actively putting in place measures to
support gender equality?
(% - EU)
Don't know
7
Yes
54
No
39
(Apr.-May 2022)
35
QB18. According to what you know, would you say that the organisation where you do sport or physical activity is actively putting in place measures to
support gender equality?
78
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Sport and Physical Activity
A national analysis shows that a majority of respondents believe Conversely, only a minority of respondents share this opinion in ten
that the organisation where they do sport or physical activity is countries, with the lowest levels in Poland (34%), Greece (38%)
actively putting in place measures to support gender equality in 17 and the Netherlands (40%).
EU Member States, with the highest levels in Finland (78%),
Luxembourg (77%) and Slovenia (73%).
79
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Sport and Physical Activity
QB18 According to what you know, would you say that the organisation where you do sport
or physical activity is actively putting in place measures to support gender equality?
(% - EU)
Don't know
Yes
No
EU27 54 39 7
Gender
Man 56 37 7
Woman 52 41 7
Age
15-24 60 32 8
25-39 51 41 8
40-54 54 40 6
55 + 53 39 8
Education (End of)
15- 39 54 7
16-19 54 40 6
20+ 56 36 8
Still studying 58 34 8
Socio-professional category
Self-employed 55 36 9
Managers 57 36 7
Other white collars 49 46 5
Manual workers 55 40 5
House persons 60 32 8
Unemployed 48 40 12
Retired 53 39 8
Students 58 34 8
Difficulties paying bills
Most of the time 51 44 5
From time to time 50 44 6
Almost never/ Never 56 37 7
Base: If member of a club (N=7,769)
80
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Sport and Physical Activity
When asked whether they would know who they could speak to
internally in the event they encountered a situation of gender
discrimination in the club where they practice sport or physical
activity36, slightly more than six in ten Europeans who are
members of a club say that they would do so (61%).
Yes, someone in
No, you would not
management or
know who you
someone you
could contact
trust within the
internally
club
37
47
(Apr.-May 2022)
36
QB19. In the event you encountered a situation of gender
discrimination in the club where you practice sport or physical activity,
would you know to whom you could speak internally?
81
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Sport and Physical Activity
A national analysis reveals that, in 23 EU Member States, more It is interesting to note that Romania is the only country where
than half of respondents say that they would know who they could more respondents say that their club has a single contact point for
speak to internally if they encountered a situation of gender gender-related concerns than that they could speak to someone in
discrimination in their club. At least seven in ten respondents hold management or someone they trust within the club (32%
this view in Malta (75%), Greece (72%) and Portugal (70%). compared with 30%).
In detail, respondents in Malta (73%), Greece (63%) and Spain Conversely, only a minority of respondents would know who to
(58%) are the most likely to say they could speak to someone in speak to internally in the event they encountered a situation of
management or someone they trust within the club. The lowest gender discrimination in the club where they practice sport or
proportions are found in Poland (27%), Romania and Hungary physical activity in four EU Member States: Estonia (43% versus
(30% in both countries). 48% who would not know who they could contact internally),
Latvia (46% vs. 51%), Poland (47% vs. 53%) and Hungary (48%
In addition, more than one in five respondents say that their club vs. 50%).
has a single contact point for gender-related concerns in Romania
(32%), far ahead of Italy, Bulgaria and Croatia (24% in the three
countries). At most one in twenty respondents share this opinion in
Malta (2%) and Sweden and Czechia (5%).
82
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QB19 In the event you encountered a situation of gender discrimination in the club where you practice sport or
physical activity, would you know to whom you could speak internally?
