Gym Membership Statistics You Should Know in 2026

In this article, we'll explore essential gym statistics you should know in 2026, including gym membership growth, member retention rates, and digital trends shaping the fitness industry, to help you make informed decisions that drive your gym's growth.

Gym Membership Growth and Participation Trends in 2026

As health remains a top priority for many people, gym memberships are expected to rise in 2026 and beyond. Here are some key gym membership growth and participation statistics:

• Market analysts expect the global fitness and health club market to exceed $125 billion by 2030, up from $78 billion in 2021, reflecting steady growth in gym memberships.
• In 2024, about one in four Americans held a gym, studio, or fitness club membership, a rate expected to spike in the coming years.
• The COVID-19 pandemic forced many gyms and fitness centers to close temporarily or permanently, resulting in a sharp decline in memberships. However, post-pandemic, many gyms have rebounded, with U.S. gym memberships growing from 64.2 million in 2019 to 77 million in 2024 — a number expected to rise steadily.

Member Retention and Churn Statistics Gyms Can’t Ignore

Membership retention is crucial to keeping your gym profitable and reducing client acquisition costs. Take a look at these average retention and churn statistics to see how your gym compares to others in the fitness industry:

• About 40–65% of new gym members quit within six months, according to a study published in the Journal of Sports Science & Medicine (JSSM).
• Boutique gyms tend to have better retention rates than multipurpose and fitness-only clubs, according to the same JSSM study.
• Female gym-goers are more likely to stop visiting the gym, as more than half of women globally eventually decrease or stop exercising altogether.

So, what influences cancellations? According to a YouGov survey, here are gym stats providing insights into why some members cancel:

• About 41% of American gym-goers cancel their memberships due to cost, while 23% cite time constraints.
• One in four gym members cancel their memberships due to changes in personal circumstances.
• About one out of five gym-goers end their membership due to relocation or because they feel they can achieve their fitness goals on their own.
• Respondents from the same survey also cited seeking better options, inconvenient gym hours, and failing to achieve desired results as reasons for canceling their memberships.

Some key performance indicators (KPIs) you should track to evaluate your gym's performance include membership retention rate, member lifetime value, and attendance frequency. If you find out that your retention rates are below the industry standard, check out our article on expert gym member retention strategies to discover how to keep members coming back.

Gym Membership Demographics: Who Is Joining in 2026

Understanding who your members are can help you serve them better and attract new members. With a better member understanding, you can tailor your programs, amenities, and marketing to meet the needs of the audiences most likely to join.

That said, here are key gym membership demographic stats you need to know to stay ahead of the curve:

• Age: According to a YouGov survey, adults aged 25–34 make up 27% of gym members.
• Gender: Men account for roughly 60% of gym members, while women make up the remaining 40%, according to the same YouGov survey.
• Income: About 55% of gym members in the U.S. have an annual household income of $75,000 or more.

So, how are these demographic statistics influencing gym participation? Here are statistics showing how consumer behavior varies across different demographics:

• Young adults aged 18–29 make up the majority of boutique gym members (40%).
• Traditional health clubs and gyms are the top facility type for Gen Z members (35%).
• Men prefer traditional gyms that offer a variety of activities, equipment, and amenities, while women favor boutique fitness studios.

Digital and Hybrid Fitness Usage Statistics

The pandemic made it impossible for people to visit gyms in person, leading to a rise in digital and home fitness. While the pandemic ended, the digital fitness trend didn't. Instead, hybrid fitness, which blends in-person workouts with virtual workouts, became the new norm.

That's why, as a gym operator or owner, it's important to understand digital fitness trends. Here are key digital and hybrid fitness stats you need to know:

• 37% of people use a mobile fitness app or tracking device to monitor their physical activity.
• Nearly six in ten smartphone users have at least one fitness app, and 42% have downloaded five or more.

The rise in the popularity of virtual fitness solutions has reshaped gym-goers' expectations, with many preferring omnifitness centers and hybrid options.

