clubs in 10 markets in the Middle East
and North Africa. These 10 markets
collectively generate roughly $2.3
billion in industry revenue.
2019
By Melissa Rodriguez
GLOBAL REPORT:
KEY FINDINGS
Record high 183 million members in over 65 global markets.
I
n 2018, health club
membership topped 183
million users around the
globe. Industry revenue
totaled an estimated $94
billion in 2018, and the club
count exceeded 210,000
facilities. Leading markets
continued to show growth
in the Americas & Europe.
The Americas
In total, the industry across North
America, including the U.S. and
Canada, attracted 68.6 million
members at more than 46,000
club sites last year. Revenue,
membership, and the total number
of clubs all increased in the U.S. from
2017 to 2018. Revenue grew from $30
billion in 2017 to $32.3 billion in 2018,
while membership increased from
60.9 million to 62.5 million.
The U.S. club count rose from 38,477
to 39,570 facilities. The membership
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penetration rate in the U.S. was
20.8% in 2018, while Canada’s was
lower at 16.7%. Roughly 6.1 million
Canadians belonged to one of
approximately 6,500 fitness facilities
in the country.
The Latin American health club
market is robust with potential for
growth. Based on data gathered
in The IHRSA Latin American Report
(Second Edition), Brazil’s 34,000
health clubs rank the country
second only to the U.S. among
global fitness markets. More
than 9 million Brazilians belong
to a health club. With more than
12,000 facilities, Mexico ranks
second in Latin America and third
worldwide in terms of number of
clubs. Opportunities for growth
are abundant in Latin America as
member penetration rates remain
low across 18 countries.
billion in revenue at 63,955 facilities.
The UK and Germany continue to
lead all markets in Europe. In the
UK, according to research by the
Leisure Database Company, 9.9
million members belong to one of
the nation’s 7,038 health clubs and
studios. Germany attracts more
than 11 million members at 9,343
locations and generates $6.3 billion
in annual revenue.
According to The European Health
& Fitness Market Report, Europe
has strong prospects for growth
consider¬ing not only the mature,
solid markets in Western Europe,
but also the potential in Eastern
European markets. While the overall
penetration rate in Europe was 7.8%
in 2018, Turkey and the Ukraine had
the lowest penetration rates, at 2.6%
and 2.9%, respectively.
Europe Middle East & North
Africa
Roughly 64.3 million Europeans
belonged to a health club or
studio in 2018 as the industry
generated an estimated $32.1 Based on findings gathered by The
FACTS Academy, industry experts
based in Egypt, approximately 3.8
million members utilize 5,800 health
WHAT’S NEW IN FITNESS - WINTER 2019
Saudi Arabia leads all markets
in this region in revenue with
approximately $940 million at 1,250
health clubs, which attract more
than 1.2 million members. In terms
of club count, Egypt leads all MENA
markets with 1,680 facilities.
Despite conflicts in several MENA
countries, there is a demand for
fitness as consumers seek to exercise
and reap the benefits of an active
lifestyle. Successful international
fitness operators, including Fitness
First, Gold’s Gym, and World’s Gym,
have expanded into the Middle
East. Fitness Time, based in Saudi
Arabia, has more than 160 facilities
in the Middle East, highlighting the
opportunity in this region.
The outlook of the health club
industry is bright and promising.
As leading economies continue to
improve, the industry is expected to
thrive in the global market¬place,
serving consumers with a variety
of health and fitness needs.
Offering access to fitness amenities,
instructors, trainers, and coaches,
club operators are well-positioned to
lead a healthier world.
SPECIAL REPORT EXTRACT:
The IHRSA Greater ‘China’ Health
Club Report.
The health club market in China is
amongst the largest in the world. On
Mainland China, combined revenue
from the top 10 cities ranks fourth
among all global markets at $3.9
billion in annual revenue (USD), while
the number of club members ranks
ninth in the world at 4.5 million.
Opportunities remain for the health
club industry in China as the market
has one of the lowest penetration
rates among developed countries.
Only 2.98% of Greater China
belongs to a health club.
Although the concept of modern
fitness clubs first appeared in China
over 3 decades ago, large-scaled
marketization only began after the
year 2000. Prior to that, average
Chinese consumers had neither
strong awareness nor sufficient
disposable income for fitness club
membership, and fitness clubs were
mostly designed as small gyms
for athletes. After over 15 years of
evolution, the fitness club market
in China has become diversified
with large chains, small studios, and
new business models (such as O2O)
coexisting dynamically to address
consumers’ various needs.
China’s rapid development in the
past three decades has brought
tremendous improvement to living
standards, but also undesirable
health issues such as chronic fatigue
and sleep disorder. Meanwhile, the
national government has been
actively increasing public
awareness of sports participation
and personal fitness by
promulgating the Outline of
Nationwide Physical Fitness Program
in 2016. As a result, domestic
awareness of fitness has been
significantly improved, especially in
the past five years, and the fitness
culture has become a symbol of a
modern lifestyle in Chin. The current
penetration rate of clubs in China is
estimated at 2.98% in top 10 cities.
SPECIAL REPORT EXTRACT:
The IHRSA Greater ‘Indian’ Health
Club Report.
Home to a global economic power,
the health club market in India
is among the largest in the Asia-
Pacific region. India ranks fifth in
market size among Asia-Pacific
health club markets at $821 million
in annual revenue (USD). The
number of health club locations
WHAT’S NEW IN FITNESS - WINTER 2019
ranks third in the region at 3,813, with
the country’s 2 million members fifth
among observed markets.
The fitness club market in India is
highly fragmented. Chained top-10
organised players comprise only
15-20% of the overall market in terms
of number of clubs. Independent
players that are mostly low-end
“mom-and-pop” shops make up
the rest of the market. Even with
considerable growth over the past
decade, the fitness club market
in India is still relatively immature
compared to other countries in the
Asia-Pacific region.
Opportunities remain for the health
club industry in India as the country
has the lowest member penetration
rate in the Asia-Pacific region. Only
0.15% of the Indian population
between the ages of 15 and 64
belongs to a health club. In efforts
to grow the industry in India, the
United Health & Fitness Forum (UHFF)
was formed in 2016. Led by the top
club operators in India, UHFF and
its members organize events such
as training workshops, boot camps,
walkathons, and group exercise
classes, along with other health and
fitness initiatives.
Please note: As data sources for
international markets increase
yearly, so does the collective
understanding for each market
represented in the IHRSA Global
Report. Due to the lack of primary
research for international markets,
industry analysis is recommended
for a multi-year time-span.
Visit ihrsa.org/publications to access
any of the IHRSA resources cited in
this article.
ABOUT IHRSA:
Founded in 1981, IHRSA – International
Health, Racquet & Sportsclub
Association – is the industry’s global
trade association, representing more
than 10,000 health and fitness facilities
and suppliers worldwide. Locate an
IHRSA club at www.healthclubs.com.
To learn how IHRSA can help your
business thrive, visit www.ihrsa.org. John
Holsinger, IHRSA’s Director, Asia Pacific,
can be contacted at [email protected] or
on mobile 0437 393 369.
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