The HFA’s new U.S. Health & Fitness Consumer Report found that 81 million Americans belong to a gym, studio or other fitness facility, good for 26.1% of the population
Americans continue to engage with fitness more than ever before, according to the Health & Fitness Association’s newest consumer report.
Per the report, memberships hit an all-time high in 2025, with 81 million Americans belonging to a gym, studio or other fitness facility — a penetration rate of 26.1%, up from the prior year’s then-record total of 25%.
The number of Americans who used a fitness facility last year climbed to an impressive 100 million when taking into account non-members who visited via day passes, guest visits and other flexible options.
Fitness facility attendance also hit a record level, with an estimated 7 billion total visits in 2025, passing the pre-pandemic peak in 2019. Growth in visits and memberships was seen across all generations, income brackets and genders.
Engagement numbers are surging as well. The number of gym-goers who didn’t use their membership in 2025 fell to an all-time low, dropping from around 10% to 4.6%.
The report is based on HFA’s long-running national tracking study that surveys approximately 18,000 US residents ages six and older annually.
“What this data makes clear is that fitness facilities can no longer be considered a niche amenity but part of the basic infrastructure that Americans rely on to manage their health, stress, and sense of community,” said HFA vice president of research Anton Severin. “Even in an uncertain economy, people keep going to the gym because they see real value in what these spaces provide,” he added.
Gen Z Surges but Boomers Love the Gym, Too
Keeping up with the fitness and wellness lifestyle shift among younger demographics, Gen Z adults ages 18–24 had the highest membership penetration of any age group at 35.5%. That said, adults 65 and older were the fastest-growing age group, growing 8.6% year-over-year.
It’s likely a good share of those memberships belong to high-value, low-price (HVLP) gyms like Crunch, Planet Fitness, PureGym and EoS Fitness. While consumer spending data reflects an across-the-board increase in fitness and wellness spending, according to private equity and investment banking leaders, HVLPs are benefitting the most, as members see a budget-friendly price that includes a growing number of amenities.
Strength Training, Pickleball Lead the Way
How members use those memberships is also changing, according to HFA. Free weight usage — dumbbells, barbells and kettlebells — grew faster than any other equipment category since 2021.
Other fitness modalities are seeing changes as well. Pickleball is unsurprisingly on the rise, with a 21.3% boost from 2024 to 7.6 million members, and nearly two-thirds saying they play weekly.
Low-impact workouts are continuing their explosive growth, as yoga remained the most widely practiced activity at 17.7 million people, while Pilates and Tai Chi continued climbing steadily.
To download the HFA’s 2026 U.S. Health & Fitness Consumer Report: Headline Trends in full, click here.