(% - EU)
Yes, someone in management or someone you trust within the club
Yes, the club has a single contact point for gender-related concerns
No, you would not know who you could contact internally
Don't know
Total 'Yes'
EU27 47 14 37 2 61
Gender
Man 47 15 36 2 62
Woman 47 14 38 1 61
Age
15-24 51 12 36 1 63
25-39 45 17 37 1 62
40-54 47 14 37 2 61
55 + 47 14 37 2 61
Education (End of)
15- 30 16 52 2 46
16-19 44 17 37 2 61
20+ 51 13 34 2 64
Still studying 51 11 36 2 62
Socio-professional category
Self-employed 54 20 24 2 74
Managers 51 16 32 1 67
Other white collars 41 14 43 2 55
Manual workers 44 16 38 2 60
House persons 49 11 39 1 60
Unemployed 41 13 45 1 54
Retired 46 12 40 2 58
Students 51 11 36 2 62
Difficulties paying bills
Most of the time 38 19 43 0 57
From time to time 42 22 34 2 64
Almost never/ Never 49 12 38 1 61
Consider belonging to
The working class 46 9 44 1 55
The lower middle class 46 11 42 1 57
The middle class 47 16 35 2 63
The upper middle class 50 17 31 2 67
The upper class 52 14 31 3 66
83
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Sport and Physical Activity
16. Importance of female role models QB20.1 To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following
statements about gender equality in sport and physical activity?
in sport Female role models among managers, athletes, officials & coaches are
inspiring more women and girls to follow their example
(% - EU)
Don't know
Totally disagree
Nearly eight in ten Europeans agree that female role models 4
10
among managers, athletes, officials and coaches are inspiring
more women and girls to follow their example
Totally agree
Tend to
35
disagree
Over three-quarters of respondents (78%) agree that female role 8
models among managers, athletes, officials and coaches are
inspiring more women and girls to follow their example 37. This
result includes more than a third of respondents (35%) who ‘totally
agree’ and over four in ten (43%) who ‘tend to agree’. Meanwhile,
Tend to agree
slightly more than one in ten respondents (12%) disagree with this
43
statement, including 4% who ‘totally disagree’ and 8% who ‘tend
to disagree’. Finally, one in ten respondents (10%) ‘don’t know’.
(Apr.-May 2022)
A national analysis shows that more than half of respondents in In 25 EU Member States, more than one in five respondents totally
all 27 EU Member States think that female role models among agree that female role models among managers, athletes, officials
managers, athletes, officials and coaches are inspiring more and coaches are inspiring more women and girls to follow their
women and girls to follow their example. More than nine in ten example, and over half do so in Sweden (67%), Cyprus (57%) and
respondents hold this view in Sweden (96%), Finland and Cyprus Finland (52%).
(92% in both countries), and Ireland (91%). At the other end of the
Finally, at least one in five respondents say that they ‘don’t know’
scale, less than two-thirds of respondents agree with this
in Estonia (25%) and Latvia (20%).
statement in Estonia (58%), Latvia (60%) and Romania (65%).
37
QB20.1. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following role models among managers, athletes, officials & coaches are inspiring
statements about gender equality in sport and physical activity? Female more women and girls to follow their example
84
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Sport and Physical Activity
QB20.1 To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements about gender equality in sport and physical activity?
Female role models among managers, athletes, officials & coaches are inspiring more women and girls to follow their example
(% - EU) Tend to disagree
Totally disagree
Total 'Disagree'
Tend to agree
Totally agree
Total 'Agree'
Don't know
EU27 35 43 8 4 10 78 12
Gender
Man 35 43 8 4 10 78 12
Woman 34 43 9 4 10 77 13
Age
15-24 42 42 7 3 6 84 10
25-39 38 43 9 3 7 81 12
40-54 36 45 8 4 7 81 12
55 + 31 42 9 4 14 73 13
Education (End of)
15- 28 39 11 4 18 67 15
16-19 32 45 9 4 10 77 13
20+ 40 42 7 3 8 82 10
Still studying 43 43 6 3 5 86 9
Socio-professional category
Self-employed 35 42 10 4 9 77 14
Managers 41 43 7 2 7 84 9
Other white collars 36 45 8 4 7 81 12
Manual workers 34 44 9 5 8 78 14
House persons 29 43 11 4 13 72 15
Unemployed 34 41 10 5 10 75 15
Retired 31 43 8 4 14 74 12
Students 43 43 6 3 5 86 9
Difficulties paying bills
Most of the time 33 37 12 6 12 70 18
From time to time 31 46 10 4 9 77 14
Almost never/ Never 37 43 7 3 10 80 10
Subjective urbanisation
Rural village 33 42 9 5 11 75 14
Small/ mid size town 35 42 9 4 10 77 13
Large town 37 45 7 3 8 82 10
Base: All Respondents (N=26,578)
85
Special Eurobarometer 525
Sport and Physical Activity
17. Attractiveness of female sport in QB20.2 To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements about gender
equality in sport and physical activity?
