The U.S. trails global peers in daily steps, with no state hitting the newly recommended 7,000-step mark. And while most states are close to the 7K goal, younger Americans appear to be walking less than older ones
A new study from the University of Sydney has upended the long-standing “10,000 steps a day” rule, showing that 7,000 steps is enough to deliver strong health benefits. But according to data from WeWard in its State of Walking Report, Americans still aren’t hitting the mark.
The gamified walking app, backed by Venus Williams, analyzed the activity of 7.7 million users, including 1.3 million Americans, between January and June 2025 and found that no state averaged 7,000 steps a day.
New York topped the state rankings with an average of 6,947 daily steps, followed by California, Oregon, Washington and Wisconsin. Even so, less than half of residents in any state met the 7,000-step goal. In the most active states, participation neared 40%, but in the lowest-ranking states it slipped under 30%.
As WeWard points out, urban design and transportation play a role, with car-centric states often seeing lower numbers. Public transit, more common in places like New York and California, appears to help drive up daily step counts. Climate and lifestyle patterns also contribute, with some regions favoring outdoor activity more consistently throughout the year.
However, when compared to other countries, the U.S. ranked second to last in daily step count, ahead of only Canada. Japan topped the list at more than 9,000 steps a day, with Spain and Italy also outpacing American averages.
The report also uncovered a generational twist: younger adults between 16-24 years old walked less than their older counterparts, with those aged 45-54 years old logging roughly 15% more steps. The finding undercuts the assumption that Gen Z is the most active group, suggesting midlife adults are setting the pace when it comes to getting in their steps.
Additionally, WeWard found that men are taking nearly 30% more steps than women this year, with an average of 8,745 each day.
“We’re proud to share this first-of-its-kind report to reveal important truths about the state of physical activity,” WeWard co-founder and CEO Yves Benchimol said. “While there were notable walking disparities between groups, we think narrowing these gaps is entirely feasible, as we’ve seen firsthand how digital tools can make a real difference in behavior change at the population level.”
“At WeWard, we believe that walking is more than just a way to get around: it’s beneficial to our health, the environment and society,” WeWard co-founder and chief data officer Tanguy de La Villegeorges said. “Through this report, our goal is to raise awareness about the prevalence of sedentary habits, which is a major challenge of our time and a driving force of our mission.”
WeWard’s findings show just how much untapped potential there is in simply getting people moving. Beyond step counts and state rankings, communities and companies are starting to reimagine how to make walking more social and accessible.
And while run clubs are gaining popularity, a quieter but promising trend is emerging: walking clubs, which may also help breathe new life into shopping malls. Humana and Simon recently launched the Humana Walking Club across 21 Simon centers, offering free monthly walks, fun challenges and health-focused activities before stores open in climate-controlled spaces.
