Overview
The State of Global Health and Physical Activity, SGHPA 25'
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Data and insights are constantly changing and being processed. Latest update: November 07, 2025. Final Report available on May 01, 2026.
SHORTCUTS
GLOBAL HEALTH SNAPSHOT
SUMMARIes
1
~31% of adults (≈ 1.8 billion) and 80% of adolescents do not meet WHO physical activity guidelines.
Physical inactivity remains one of the leading preventable drivers of chronic disease, disability, and early mortality worldwide. Increasing activity levels across populations is essential for reducing the global burden of noncommunicable diseases. In-depth: Physical inactivity disproportionately affects lower-income communities and women, highlighting the need for equitable access to safe environments, active transport, and culturally relevant movement opportunities.
Key Statistic: WHO Physical Inactivity Factsheet 2024
2
Overweight and Obesity (Adults)
Over 43% of adults globally are overweight and 16% are obese.
Rising obesity rates reflect a growing mismatch between modern environments, dietary patterns, and metabolic health. Integrated strategies involving nutrition, physical activity, and policy reform are required. In-depth: Obesity prevalence is increasing fastest in regions undergoing rapid urbanization and economic transition, signaling the influence of food systems and built environments on population health.
Key Statistic: WHO Obesity & Overweight Factsheet 2024
3
Overweight and Obesity (Children and Adolescents)
~35 million children under 5 and more than 390 million aged 5–19 are overweight or obese.
Early obesity increases lifelong risk for cardiometabolic disease, reduced mobility, and poorer mental health. Supporting movement and balanced nutrition during childhood is a critical societal investment. In-depth: Childhood obesity is strongly shaped by early-life environments, including digital exposure, food marketing, family habits, and school policies, making prevention a multi-sector responsibility.
Key Statistic: WHO Obesity & Overweight Factsheet 2024
4
People Engaging in Sport or Exercise Weekly
38% of Europeans exercise or play sport weekly. Global estimates suggest ~55% of adults participate in some form of sport or structured exercise at least once per week (range 20–80% by country).
Participation in sport and structured exercise is improving, yet significant regional and socioeconomic disparities remain. Ensuring equitable access to facilities and community programs is key to expanding movement opportunities. In-depth: Cultural norms and time availability are major determinants of participation, meaning effective interventions must address work-life balance, gender norms, and safe public spaces.
Key Statistic: Eurobarometer Sport and Physical Activity Report
5
Muscle-Strengthening Activity (Adults)
~22.8% of adults globally meet WHO guidelines for muscle-strengthening exercise (≥ 2 days/week).
Muscle-strengthening activity is an underutilized pillar of global health. Regular resistance training improves metabolic health, reduces injury risk, maintains mobility, and supports healthy aging. In-depth: MSE participation is lowest in lower-income populations and among women, indicating structural barriers such as lack of equipment access, limited education on safe training, and cultural misconceptions about strength training.
Key Statistic: Journal of Exercise Science & Fitness, Vol. 22, Issue 4, 2024
6
Excessive Screen Time (Adolescents)
Over 90% of U.S. adolescents (ages 12–17) spend 2+ hours per day on recreational screen use, with half exceeding 4 hours.
Rising screen time displaces physical activity, sleep, and in-person social interaction, contributing to global inactivity and mental health challenges among youth. In-depth: Digital engagement is shaping developmental patterns, emotional regulation, and attention capacity, calling for coordinated approaches that involve families, schools, platforms, and public health systems.
Key Statistic: National Center for Health Statistics 2024
7
Physical Education Access (Schools)
Two-thirds of secondary and more than half of primary students do not receive required weekly PE. Only 58% of countries make PE compulsory for girls. One in three students with disabilities still lacks access. Fewer than half of primary teachers are PE-trained, and only 33% of countries provide regular in-service training.
Early exposure to structured movement forms lifelong habits and is one of the strongest predictors of adult physical activity. Expanding access to inclusive, high-quality PE is essential. In-depth: Lack of trained PE teachers and inconsistent national policies contribute to global inequality in movement literacy, affecting future health, confidence, and social participation.