the media You evenly like to follow female sport in the media (online, written, tv) as you do for male
sport
(% - EU)
Don't know
7
Nearly six in ten Europeans say they evenly like to follow
female sport in the media (online, written, tv) as they do for Totally agree
male sport Totally disagree 24
16
Over half respondents (57%) agree that they evenly like to follow
female sport in the media (online, written, tv) as they do for male
sport38, including close to a quarter of respondents (24%) who
‘totally agree’ and a third (33%) who ‘tend to agree’. Conversely, Tend to disagree
over a third of respondents (36%) disagree with this statement, 20
Tend to agree
with more than one in ten (16%) who ‘totally disagree’ and one in
33
five (20%) who ‘tend to disagree’. Finally, less than one in ten
respondents (7%) say they don’t know. (Apr.-May 2022)
A national analysis highlights that, in 25 EU Member States, a In 24 EU Member States, more than one in five respondents totally
majority of respondents answer that they evenly like to follow agree with this statement, with the highest levels in Slovenia
female sport in the media (online, written, tv) as they do for male (44%), Sweden and Malta (37% in both countries).
sport, with the highest proportions among respondents in Poland
(76%), Croatia (75%), and Hungary and Slovenia (74% in both Conversely, in two EU Member States, only a minority of
countries). This majority is smaller in Denmark (49% versus 46%), respondents agree that they evenly like to follow female sport in
the Netherlands (54%) and Czechia (55%). the media (online, written, tv) as they do for male sport: in
Germany (40% versus 52%) and Austria (43% vs. 54%).
38
QB20.2. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following evenly like to follow female sport in the media (online, written, tv) as you
statements about gender equality in sport and physical activity? You do for male sport
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QB20.2 To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements about gender equality in sport and physical activity?
You evenly like to follow female sport in the media (online, written, tv) as you do for male sport
(% - EU)
Tend to disagree
Totally disagree
Total 'Disagree'
Tend to agree
Totally agree
Total 'Agree'
Don't know
EU27 24 33 20 16 7 57 36
Gender
Man 23 34 23 14 6 57 37
Woman 25 33 17 17 8 58 34
Age
15-24 26 32 22 15 5 58 37
25-39 24 33 21 16 6 57 37
40-54 25 35 19 15 6 60 34
55 + 24 33 18 16 9 57 34
Education (End of)
15- 18 32 19 22 9 50 41
16-19 24 35 19 16 6 59 35
20+ 28 33 19 13 7 61 32
Still studying 27 31 23 14 5 58 37
Socio-professional category
Self-employed 23 33 24 15 5 56 39
Managers 26 33 20 13 8 59 33
Other white collars 24 39 19 13 5 63 32
Manual workers 24 34 20 16 6 58 36
House persons 21 25 22 23 9 46 45
Unemployed 28 27 18 21 6 55 39
Retired 25 34 17 15 9 59 32
Students 27 31 23 14 5 58 37
Difficulties paying bills
Most of the time 23 26 20 23 8 49 43
From time to time 23 34 21 15 7 57 36
Almost never/ Never 25 34 19 15 7 59 34
Consider belonging to
The working class 25 31 17 18 9 56 35
The lower middle class 20 33 22 17 8 53 39
The middle class 25 35 20 14 6 60 34
The upper middle class 27 33 21 13 6 60 34
The upper class 37 30 23 7 3 67 30
Subjective urbanisation
Rural village 24 33 20 15 8 57 35
Small/ mid size town 24 33 20 17 6 57 37
Large town 25 35 19 14 7 60 33
Base: All Respondents (N=26,578)
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18. General attentiveness towards QB20.3 To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements about gender
equality in sport and physical activity?