Consider offering hybrid memberships that incorporate digital fitness solutions, such as live-streamed classes and on-demand workouts, alongside in-person classes to attract and retain gym members who want greater flexibility.

Engagement and Class Participation Statistics

Engaging gym members is crucial to boosting retention. When members feel engaged, they're more likely to visit the gym frequently and feel a sense of connection and belonging, reducing costly member churn. Here are key engagement stats you need to know to enhance customer satisfaction:

• ACE Certified Group Fitness Instructors taught about 1.2 million classes from July 2024 to June 2025, highlighting strong demand for group fitness classes.
• 85% of gym members who take group classes visit the gym twice per week, while 43% visit the gym four times per week.
• 81% of Gen Z gym-goers take part in group fitness classes, according to a Les Mills report.

While gym-goers who take group fitness classes are more likely to renew their gym memberships and visit the gym frequently, here are stats on fitness activities that keep members walking through the gym door:

• Strength training is one of the most common fitness goals, with 43% of people citing increasing general strength as their top goal.
• Among Gen Z group workout participants, half engage in strength training, 35% take stretch or mobility classes, and 33% practice yoga, according to the Les Mills report.
• Weight lifting is the most popular workout activity, followed by high intensity interval training (HIIT), running, and cycling, based on average monthly Google search volume.

Gym-goers who attend two or more classes per week are 50% more likely to remain engaged beyond one year, demonstrating that class participation boosts engagement. That's why you need to diversify offerings and keep up with 2026 fitness trends to improve member retention and lifetime value.

Revenue, Pricing, and Membership Model Statistics

Understanding pricing and revenue trends is essential to driving gym growth and profitability in 2026. Bearing that in mind, here are key revenue and pricing gym stats worth knowing:

• The average cost of a gym membership in the U.S. is $65. However, fees vary widely based on location, amenities, and demand.
• Membership costs at budget gyms can start from as low as $10 monthly, while premium clubs may charge up to $100. However, luxury elite clubs may charge even higher rates.
• Each gym member contributes an average of $37–$75 in monthly revenue.

Many gyms also offer annual membership plans. If you want to lower churn and boost member lifetime value, consider doing the same. Additionally, beyond in-person classes, consider providing digital resources, such as on-demand workouts and virtual coaching, to diversify your revenue streams and keep members engaged even when they can't visit the gym in person.

What High-Performing Gyms Do Differently (by the Numbers)

It's no secret some gyms perform better than others, but what are they doing different? Here are common strategies that high-performing gyms use to boost retention, engagement, and profitability:

• Personalized onboarding: High-performing gyms offer personalized onboarding, as 40% of members find onboarding support beneficial.
• Community building: About 5% of people cancel their gym memberships after their friends stop going. Gyms that host group events or fitness challenges typically have lower cancellation rates because they provide a sense of community.
• Personalized experiences: About seven in ten people expect companies to deliver personalized experiences. High-performing gyms offer customized experiences, such as personal training classes tailored to their members' unique needs.

As a gym operator, some strategies you can implement to compete favorably with high-performing gyms include:

• Developing onboarding journeys that introduce new members to fitness instructors, classes, and events to make them feel welcomed from the first day
• Introducing a loyalty program to reward members, particularly active ones who achieve specific milestones
• Providing additional perks, such as nutrition webinars, fitness-tracking tools, or personal training, to enhance the gym experience

Using Gym Statistics to Plan for Growth in 2026 and Beyond

These gym statistics provide valuable insights into the state of the fitness industry. Using technology, you can turn this data into actionable insights to improve retention, engagement, and profitability.

That's where Fitness On Demand comes in. Our mobile app lets gym members access over 1,800 premium on-demand classes, so they can exercise from wherever they are. The app also allows gym operators to send members reminders and updates, helping them to stay engaged.

Fitness On Demand digital signage can also help you showcase content that resonates with your audience and grabs attention. Combined, these solutions allow you to build personalized offerings, engage diverse audiences, and form a loyal fitness community.

Schedule a demo with one of our consultants to learn more about how our solutions can drive your gym's growth.