Canada's fitness industry is having its strongest year on record, and the numbers pull in two directions at once. Commercial gyms are more profitable than they have ever been, while more than half of Canadian adults still fall short of basic activity targets. That gap, between a booming business and a population that is not moving enough, is the real story behind the 2026 data.
This report gathers the most current and verified statistics on the Canadian fitness market in one place: revenue, gym memberships, activity levels, trends, employment, and the shift toward home workouts. As a Canadian home gym equipment retailer that has served this market since 2007, we track these numbers closely, and the figures below are tied to their original sources so you can cite them with confidence.
Key Takeaways
- Canada's fitness and recreational sports centres earned $5.8 billion in operating revenue in 2024, up 14.9% from the year before, with operating profit margins climbing to 8.3% (Statistics Canada).
- Gym prices in Canada rose 15.9% between 2021 and 2024, including a 5.2% increase in the most recent year, pushing more Canadians to weigh home setups against ongoing membership fees (Statistics Canada).
- 46% of Canadian adults meet physical activity guidelines, and 21% of youth aged 12 to 17 do, a gap that widens with age and signals long-term demand concerns (Statistics Canada).
- Between 15.5% and 21% of Canadian adults hold a gym membership, depending on how it is measured, with millennials and Gen Z leading participation (Fitness Industry Council of Canada; Made in CA).
- Sport, physical activity and recreation contribute $37.2 billion a year to Canada's economy (Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute).
Fitness Industry in Canada: Market Size and Revenue
Canada's fitness and recreational sports centres generated $5.8 billion in operating revenue in 2024, according to Statistics Canada. That is a 14.9% increase over 2023 and the sector's strongest year on record, confirming that Canadian gyms have moved past pandemic recovery and surpassed pre-pandemic levels.
Profitability improved alongside revenue. The operating profit margin for the sector rose from 5.8% in 2023 to 8.3% in 2024, per Statistics Canada, meaning operators are running more efficiently rather than simply taking in more money. Salaries, wages, commissions, and benefits across the industry reached $2.1 billion, up 14.2% year over year.
At the individual business level, the average small or medium fitness enterprise in Canada brings in about $377,200 in revenue, and 71.4% of these businesses operate profitably, according to Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada. Broader market estimates that include all gym, health, and fitness clubs put the total Canadian market near $6.3 billion in 2026, per IBISWorld, with the fitness market projected by Made in CA to keep expanding through 2028.
Rising Gym Prices in Canada
Gym prices in Canada rose 15.9% between 2021 and 2024, including a 5.2% jump in 2024 alone, based on Statistics Canada's consumer price data for recreational sports centres. Membership costs are climbing faster than general inflation in many months, which changes the math for anyone who visits the gym only a few times a week.
That pressure is the clearest driver behind the shift to home workouts. As memberships get more expensive, more Canadians weigh a one-time home setup against recurring monthly fees. For a full breakdown of what Canadians actually pay, see the average gym membership cost in Canada guide.
Facilities and Regional Distribution
Canada had 9,493 fitness and recreational sports centre locations as of June 2023, up from 9,290 in December 2022, according to Statistics Canada. Counts vary by definition: Made in CA reports just over 9,000 gym, health, and fitness clubs in 2024, while IBISWorld tracks roughly 9,710 businesses in the broader category. The difference reflects whether you count only dedicated centres or every health and fitness business.
On a per-capita basis, the leaders are not the biggest provinces. Prince Edward Island had the most fitness and recreational sports centres per 100,000 residents at 38.23, followed by British Columbia at 34.03, Saskatchewan at 27.37, and Alberta at 26.27, with Ontario fifth at 26.20, per Statistics Canada. Ontario has the largest raw number of facilities because it has the largest population, but Atlantic and Western Canada are better served relative to their size.
Major Players and Boutique Growth
GoodLife Fitness is the largest operator in the Canadian market, with 255 locations and more than one million members, according to Made in CA. Below the national chains, the industry stays fragmented, with budget operators and independent studios splitting the rest of the market.
Boutique and specialty studios are a visible part of the market. Pilates studios, HYROX training facilities, and recovery-focused centres cluster in major urban centres and typically serve smaller, dedicated memberships.
Gym Membership and Participation in Canada
Estimates of Canadian gym membership range from about 15.5% of adults, per the Fitness Industry Council of Canada, to 21% in 2025, per Made in CA, with the difference coming down to how each survey defines a "member." Either way, participation is highest among millennials and Gen Z, while older adults show lower but growing rates.
