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NEWS
Physical activity market in the UK worth £38.3 billion finds Global Wellness Institute
POSTED 24 Sep 2024 . BY Kath Hudson
Physical activity in the UK grew by 18 per cent between 2020 and 2022 Credit: Shutterstock/Rawpixel.com
Global Wellness Institute research says the UK has the fifth largest wellness economy in the world
Sport and active recreation is the largest segment, followed by fitness and mindful movement
The physical activity market in the UK was worth £38.3 billion in 2022
This sector has expanded by 18 per cent since 2020 and is larger than pre-pandemic
A new research report from the Global Wellness Institute, called The Global Wellness Economy: United Kingdom shows the industry has bounced back from the pandemic, with physical activity the leader of 11 defined wellness sectors.

Globally the wellness industry was worth US$5.6 trillion (£4.2 trillion; €3.8 trillion) in 2022 compared with US$4.9 trillion (£3.7 trillion; €4.4 trillion) in 2019. The GWI will publish new numbers at the Global Wellness Summit in November in Scotland.

At US$223.8 billion (£169.3 billion; €201 billion,) the UK has the second largest wellness economy in Europe and the fifth largest in the world, says the institute.

Physical activity in the UK was worth US$50.4 billion (£38.3 billion; €45.3 billion) in 2022, an uptick of 18 per cent from 2020. Pre-pandemic it stood at US$43.43 billion (£32.8 billion; €39 billion).

Of this, sport and active recreation was worth US$16.55 billion (£12.5 billion; €14.9 billion) fitness US$8.01 billion (£6.1 billion; €7.2 billion) and mindful movement US$1.04 billion (£0.8 billion; €0.9 billion)

Enabling sectors – which include apparel and footwear, equipment and technology – were worth US$25.14 billion (£19 billion, €22.6 billion).

The 11 segments measured are public health, prevention and personal medicine; personal care and beauty; healthy eating, nutrition and weight loss; wellness real estate; traditional and complementary medicine; mental wellness; spas; wellness tourism; workplace wellness and thermal/mineral springs.

The Global Wellness Institute is a US-based non-profit organisation which conducts global research for the wellness industry, introduces industry initiatives and organises events, such as the Global Wellness Summit, bringing leaders and visionaries together.

MEET THE SPA BUSINESS AND HCM TEAMS AT THE GLOBAL WELLNESS SUMMIT
Both Spa Business and HCM magazine will be represented at the Global Wellness Summit in Scotland from 4-7 November.

To arrange a meeting, contact the team by emailing [email protected].

Follow the teams' live reporting on X at the GWS @HCMmag and @spabusinessmag and sign up for the magazines, news alerts and ezines to read the GWS conference report here.

MORE NEWS
Butterfly sanctuary to host hot yoga during retreat at Jersey Zoo for Hotel de France
Hotel de France, located on the British Isle of Jersey, has created a wellness retreat package that includes a hot yoga session that will take place in Jersey Zoo’s butterfly sanctuary.
Warner Bros Discovery collaborates on upcoming Pompeii attraction
A new immersive attraction designed to transport visitors into the final hours of ancient Pompeii is preparing to open near the world-famous archaeological site in southern Italy.
Bob Rogers hands BRC to long-serving leadership team
Experience design company, BRC Imagination Arts, has completed a transition that sees founder Bob Rogers pass ownership of the business to four long-serving senior executives, while remaining actively involved with the company.
Rainer Maelzer joins Therme Group as chief entertainment officer
Rainer Maelzer, an experiential entertainment innovator, has been appointed chief entertainment officer by Therme Group.
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COMPANY PROFILES
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iPlayCo was established in 1999. [more...]
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Our services include: Dark ride design & build; Redevelopment of existing attractions; High-quality [more...]
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NEWS
Physical activity market in the UK worth £38.3 billion finds Global Wellness Institute
POSTED 24 Sep 2024 . BY Kath Hudson
Physical activity in the UK grew by 18 per cent between 2020 and 2022 Credit: Shutterstock/Rawpixel.com
Global Wellness Institute research says the UK has the fifth largest wellness economy in the world
Sport and active recreation is the largest segment, followed by fitness and mindful movement
The physical activity market in the UK was worth £38.3 billion in 2022
This sector has expanded by 18 per cent since 2020 and is larger than pre-pandemic
A new research report from the Global Wellness Institute, called The Global Wellness Economy: United Kingdom shows the industry has bounced back from the pandemic, with physical activity the leader of 11 defined wellness sectors.