Key Statistic: UNESCO Global Status Report on Physical Education 2024
8
Economic Cost of Physical Inactivity
Estimated USD 27 billion annually in direct healthcare costs (projected USD 300 billion cumulative by 2030).
Physical inactivity fuels avoidable healthcare expenditure and reduces workforce productivity. Investing in active living initiatives saves costs and strengthens economies. In-depth: The economic burden is expected to rise as populations age, meaning preventive strategies yield significant long-term fiscal and social returns.
Key Statistic: WHO Global Status Report on Physical Activity 2022 / 2024 Update
9
Mental Health and Physical Activity
Regular activity reduces depression risk by approximately 25 percent.
Physical activity serves as a low-cost, scalable intervention for improving mental health, especially in communities with limited access to clinical services. In-depth: Movement enhances neuroplasticity, stress regulation, and social bonding, suggesting that promoting physical activity is both a health and societal resilience strategy.
Key Statistic: JAMA Psychiatry 2022
10
Europe Policy Implementation Rate
~81.8% implementation of physical-activity promotion measures in EU countries in 2024.
Policy progress demonstrates that population-level change is achievable when governments adopt and sustain movement-supportive strategies. In-depth: Countries with strong inter-sector collaboration, active transport policies, and school-based programs show measurable improvements in activity levels, providing models for global adaptation.
Key Statistic: WHO Europe HEPA EU Report 2024
Home
Overview
The State of Global Health and Physical Activity, SGHPA 25'
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Data and insights are constantly changing and being processed. Latest update: November 07, 2025. Final Report available on May 01, 2026.
SHORTCUTS
GLOBAL HEALTH SNAPSHOT
SUMMARIes
1
~31% of adults (≈ 1.8 billion) and 80% of adolescents do not meet WHO physical activity guidelines.
Physical inactivity remains one of the leading preventable drivers of chronic disease, disability, and early mortality worldwide. Increasing activity levels across populations is essential for reducing the global burden of noncommunicable diseases. In-depth: Physical inactivity disproportionately affects lower-income communities and women, highlighting the need for equitable access to safe environments, active transport, and culturally relevant movement opportunities.
Key Statistic: WHO Physical Inactivity Factsheet 2024
2
Overweight and Obesity (Adults)
Over 43% of adults globally are overweight and 16% are obese.
Rising obesity rates reflect a growing mismatch between modern environments, dietary patterns, and metabolic health. Integrated strategies involving nutrition, physical activity, and policy reform are required. In-depth: Obesity prevalence is increasing fastest in regions undergoing rapid urbanization and economic transition, signaling the influence of food systems and built environments on population health.
Key Statistic: WHO Obesity & Overweight Factsheet 2024
3
Overweight and Obesity (Children and Adolescents)
~35 million children under 5 and more than 390 million aged 5–19 are overweight or obese.
Early obesity increases lifelong risk for cardiometabolic disease, reduced mobility, and poorer mental health. Supporting movement and balanced nutrition during childhood is a critical societal investment. In-depth: Childhood obesity is strongly shaped by early-life environments, including digital exposure, food marketing, family habits, and school policies, making prevention a multi-sector responsibility.
Key Statistic: WHO Obesity & Overweight Factsheet 2024
4
People Engaging in Sport or Exercise Weekly
38% of Europeans exercise or play sport weekly. Global estimates suggest ~55% of adults participate in some form of sport or structured exercise at least once per week (range 20–80% by country).
Participation in sport and structured exercise is improving, yet significant regional and socioeconomic disparities remain. Ensuring equitable access to facilities and community programs is key to expanding movement opportunities. In-depth: Cultural norms and time availability are major determinants of participation, meaning effective interventions must address work-life balance, gender norms, and safe public spaces.
Key Statistic: Eurobarometer Sport and Physical Activity Report
5
Muscle-Strengthening Activity (Adults)
~22.8% of adults globally meet WHO guidelines for muscle-strengthening exercise (≥ 2 days/week).
Muscle-strengthening activity is an underutilized pillar of global health. Regular resistance training improves metabolic health, reduces injury risk, maintains mobility, and supports healthy aging. In-depth: MSE participation is lowest in lower-income populations and among women, indicating structural barriers such as lack of equipment access, limited education on safe training, and cultural misconceptions about strength training.