Canada sits in the middle of the global pack. The following table shows gym membership penetration across leading countries, per Made in CA:
| Country | Gym membership rate |
|---|---|
| Sweden | ~22% |
| Norway | ~22% |
| United States | ~21.2% |
| Canada | ~21% (2025) |
Beyond formal memberships, many Canadians stay active outside a gym entirely, and barriers like a lack of time and a preference for training alone push a lot of that activity into homes and the outdoors. For the full membership picture, see the gym membership statistics for Canada guide.
Physical Activity Levels in Canada
The most current national picture comes from the Canadian Health Measures Survey, released by Statistics Canada in 2025. It measures activity with devices rather than self-reports, so it is the most reliable read on how active Canadians really are.
Adult Activity
About 46% of Canadian adults meet the recommendation of 150 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity per week, per Statistics Canada. Canadian adults also average 9.3 hours per day of sedentary time, a reminder that meeting the exercise minimum still leaves most of the day sitting.
The Youth Activity Gap
Youth activity is the biggest concern in the data. Youth aged 12 to 17 are the least active age group in Canada, with 21% meeting movement guidelines, well below the 52% of children aged 5 to 11 and the 91% of preschoolers who do, per Statistics Canada. The rate is lowest among female youth, at 8%. Young people who do not build activity habits early are less likely to stay active as adults, which matters for the long-term health of the population and the fitness market alike. The youth fitness statistics for Canada guide breaks this down further.
Why Canadians Say They Don't Work Out
Time is the single biggest barrier to exercise in Canada, cited by about 75% of Canadians, according to Made in CA. Another 73% say they prefer to exercise on their own rather than in a group. Together those two findings explain much of the demand for flexible, at-home options that fit around a schedule and skip the crowd.
Top Fitness Trends in Canada for 2026
Canadian studios and operators are reshaping their floors around a handful of clear trends heading into 2026:
- Active aging and longevity training. As Canada's population ages, more studios are building programs around functional movement, fall prevention, and strength for older adults. See the senior fitness statistics for Canada guide for the demographic detail.
- Functional training. Practical, whole-body movement continues to win floor space from isolated machines, with versatile tools like functional trainers, kettlebells, and suspension gear at the centre of it.
- Hybrid membership models. Studios increasingly pair in-person sessions with on-demand app content, matching the reality that many members want to train partly at home.
- Mental health and recovery. Recovery services, mobility work, and stress-reduction programming now sit alongside strength and cardio as core parts of the wellness offer.
- Pilates. Pilates draws a wide range of Canadians, from rehabilitation-focused older adults to younger lifters after low-impact strength work.
- HYROX and competitive events. Fitness racing that blends running with functional strength stations has arrived in Canadian cities including Toronto and Vancouver, driving interest in conditioning gear. See the HYROX statistics for Canada guide.
- Wearables and connected training. Trackers, smart equipment, and app-guided workouts are now mainstream tools for measuring and guiding training.
Fitness Industry Employment in Canada
Roughly 149,300 people worked as program leaders and instructors in recreation, sport, and fitness across Canada in 2023, per Job Bank Canada. Looking ahead, labour demand and labour supply for the occupation are expected to be broadly in line through 2033, meaning steady, sustainable hiring rather than a boom or a shortage.
Job quality in the field is mixed. About 38.2% of workers in the occupation receive at least one type of non-wage benefit, per Job Bank Canada, which reflects the large share of part-time and contract roles in the sector. Most positions still require a recognized certification. The main Canadian paths include CanFitPro, the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology (CSEP-CPT), and the Canadian Personal Trainers Network (CPTN-CPT), with CSEP generally seen as the strongest credential for clinical and rehabilitation work.
Demand is strongest in roles tied to Canada's aging population and to digital and clinical settings, where recognized certifications matter most.
The Home and Digital Fitness Market
The average home gym in Canada costs about $2,530 to build, according to Made in CA, and rising membership prices keep pushing that option up the consideration list. For most Canadians a small, versatile core covers the essentials: a functional trainer or home gym, a set of adjustable dumbbells, and a quality bench.
Digital fitness has become a permanent part of the picture rather than a pandemic stopgap. Canada's digital fitness market reached roughly US$11.9 billion in 2024, per Made in CA, spanning streaming workout libraries, virtual coaching, and connected equipment. Wearable technology is booming alongside it: the Canadian wearable market reached $4.18 billion in 2024, according to the Fitness Industry Council of Canada. The most committed users tend to blend digital and in-person training rather than picking one.
Health Benefits of Regular Exercise (Backed by Research)
The case for consistent exercise is one of the best-documented findings in global public health, and it applies directly to the many Canadians who fall short of activity guidelines. Worldwide, people who are not active enough have a 20% to 30% higher risk of death than those who meet activity guidelines, according to the World Health Organization.