gender-based violence in sport Gender based violence in sport deserves more attention
(% - EU)
Don't know
Totally disagree
11
5
Three-quarters of Europeans agree that gender-based violence
in sport deserves more attention
Tend to Totally agree
A large majority of respondents (75%) consider that gender-based disagree 39
violence in sport deserves more attention39. This result includes 9
A national analysis shows that a majority of respondents agree At least one in five respondents totally agree with this statement
that gender-based violence in sport deserves more attention in all in 25 EU Member States, and more than half do so in Cyprus (57%),
27 EU Member States, with the highest levels in Cyprus (91%), Sweden and Malta (55% in both countries), and Finland (54%).
Portugal (88%) and Ireland (86%). At the other end of the scale,
this majority is narrower in Estonia (43% versus 27%), Latvia (45% Finally, over one in five respondents say they do not know in
vs. 27%) and Czechia (55%). Estonia (30%), Latvia (28%), Lithuania (26%), Slovakia (25%) and
Bulgaria (22%).
39
QB20.3. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following
statements about gender equality in sport and physical activity? Gender-
based violence in sport deserves more attention
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QB20.3 To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements about gender equality in sport and physical activity?
Gender based violence in sport deserves more attention
(% - EU)
Tend to disagree
Totally disagree
Total 'Disagree'
Tend to agree
Totally agree
Total 'Agree'
Don't know
EU27 39 36 9 5 11 75 14
Gender
Man 38 36 10 6 10 74 16
Woman 39 35 9 5 12 74 14
Age
15-24 43 34 11 4 8 77 15
25-39 40 36 11 5 8 76 16
40-54 39 36 9 6 10 75 15
55 + 37 35 9 5 14 72 14
Education (End of)
15- 37 35 8 5 15 72 13
16-19 36 38 9 5 12 74 14
20+ 42 34 9 5 10 76 14
Still studying 47 31 11 5 6 78 16
Socio-professional category
Self-employed 38 38 10 6 8 76 16
Managers 42 33 8 6 11 75 14
Other white collars 39 39 9 5 8 78 14
Manual workers 37 37 10 6 10 74 16
House persons 39 30 11 5 15 69 16
Unemployed 39 33 8 4 16 72 12
Retired 36 36 8 5 15 72 13
Students 47 31 11 5 6 78 16
Difficulties paying bills
Most of the time 38 33 10 6 13 71 16
From time to time 36 37 11 5 11 73 16
Almost never/ Never 40 35 9 5 11 75 14
Subjective urbanisation
Rural village 35 35 10 6 14 70 16
Small/ mid size town 39 36 10 5 10 75 15
Large town 42 36 8 5 9 78 13
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CONCLUSIONS
The COVID-19 pandemic had a limited impact on Europeans’ The COVID-19 pandemic does not seem to have had an impact on
involvement in physical activity. Indeed, on the positive side, half motivators and barriers to sport participation, as results are
of Europeans were physically active either at the same level as consistent with those found in 2017: Europeans still practice sport
they were before or even more frequently, or say that they plan to or physical activity mainly to improve their health, to improve
be more physically active in the future. On the negative side, a fitness and to relax, while the main reasons preventing them from
similar proportion either continued to be physically active but less practising sport more regularly keep being the lack of time, the lack
frequently or stopped being physically active during COVID-19. of motivation or interest and having a disability or illness.
