More people across Europe are exercising regularly than they did four years ago, but participation still varies sharply by age, income, education and country. A new European Commission Eurobarometer survey also highlights the role of neighbourhood design, affordability and health in determining who can take part in sport and physical activity.
The findings provide a detailed snapshot of Europe’s changing exercise habits. While many respondents associate physical activity with better physical and mental wellbeing, a substantial minority remain inactive, with time, motivation, health problems and cost among the main obstacles.
More Europeans are taking part in sport
The survey questioned 26,508 people from a range of social and demographic backgrounds. Almost half said they exercise or play sport every day or several times a week. At the same time, 39% said they never exercise or play sport, an improvement from 45% in the 2022 survey.
Participation differs considerably between countries. Finland and Denmark reported the highest proportions of daily exercise, at 21% and 20% respectively. In both countries, a further 59% said they exercised several times a week.
By contrast, inactivity was most common in Portugal, where 68% of respondents said they never exercised or played sport. Greece and Romania followed, each recording a 66% figure.
These differences do not necessarily reflect individual motivation alone. Access to facilities, local transport, working patterns, income and the design of public spaces can all influence whether people have realistic opportunities to be active.
Income and education shape participation
The survey found a strong relationship between socioeconomic circumstances and exercise. Among people who continued their education until at least the age of 20, 59% exercised or played sport several times a week. That compares with 23% among those who left education at 15 or younger.
Financial pressure also appears to affect participation. Respondents who found it most difficult to pay their bills were twice as likely to say they never exercised as those who rarely or never experienced financial difficulty: 54% compared with 26%.
Roxana Mînzatu, the European Commission’s Executive Vice-President for Social Rights and Skills, Quality Jobs and Preparedness, said access to affordable sport and safe places to exercise should be available close to where people live. She specifically pointed to children from households unable to afford club fees, older people and people with disabilities.
The findings are relevant to wider EU policy discussions about social inclusion, public health and urban planning. Sport is often presented as a personal choice, but the survey suggests that the ability to participate is also influenced by household resources and local infrastructure.
Main barriers to being more active
Among respondents who wanted to exercise more, lack of time was the most frequently reported barrier, cited by 37%. Other reasons included:
- Lack of motivation or interest: 26%
- Health problems or injury: 15%
- Cost: 12%
The obstacles vary across age groups. Younger and middle-aged adults were more likely to identify a lack of time, while health problems or injury was the leading barrier among the oldest respondents.
A significant age divide remains
Age is another major factor in participation. Nearly three-quarters of people aged 15 to 24 said they exercised or played sport at least several times a week. Among respondents aged 75 and over, the equivalent figure was just 25%.
The gap has implications for healthy ageing and social participation. Regular physical activity can support mobility, independence and mental wellbeing, but older people may need activities adapted to their health, mobility and confidence levels. Safe public spaces and accessible local facilities can therefore be as important as formal sports clubs.
Across the population, the survey found broad recognition of the benefits of exercise. Nearly all respondents agreed that being active contributes to better mental health. Most also believed that sport and physical activity can strengthen communities and improve the wellbeing of marginalised groups.
Active travel is becoming more common
The Eurobarometer also examined physical activity outside organised sport, including commuting and gardening. Active commuting recorded the largest increase among the categories surveyed, rising from 24% in 2022 to 37%.
Walking was also widely reported. Some 72% of respondents said they walked for at least 10 minutes at a time, a notable increase compared with the 16% reported in 2022.
However, not everyone considers their local area suitable for walking or cycling. This may limit the practical opportunities for active travel, particularly for people who do not have access to sports clubs, gyms or private transport.
For policymakers, the results point towards a combination of measures rather than a single solution. These could include affordable community sport, accessible facilities, safer walking and cycling routes, and support for people whose health or finances make participation more difficult.
What the findings mean for European public health
The survey is not a new EU law or binding regulation. It is evidence gathered through a European Commission public-opinion survey, intended to inform understanding of sport and physical activity across member states.
Its central message is that overall participation is improving, but progress is uneven. Countries with high levels of regular exercise may offer lessons about local facilities and active transport, while lower-participation areas face challenges linked to affordability, infrastructure and social inequality.
For Ireland and other EU member states, the findings underline the importance of considering physical activity in health, education, transport and local-government planning. The results may also support efforts to make community sport more inclusive, particularly for older people, people with disabilities and households under financial pressure.
Conclusion
The latest findings show that Europeans are exercising more, but access to activity remains unequal. Country, age, education, income, health and the quality of local walking and cycling infrastructure all affect participation. The clearest takeaway for European public health policy is that encouraging exercise requires more than individual motivation: affordable facilities and safe places to be active must be available close to home.
