Statistics Canada Report on Sport Participation

Description

Barely 3 out of every 10 Canadians aged 15 and over participated regularly in one or more sports in 2005, a dramatic decline from the early 1990s when the proportion was closer to one-half, according to a new report.
The report, based on data from the General Social Survey (GSS), estimated that 7.3 million individuals, about 28% of the adult population, participated in some form of sport. This was down substantially from 8.3 million, or 34% of adults, in 1998, and 9.6 million, or 45%, in 1992.

The decline was widespread, cutting across all age groups, education levels, income brackets, both sexes and almost all provinces. Teenagers aged 15 to 18 had the highest participation rate, but that, too, declined from 77% in 1992 to 59% in 2005. In addition, many more of us were spectators. In 2005, an estimated 9.2 million adults were "involved" in amateur sports as spectators, a 20.3% increase from 1998.

The report cautioned that the downward trend in sport participation does not necessarily mean that Canadians do not engage in physical activities. Many exercise regularly through various physical programs or classes, while others enjoy jogging, gardening or other such activities. While active participation declined, indirect involvement in sports on a voluntary basis actually increased, the study found. In 2005, the number of amateur coaches reached 1.8 million or 7% of the population. This was up from 1.7 million in 1998, and more than twice the 840,000 in 1992. In 2005, the tables turned and female coaches outnumbered their male counterparts by a slight margin. An estimated 882,000 women were coaching in 2005, up 15% from 1998 and more than four times the total in 1992. During the 13-year period, the number of male coaches fell 9% to 874,000. In addition, women have gained considerable ground as referees, officials or umpires in amateur sports. In 1992, men outnumbered women five to one. By 2005, the ratio was down to only two to one.

Golf replaced ice hockey as the most popular sport in Canada in 1998. Almost 1.5 million adult Canadians were golfers in 2005, three-quarters of them men. Ice hockey drew 1.3 million. Other sports in order of popularity - swimming, soccer, basketball and baseball and volleyball - all drew between 500,000 and 800,000 participants.  

Why participation has dropped: An aging population, time crunch   The report found that one of the many factors in declining participation in sports is Canada's aging population. Other factors include time pressures, family responsibilities, child rearing, careers, lack of interest and participation in other leisure time activities such as watching television, surfing and chatting on the Internet. As Canadians get older, their rate of participation in sport decreases. In 1992, people aged 35 and over represented 60% of the adult population; about 36% of them participated in sports. By 2005, two-thirds (67%) of Canadians were in this age group, and their participation rate was down to 22%. Thus, society is aging and becoming less active. Only 17% of Canadians aged 55 and over participated in sports, well below the proportion of 25% in 1992. The report found various other social and economic factors behind the decline in participation. But for many, it was the time crunch.

URLs

More information






Sponsor Links