However, despite the growing importance attached to the Only one in ten Europeans currently engage in voluntary work that
promotion of physical activity in EU Member States, rates of supports sporting activities (6%) or plan to do so in the next two
physical inactivity in the EU remain “alarmingly high”. Although the months (4%)
proportion of Europeans who never exercise or play sport
decreased slightly between 2017 and 2022, it has grown since Europeans who exercise, play sport or engage in other physical
2009, rising from 39% in 2009 to 42% in 2013, 46% in 2017 and activity are not particularly aware of the impact that sport or
45% in 2022. physical activity can have on the environment, and they are divided
on this matter. Slightly more than half do not pay attention to the
Nevertheless, Europeans are now more likely to engage in other environmental impact of sport, whereas a similar proportion do. In
physical activities than in 2017, and the shares of respondents addition, nearly half of those respondents consider that their
who had done no vigorous or moderate physical activity in the sports organisation is not currently taking any actions to promote
previous week have lost eight and seven percentage points sustainability.
respectively since 2017. Moreover, Europeans tend to spend a
shorter time sitting than in 2017. Such findings might indicate that When it comes to gender equality issues, more than half of
the message about the importance of sport and physical activity Europeans who are members of a club say their club is actively
for an individual's health and wellbeing is slowly beginning to reach putting in place measures to support gender equality; and an even
some segments of the EU population, and to have an impact on larger majority would know who to speak to internally if they
behaviour. encountered gender discrimination in their club.
However, the socio-demographic variations highlighted in the Finally, around three-quarters of Europeans agree not only that
2017 report still exist. Indeed, women are far less active than their female role models in sport are inspiring more women and girls to
male counterparts. Levels of participation in sport and other follow their example, but also that gender-based violence in sport
physical activity tend to decrease with age. In addition, deserves more attention. Meanwhile, nearly six in ten respondents
respondents with lower levels of education and those who find female sport as interesting as male sport in the media. Socio-
experience more financial difficulties are the least likely to engage demographic differences between men and women on these
in sport or other physical activity. issues are not significant.
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Technical Specifications
Between the 19th of April and 16th of May 2022, Kantar carried out In each of the selected sampling points, a starting address was
wave 97.3 of the EUROBAROMETER survey, at the request of the drawn, at random. Further addresses (every Nth address) were
European Commission, Directorate-General for Education, Youth, selected by standard "random route" procedures, from the initial
Sport and Culture (DG EAC), “Sport” Unit. address. In each household, the respondent was drawn, at random
(following the "closest birthday rule"). If no one answered the
Wave 97.3 covers the population of the respective nationalities of interviewer in a household, or if the respondent selected was not
the European Union Member States, resident in each of the 27 available (not present or busy), the interviewer revisited the same
Member States and aged 15 years and over. household up to three additional times (four contact attempts in
total). Interviewers never indicate that the survey is conducted on
The basic sample design applied in all countries and territories is a behalf of the European Commission beforehand; they may give this
multi-stage, random (probability) one. In each country, a number of information once the survey is completed, upon request.
sampling points were drawn with probability proportional to
population size (for a total coverage of the country) and to The recruitment phase was slightly different in the Netherlands,
population density. Finland, and Sweden. In these countries, a sample of addresses
within each areal sampling point (1km2 grid) were selected from
In order to do so, the sampling points were drawn systematically the address or population register (in Finland, selection is not done
from each of the "administrative regional units", after stratification in all sample points, but in some where response rates are expected
by individual unit and type of area. They thus represent the whole to improve). The selection of addresses was done in a random
territory of the countries surveyed according to the EUROSTAT manner. Households were then contacted by telephone and
NUTS II (or equivalent) and according to the distribution of the recruited to take part in the survey. In the Netherlands, a dual frame
resident population of the respective nationalities in terms of RDD sample (mobile and landline numbers) are used. The selection
metropolitan, urban and rural areas40. of numbers on both frames is done in a random manner with each
number getting an equal probability of selection. Unlike Sweden
and Finland, the sample is un-clustered.
40
Urban Rural classification based on DEGURBA
(https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/degree-of-urbanisation/background)
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* It should be noted that the total percentage shown in this table may exceed 100% due to rounding.