Key Statistic: Journal of Exercise Science & Fitness, Vol. 22, Issue 4, 2024
6
Excessive Screen Time (Adolescents)
Over 90% of U.S. adolescents (ages 12–17) spend 2+ hours per day on recreational screen use, with half exceeding 4 hours.
Rising screen time displaces physical activity, sleep, and in-person social interaction, contributing to global inactivity and mental health challenges among youth. In-depth: Digital engagement is shaping developmental patterns, emotional regulation, and attention capacity, calling for coordinated approaches that involve families, schools, platforms, and public health systems.
Key Statistic: National Center for Health Statistics 2024
7
Physical Education Access (Schools)
Two-thirds of secondary and more than half of primary students do not receive required weekly PE. Only 58% of countries make PE compulsory for girls. One in three students with disabilities still lacks access. Fewer than half of primary teachers are PE-trained, and only 33% of countries provide regular in-service training.
Early exposure to structured movement forms lifelong habits and is one of the strongest predictors of adult physical activity. Expanding access to inclusive, high-quality PE is essential. In-depth: Lack of trained PE teachers and inconsistent national policies contribute to global inequality in movement literacy, affecting future health, confidence, and social participation.
Key Statistic: UNESCO Global Status Report on Physical Education 2024
8
Economic Cost of Physical Inactivity
Estimated USD 27 billion annually in direct healthcare costs (projected USD 300 billion cumulative by 2030).
Physical inactivity fuels avoidable healthcare expenditure and reduces workforce productivity. Investing in active living initiatives saves costs and strengthens economies. In-depth: The economic burden is expected to rise as populations age, meaning preventive strategies yield significant long-term fiscal and social returns.
Key Statistic: WHO Global Status Report on Physical Activity 2022 / 2024 Update
9
Mental Health and Physical Activity
Regular activity reduces depression risk by approximately 25 percent.
Physical activity serves as a low-cost, scalable intervention for improving mental health, especially in communities with limited access to clinical services. In-depth: Movement enhances neuroplasticity, stress regulation, and social bonding, suggesting that promoting physical activity is both a health and societal resilience strategy.
Key Statistic: JAMA Psychiatry 2022
10
Europe Policy Implementation Rate
~81.8% implementation of physical-activity promotion measures in EU countries in 2024.
Policy progress demonstrates that population-level change is achievable when governments adopt and sustain movement-supportive strategies. In-depth: Countries with strong inter-sector collaboration, active transport policies, and school-based programs show measurable improvements in activity levels, providing models for global adaptation.
Key Statistic: WHO Europe HEPA EU Report 2024
Home
Overview
The State of Global Health and Physical Activity, SGHPA 25'
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Data and insights are constantly changing and being processed. Latest update: November 07, 2025. Final Report available on May 01, 2026.
SHORTCUTS
GLOBAL HEALTH SNAPSHOT
SUMMARIes
1
~31% of adults (≈ 1.8 billion) and 80% of adolescents do not meet WHO physical activity guidelines.
Physical inactivity remains one of the leading preventable drivers of chronic disease, disability, and early mortality worldwide. Increasing activity levels across populations is essential for reducing the global burden of noncommunicable diseases. In-depth: Physical inactivity disproportionately affects lower-income communities and women, highlighting the need for equitable access to safe environments, active transport, and culturally relevant movement opportunities.
Key Statistic: WHO Physical Inactivity Factsheet 2024
2
Overweight and Obesity (Adults)
Over 43% of adults globally are overweight and 16% are obese.
Rising obesity rates reflect a growing mismatch between modern environments, dietary patterns, and metabolic health. Integrated strategies involving nutrition, physical activity, and policy reform are required. In-depth: Obesity prevalence is increasing fastest in regions undergoing rapid urbanization and economic transition, signaling the influence of food systems and built environments on population health.
Key Statistic: WHO Obesity & Overweight Factsheet 2024
3
Overweight and Obesity (Children and Adolescents)
~35 million children under 5 and more than 390 million aged 5–19 are overweight or obese.
