Active Lives Survey

The Sport England Active Lives Surveys measure the activity levels of people across England.

There are two surveys: Active Lives Adult, which is published twice a year, and the world-leading Active Lives Children and Young People, which is published annually.

Both give a unique and comprehensive view of how people are getting active.

The Active Lives Adult Survey breaks down the activity levels across the country, down to Unitary Authority level, and also provides data on the types of activity people take part in. The survey provides information on Volunteering levels, and information on how sport and physical activity also impacts on mental wellbeing and loneliness.

Active Lives Adults November 2018-19 - National Headlines

• Activity levels were on the rise and inactivity was falling before the coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak. Figures show 28.6 million adults were active – i.e. doing at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity a week. This accounts for 63.3% of the nation's population and is up 404,600 people on the previous 12 months.
• The results also show there were 159,500 fewer inactive people - those not doing at least 30 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity a week - than the previous 12 months.
• The report shows the increase in activity is being driven by rises in the numbers of women, adults aged 55+ and disabled people or people with long-term health conditions being active.
• Inequalities linked to ethnicity and affluence do remain, with those from ethnic backgrounds and people in lower socio-economic groups less likely to be active.
• 13.4% of adults (6m adults) are volunteering in sport and physical activity. This is a decrease of 0.5% (197,700 adults) compared to 12 months previous. Decreases have been driven by drops for men and those aged 16-24.

West of England Headlines

• Wesport have seen a very slight decline in the number of active people in the last 12 months from 68.8% to 68.4%, Approx 3,300 people. Which is balanced by a similar decrease in those who are inactive. But there is no significant change.
• Bristol and South Gloucestershire have had slight increases to the number who are active, up by approx. 4,000 people.
• BANEs have seen a ‘significant decrease’ in those who are fairly active from 11.7% to 7.2%, approx. 7,000 people. This drop has led to an increase in those inactive over the past 12 months.
• Although England have seen a significant decrease in volunteering, Wesport has seen an increase, from 13.1% to 14.3%, approx. 12,000 more people volunteering at least twice in the last 12 months

A table for the latest data can be found here