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COUNTRIES
N° OF CAPI N° OF CAWI TOTAL N° Recruitment for online interviews
INTERVIEWS INTERVIEWS INTERVIEWS
BE Belgium 775 326 1,101
The online design in each country differed based on what was
BG Bulgaria 1,039 1,039
CZ Czechia 630 443 1,073 feasible within the fieldwork period. Where feasible, the online
DK Denmark 594 411 1,005 sample was based on a probabilistic sample design. Those
DE Germany 1,514 1,514
recruited to the online survey were recruited through a single
EE Estonia 880 150 1,030
IE Ireland 1,013 1,013 mobile frame or dual frame Random Digit Dialling (RDD) design. In
EL Greece 1,014 1,014 this way the entire phone owning population in each country had a
ES Spain 1,006 1,006 non-zero chance of being sampled. The choice of whether to use a
FR France 1,012 1,012
HR Croatia 1,008 1,008
single mobile frame or dual frame (mobile and landline) was
IT Italy 1,020 1,020 dependent on the countries’ landline infrastructure. Where the
CY Rep. Of Cyprus 503 503 landline infrastructure is suitably advanced to support a significant
LV Latvia 799 214 1,013
LT Lithuania 1,003 1,003
minority of residential households with landline phones a dual
LU Luxembourg 502 502 frame design is employed. The mix of mobile and landline sample
HU Hungary 1,025 1,025 is designed to maximise the representation of the responding
MT Malta 494 10 504
sample. The RDD sample for both the mobile and landline sample
NL Netherlands 691 342 1,033
AT Austria 1,005 1,005 is drawn from the country’s telephone numbering plan. The
PL Poland 1,013 1,013 landline sample frame is stratified by NUTS3 regions based on
PT Portugal 1,006 1,006
RO Romania 1,057 1,057
their prefix and the mobile by operator before a systematic
SI Slovenia 593 430 1,023 random sample of numbers is generated proportional in size to the
SK Slovakia 1,011 1,011 total generatable numbers in each stratum. Respondents were
FI Finland 491 513 1,004
SE Sweden 402 641 1043
recruited using this sample design in Belgium, Czechia, Latvia,
TOTAL EU27 23,100 3,480 26,580
Lithuania, Malta and Slovenia.
CAPI : Computer-Assisted Personal interviewing
CAWI : Computer-Assisted Web interviewing In Finland, Denmark, and Sweden, RDD samples were not used,
instead the telephone sample was drawn from the country
Consequences of the coronavirus pandemic on fieldwork telephone directory. In these three countries the telephone
Face-to-face interviewing directories offer comprehensive coverage of the phone owning
population, storing both landline and mobile phone numbers for
Where feasible, interviews were conducted face to face in people's each individual.
homes or on their doorstep and in the appropriate national
language. In all countries and territories where face-to-face In the Netherlands, two survey modes were used to collect
interviewing was not feasible CAWI (Computer-Assisted Web responses, face to face and online. For the online mode, the
Interviewing) was used. respondents were initially recruited to take part through an offline
mode of recruitment via a probability-based dual frame over-
For face-to-face all interviews conducted, hygiene and physical lapping RDD sample design. In this way the entire phone owning
distancing measures were respected at all times in line with population in the Netherlands had a non-zero chance of being
government regulations, and whenever possible, interviews were sampled. The mix of mobile and landline sample is designed to
conducted outside homes, on doorsteps, in order to stay outside maximise the representation of the responding sample. The RDD
and maintain social distance. sample for both the mobile and landline sample is drawn from the
Face-to-face and online interviewing country’s telephone numbering plan. The landline sample frame is
stratified by NUTS3 regions based on their prefix and the mobile
In Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Latvia, Malta, the by operator before a systematic random sample of numbers is
Netherlands, Slovenia, Finland and Sweden, face-to-face generated proportional in size to the total generatable numbers in
interviewing was feasible, but it was not possible to reach the each stratum.
target number of face-to-face interviews within the fieldwork
period. Due to the long lasting impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic,
many potential respondents are still reluctant to open their homes
to interviewers, even if they respect hygiene rules and physical
distancing, such as wearing masks and using hydroalcoholic gel.
Therefore, to hit the target number of interviews within the
fieldwork period, additional interviews were conducted online with
Computer-Assisted Web Interviewing (CAWI) technique.
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Response rates
various sample sizes are in rows various observed results are in columns
94