Globally the wellness industry was worth US$5.6 trillion (£4.2 trillion; €3.8 trillion) in 2022 compared with US$4.9 trillion (£3.7 trillion; €4.4 trillion) in 2019. The GWI will publish new numbers at the Global Wellness Summit in November in Scotland.

At US$223.8 billion (£169.3 billion; €201 billion,) the UK has the second largest wellness economy in Europe and the fifth largest in the world, says the institute.

Physical activity in the UK was worth US$50.4 billion (£38.3 billion; €45.3 billion) in 2022, an uptick of 18 per cent from 2020. Pre-pandemic it stood at US$43.43 billion (£32.8 billion; €39 billion).

Of this, sport and active recreation was worth US$16.55 billion (£12.5 billion; €14.9 billion) fitness US$8.01 billion (£6.1 billion; €7.2 billion) and mindful movement US$1.04 billion (£0.8 billion; €0.9 billion)

Enabling sectors – which include apparel and footwear, equipment and technology – were worth US$25.14 billion (£19 billion, €22.6 billion).

The 11 segments measured are public health, prevention and personal medicine; personal care and beauty; healthy eating, nutrition and weight loss; wellness real estate; traditional and complementary medicine; mental wellness; spas; wellness tourism; workplace wellness and thermal/mineral springs.

The Global Wellness Institute is a US-based non-profit organisation which conducts global research for the wellness industry, introduces industry initiatives and organises events, such as the Global Wellness Summit, bringing leaders and visionaries together.

MEET THE SPA BUSINESS AND HCM TEAMS AT THE GLOBAL WELLNESS SUMMIT
Both Spa Business and HCM magazine will be represented at the Global Wellness Summit in Scotland from 4-7 November.

To arrange a meeting, contact the team by emailing [email protected].

Follow the teams' live reporting on X at the GWS @HCMmag and @spabusinessmag and sign up for the magazines, news alerts and ezines to read the GWS conference report here.

MORE NEWS
Butterfly sanctuary to host hot yoga during retreat at Jersey Zoo for Hotel de France
Hotel de France, located on the British Isle of Jersey, has created a wellness retreat package that includes a hot yoga session that will take place in Jersey Zoo’s butterfly sanctuary.
Warner Bros Discovery collaborates on upcoming Pompeii attraction
A new immersive attraction designed to transport visitors into the final hours of ancient Pompeii is preparing to open near the world-famous archaeological site in southern Italy.
Bob Rogers hands BRC to long-serving leadership team
Experience design company, BRC Imagination Arts, has completed a transition that sees founder Bob Rogers pass ownership of the business to four long-serving senior executives, while remaining actively involved with the company.
Rainer Maelzer joins Therme Group as chief entertainment officer
Rainer Maelzer, an experiential entertainment innovator, has been appointed chief entertainment officer by Therme Group.
Movie Park Germany reveals new Paramount attraction as part of its 30th anniversary celebrations
Movie Park Germany has opened a new Paramount Pictures-themed attraction as part of its 30th anniversary celebrations, using immersive storytelling and adaptive reuse to reinforce the park’s longstanding “Hollywood in Germany” positioning.
Therme Manchester reveals 90:90 strategy – 90 per cent of the UK population within a 90-minute drive of a Therme
Therme Manchester’s 28-acre development, which will include interconnected glass pavilions that measure 65,000sq m, will be the largest bathing and wellbeing attraction in the world once complete, according to prof David Russell, CEO of Therme UK. 
+ More news   
 
COMPANY PROFILES
iPlayCO

iPlayCo was established in 1999. [more...]
Sally Corporation

Our services include: Dark ride design & build; Redevelopment of existing attractions; High-quality [more...]
Taylor Made Designs

Founded in 1993, Taylor Made Designs supply corporate clothing and brand-enhancing merchandise to [more...]
instantprint

We’re a Yorkshire-based online printer, founded in 2009 by Adam Carnell and James Kinsella. [more...]
+ More profiles  
FEATURED SUPPLIER

Iconic Liverpool attraction opens door to new operators
An opportunity to reimagine one of the UK’s most recognisable towers has been formally opened by Rivington Hark, as St Johns Beacon invites operators and partners to shape its next phase. [more...]
CATALOGUE GALLERY
+ More catalogues  
DIRECTORY
+ More directory  
DIARY

 

09-11 Jun 2026

World Sauna Forum 2026

Savutuvan Apaja, Haapaniemi, Finland
23-26 Aug 2026

Elevate Spa Riviera Maya Edition

The Riviera Maya Edition Kanai, Playa del Carmen, Mexico
+ More diary  
 


ADVERTISE . CONTACT US

Leisure Media
Tel: +44 (0)1462 431385

©Cybertrek 2026

ABOUT LEISURE MEDIA
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