Article courtesy of Gymnearx
Did you know what’s driving the staggering 31.68% surge in online traffic to fitness websites over the past five years? Not only are males increasing this number, but females have their fair share in this traffic surge as well.
The latest Gymnearx.com study delves deep into the digital fitness realm, analyzing data from the 50 most visited fitness websites, which collectively drew over 2.2 billion visits in 2023 alone.
Interestingly, Gender distribution across these websites is nearly equal, with males comprising 51.92% (1116.6M visits) and females 48.08% (1034.0M visits), indicating widespread interest in fitness among both genders.
Delving deeper into user preferences , the study identifies the most popular content categories which are Training with 488.0M visits (23%), Diets and Supplements at 361.6M visits (17%), and Fitness Blogs with 329.5M visits (15%), indicating the preferences of online fitness enthusiasts.
Geographically, the United States leads with 1274.9M visits (54.37%), followed by the United Kingdom with 196.0M visits (8.36%) and Canada with 107.1M visits (4.57%), reflecting the primary regions of engagement.
The analysis of online engagement in the fitness industry involved using SEMrush to study website traffic of the top 50 fitness websites over five years, categorizing content, identifying traffic sources by country, segmenting by gender, and normalizing data per capita for global comparison.
It also included examining seasonal trends to identify peak interest periods. This method provided a detailed and objective overview of global fitness interests and trends.
Fitness Industry: Online Traffic Growth in the Past 5 Years
Between 2019 and 2023, the top 50 fitness websites experienced a substantial 31.68% increase in visits, rising from 1.5 billion to 2.2 billion, with notable seasonal fluctuations.
January consistently saw spikes in traffic, peaking at a 24.39% growth rate, likely driven by New Year’s resolutions. Springtime saw continued increases, where May achieved the highest growth rate of 38.23% in the whole year, as individuals aimed to shape up for summer.
Although after months of great growing motivation, August marked a slight decline at 25.22%, indicating a potential cooldown as summer ends.
Fitness Industry: Website Visits by Category, 2023
While digging deeper into the information, Gymnearx identified 8 significant categories that show the most interest of fitness enthusiasts, which are discussed below.
Training:
The training category dominated with 488 million visits (23%), reflecting a global preference for dynamic and at-home fitness solutions, including e-fitness and online workout tutorials.
Diets and Supplements:
Pages related to diets and supplements attracted 361.6 million visits (17%), highlighting a growing awareness of the role of nutrition alongside physical training in achieving fitness goals.
Fitness Blog:
With 329.5 million visits (15%), the fitness blog category indicates a strong interest in in-depth fitness knowledge, emphasizing the value of quality, informative content beyond quick tips.
Fitness Gear:
Nearly 300 million visits (14%) to fitness gear-related pages show extensive research and comparison by consumers seeking the best products to enhance their fitness journey.
Fitness Centers:
Brick-and-mortar gyms and fitness centers received 250.8 million visits (12%), suggesting that users extensively research before committing to a gym membership, prioritizing factors like location, facilities, and community.
Community/Forum:
Despite being smaller in page count, online fitness forums and communities accounted for 8%, with 166.6 million visits, underscoring the importance of social support and shared experiences in the fitness journey.
Tools and Calculators:
Tools and calculators drew 137.4 million visits (6%), indicating users’ proactive approach to fitness through monitoring progress and emphasizing measurable outcomes.
Other:
The ‘Other’ category captured a broad spectrum of niche interests and activities beyond traditional categories, with 116.9 million visits (5%).
Top 10 Countries With the Most Fitness Interest, 2023
Although every country has more or less interest in the fitness world, Gymnearx found below 10 countries with the most visits to the top fitness websites.
#1. United States:
With 1.27 billion visits annually, averaging around 106 million monthly, the U.S. demonstrates a strong commitment to fitness, boasting nearly 375,000 visits per 100,000 Americans annually.
#2. United Kingdom:
The UK secured 196 million annual visits, with a monthly average of 16.3 million, translating to 289,000 visits per 100,000 Brits annually, showcasing a robust fitness culture.
#3. Canada:
Canadians logged 107.1 million visits annually, averaging 8.9 million monthly, reflecting an enthusiasm for fitness with 276,000 visits per 100,000 people annually.
#4. Australia:
Australia contributed 54.2 million visits annually, or 4.5 million monthly, with over 204,000 visits per 100,000 Australians yearly, highlighting a strong emphasis on fitness and outdoor activities.
#5. Norway:
Norway recorded 9.1 million visits annually, averaging 758.3K monthly, with 166,800 visits per 100,000 people yearly, indicating a society valuing physical health and outdoor pursuits.
#6. Netherlands:
The Netherlands saw 29.2 million visits annually, around 2.4 million monthly, with 165,670 visits per 100,000 Dutch each year, reflecting a culture prioritizing active living and physical health.
#7. Singapore:
Singapore tallied 9.8 million visits annually, roughly 816.7K monthly, with 162,230 visits per 100,000 individuals yearly, showcasing a high interest in fitness, supported by urban wellness initiatives.
#8. New Zealand:
New Zealand’s 8.0 million annual visits, averaging 666.7K monthly, translate to 152,340 visits per 100,000 people yearly, reflecting engagement with nature and fitness.
#9. Ireland:
Ireland garnered 7.5 million visits annually, roughly 625,000 monthly, leading to 147,850 visits per 100,000 Irish annually, indicating an emerging fitness culture.
#10. Lebanon:
Lebanon reached 7.4 million visits in 2023, with monthly averages of around 616.7K, demonstrating resilience and a focus on health with 139,090 visits per 100,000 people annually despite facing challenges.
Fitness Industry: Gender Distribution by Interest, 2023
In 2023, the distribution of online fitness content visits was closely split between genders, with males accounting for 51.92% and females at 48.08% of the total 2.2 billion visits. This demonstrates a universally high level of interest in fitness across both genders.
As Gymnearx uncovers key trends in how people engage with the online fitness space from 2019 to 2023, one burning question arises: What’s fueling this global commitment to fitness, and what does it mean for the future of wellness?
As we continue to uncover key trends and patterns in fitness engagement, we invite you to delve deeper into our comprehensive article for a more detailed analysis and discussion. Click here to access the full article on Gymnearx.com.
Article courtesy of Gymnearx
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