The disease-specific evidence is just as strong. A large international dose-response meta-analysis conducted for the Global Burden of Disease study found that the most active adults had roughly 28% lower risk of type 2 diabetes, 21% lower risk of colon cancer, and 14% lower risk of breast cancer than the least active, along with lower rates of heart disease and stroke.
The benefits extend past disease prevention. Regular activity strengthens the heart, lowers blood pressure, supports bone density, and is linked to better sleep, lower rates of depression and anxiety, and a reduced risk of dementia, per the World Health Organization. For older adults especially, maintaining strength and mobility is what preserves independence over time.
The Economic and Social Value of Fitness in Canada
Fitness is not only a personal investment. Sport, physical activity, and recreation contribute $37.2 billion a year to Canada's gross domestic product as of 2022, according to the Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute.
Its "Price of Inactivity" report measures several distinct impacts, and it is worth keeping them separate because they are counted in different years and cannot simply be added together:
- Health impact of $3.9 billion, the annual health-care cost of physical inactivity.
- Social impact of $13.6 billion, the estimated value of volunteering tied to sport, physical activity, and recreation.
- Environmental impact of $42.5 billion, the replacement value of aging sport, recreation, and active-living infrastructure.
The through-line is that keeping Canadians active pays back across health budgets, communities, and infrastructure, not just gym revenue.
FAQs
How big is the fitness industry in Canada?
Canada's fitness and recreational sports centres generated $5.8 billion in operating revenue in 2024, up 14.9% from 2023, according to Statistics Canada. Broader estimates that include all gym, health, and fitness clubs put the total market near $6.3 billion in 2026. The sector spans roughly 9,000 to 9,700 businesses depending on how they are counted, and it reached record profitability in 2024 with an 8.3% operating margin.
What percentage of Canadians have a gym membership?
Between about 15.5% and 21% of Canadian adults hold a gym membership, depending on the survey and how membership is defined. The Fitness Industry Council of Canada reports a 15.5% penetration rate for 2024, while Made in CA puts membership at around 21% in 2025. Participation is highest among millennials and Gen Z and lower, though growing, among older adults.
How many gyms are there in Canada?
Canada had 9,493 fitness and recreational sports centre locations as of June 2023, according to Statistics Canada, up from 9,290 six months earlier. Made in CA counts just over 9,000 gym, health, and fitness clubs in 2024, and IBISWorld tracks about 9,710 businesses in the broader category. On a per-capita basis, Prince Edward Island and British Columbia lead the country, not the larger provinces.
Are Canadians getting more active?
Not among young people. 46% of Canadian adults meet physical activity guidelines, according to Statistics Canada's 2025 Canadian Health Measures Survey, but participation falls off with age: 91% of preschoolers, 52% of children aged 5 to 11, and 21% of youth aged 12 to 17. The share of female youth meeting guidelines has fallen to 8%. Canadian adults also average 9.3 hours of sedentary time per day.
What are the top fitness trends in Canada for 2026?
The leading trends are active aging and longevity training, functional training, hybrid memberships that combine in-person and on-demand workouts, mental health and recovery services, the Pilates boom, and the rapid rise of HYROX and competitive fitness events. Wearables and app-guided training are now mainstream tools rather than novelties.
What is the best equipment for a Canadian home gym?
For most Canadians, the most versatile starting points are a functional trainer, a set of adjustable dumbbells, and a quality adjustable bench, which cover strength training in a small footprint. Buying within Canada avoids the cross-border shipping fees and customs duty that can add up on heavy equipment imported from the United States.
Conclusion
Canada's fitness industry enters 2026 in its strongest financial shape since the pandemic, with $5.8 billion in operating revenue and record profitability behind it. The same data set flags real problems: gym prices up 15.9% since 2021, flat adult activity, and a steep decline in youth movement. Those pressures are exactly why home workout equipment, digital platforms, and hybrid models keep taking share.
As a Canadian home gym equipment retailer, we watch these numbers because they shape what Canadians need to stay active at home, whether that is a space-saving functional trainer, a set of dumbbells, or a full setup. If the data has you thinking about training at home, explore our home gym equipment collection to find a setup that fits your space and budget.
Sources
- Statistics Canada: Fitness and recreational sports centres, operating revenue
- Statistics Canada: Canadian Health Measures Survey, physical activity
- Statistics Canada: Working out the numbers for your gym resolution
- Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada: Fitness and recreational sports centres summary
- Fitness Industry Council of Canada
- Made in CA: Fitness Industry Statistics in Canada
- Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute: Measuring Impact
- Job Bank Canada: Program leaders and instructors in recreation, sport and fitness
- World Health Organization: Physical activity
- Physical activity and disease risk: a dose-response meta-analysis
- IBISWorld: Gym, Health and Fitness Clubs in Canada