Early obesity increases lifelong risk for cardiometabolic disease, reduced mobility, and poorer mental health. Supporting movement and balanced nutrition during childhood is a critical societal investment. In-depth: Childhood obesity is strongly shaped by early-life environments, including digital exposure, food marketing, family habits, and school policies, making prevention a multi-sector responsibility.
Key Statistic: WHO Obesity & Overweight Factsheet 2024
4
People Engaging in Sport or Exercise Weekly
38% of Europeans exercise or play sport weekly. Global estimates suggest ~55% of adults participate in some form of sport or structured exercise at least once per week (range 20–80% by country).
Participation in sport and structured exercise is improving, yet significant regional and socioeconomic disparities remain. Ensuring equitable access to facilities and community programs is key to expanding movement opportunities. In-depth: Cultural norms and time availability are major determinants of participation, meaning effective interventions must address work-life balance, gender norms, and safe public spaces.
Key Statistic: Eurobarometer Sport and Physical Activity Report
5
Muscle-Strengthening Activity (Adults)
~22.8% of adults globally meet WHO guidelines for muscle-strengthening exercise (≥ 2 days/week).
Muscle-strengthening activity is an underutilized pillar of global health. Regular resistance training improves metabolic health, reduces injury risk, maintains mobility, and supports healthy aging. In-depth: MSE participation is lowest in lower-income populations and among women, indicating structural barriers such as lack of equipment access, limited education on safe training, and cultural misconceptions about strength training.
Key Statistic: Journal of Exercise Science & Fitness, Vol. 22, Issue 4, 2024
6
Excessive Screen Time (Adolescents)
Over 90% of U.S. adolescents (ages 12–17) spend 2+ hours per day on recreational screen use, with half exceeding 4 hours.
Rising screen time displaces physical activity, sleep, and in-person social interaction, contributing to global inactivity and mental health challenges among youth. In-depth: Digital engagement is shaping developmental patterns, emotional regulation, and attention capacity, calling for coordinated approaches that involve families, schools, platforms, and public health systems.
Key Statistic: National Center for Health Statistics 2024
7
Physical Education Access (Schools)
Two-thirds of secondary and more than half of primary students do not receive required weekly PE. Only 58% of countries make PE compulsory for girls. One in three students with disabilities still lacks access. Fewer than half of primary teachers are PE-trained, and only 33% of countries provide regular in-service training.
Early exposure to structured movement forms lifelong habits and is one of the strongest predictors of adult physical activity. Expanding access to inclusive, high-quality PE is essential. In-depth: Lack of trained PE teachers and inconsistent national policies contribute to global inequality in movement literacy, affecting future health, confidence, and social participation.
Key Statistic: UNESCO Global Status Report on Physical Education 2024
8
Economic Cost of Physical Inactivity
Estimated USD 27 billion annually in direct healthcare costs (projected USD 300 billion cumulative by 2030).
Physical inactivity fuels avoidable healthcare expenditure and reduces workforce productivity. Investing in active living initiatives saves costs and strengthens economies. In-depth: The economic burden is expected to rise as populations age, meaning preventive strategies yield significant long-term fiscal and social returns.
Key Statistic: WHO Global Status Report on Physical Activity 2022 / 2024 Update
9
Mental Health and Physical Activity
Regular activity reduces depression risk by approximately 25 percent.
Physical activity serves as a low-cost, scalable intervention for improving mental health, especially in communities with limited access to clinical services. In-depth: Movement enhances neuroplasticity, stress regulation, and social bonding, suggesting that promoting physical activity is both a health and societal resilience strategy.
Key Statistic: JAMA Psychiatry 2022
10
Europe Policy Implementation Rate
~81.8% implementation of physical-activity promotion measures in EU countries in 2024.
Policy progress demonstrates that population-level change is achievable when governments adopt and sustain movement-supportive strategies. In-depth: Countries with strong inter-sector collaboration, active transport policies, and school-based programs show measurable improvements in activity levels, providing models for global adaptation.
Key Statistic: WHO Europe HEPA EU Report 2024
Home