Sports participation

In the autumn of 2024, nearly 9 out of 10 residents of the Flemish Region aged 18 and over indicated that they participated in sports at least once a year (89%). That share has remained stable since 2021. Sports are broadly defined here. This also includes walking and cycling.

Comparable figures on sports participation for the period before 2021 are not available.

Not everyone who exercises does so with the same frequency. In 2024, 64% exercised at least weekly, 24% (almost) daily.

The most practiced sports at the end of 2024 were walking and cycling. Of the people who do sports at least once a year, 87% said they walk. 64% said they cycle.

In 2024, young people indicated that they practiced sports more often than older age groups. Of the 65+ age group, 77% do sports at least once a year, in the younger age groups this is more than 90%, with the highest share (96%) in the 18 to 34 age group. Sports participation was also higher among the highly educated (95%) than among the low-educated (77%).