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In 2024/25, just over half of all adults (51%) had participated in sport within the last year, the same figure as 2023/24.
More than three-quarters (78%) of adults had participated in sport or physical activity (i.e. participated in sport or walked for recreation) in the last year, with 73% doing so in the previous 4 weeks, similar to the 2023/24 figures of 77% and 74% respectively.
In 2024/25, males were more likely to have participated in sport within the last year compared to females (59% and 43%, respectively).
Around seven in every ten adults who had participated in sport or physical activity over the last year cited ‘Improved physical health’ (73%), ‘Keep fit’ (72%) and ‘Improved mental health’ (69%) as benefits.
Introduction
The Department for Communities (DfC) is responsible for the central administration and promotion of sport in Northern Ireland. DfC develops sport policy, provides funding for sport and supports sports initiatives. In 2022, DfC in collaboration with other government departments, councils, Sport NI and a wide range of stakeholders, developed Active Living - the new Sport and Physical Activity Strategy for Northern Ireland. The Active Living Strategy builds on the success of the previous strategy, Sport Matters.
This bulletin provides findings from the 2024/25 Continuous Household Survey (CHS) on the experience of sport by adults in Northern Ireland. These findings are used to inform the development, monitoring and evaluation of policy. More information relating to the CHS, methodology, definitions and the interpretation of the figures can be found in the Technical notes and Definitions sections. Data tables accompanying this publication and the questions that were asked in the CHS 2024/25 are available on the DfC website.
Update: This publication was updated on 26 March 2026 to include additional analysis on sport participation across a range of individual wellbeing measures. These findings are presented in the Wellbeing section of the report and are available in the accompanying data tables on the DfC website.
Lead statistician: Clair Stewart
Sport participation
In 2024/25, just over half of all adults (51%) participated in sport at least once within the last year, the same figure as 2023/24. When looking at sport participation at least once in the previous 4 weeks, over four out of every ten adults (43%) had participated, similar to the figure for 2023/24 (44%).
Sport club membership
A quarter of adults (25%) were a member of a sports club or organisation within the previous year.
Sex and sport participation
In 2024/25, females (43%) were less likely to have taken part in sport at least once within the last year than males (59%). Similarly, when looking at participation rates over the previous four weeks, over a third of females (36%) stated that they had taken part in sport compared to half of all males (50%).
Furthermore, males were more likely to be a member of a sports club than females (29% and 20% respectively).
Disability and sport participation
In 2024/25, adults who have a disability were less likely to have taken part in sport at least once within the last year (33%) compared with those who do not have a disability (59%).
A similar disparity was found when participation rates over the last four weeks were considered, with just over a quarter of those with a disability (26%) having taken part in sport compared to just over half of adults who do not have a disability (51%).
Furthermore, a lower proportion of adults with a disability were members of a sports club compared to those who do not have a disability (15% and 29% respectively).
Deprivation and sport participation
In 2024/25, adults living in the most deprived areas in Northern Ireland were less likely to have participated in sport within the previous year (43%) or within the last 4 weeks (36%) than those adults living in the least deprived areas (65% and 56%, respectively). Similarly, those living in the most deprived areas were less likely to be a member of a sports club (16%) than those living in the least deprived areas (34%).
Urban/rural and sport participation
In 2024/25, similar proportions of adults living in urban and rural areas participated in sport within the previous year (52% and 49% respectively). However, those living in an urban area were more likely to have participated in sport within the last 4 weeks than those living in a rural area (45% and 40% respectively). Similarly, those living in an urban area were more likely to be a member of a sports club (26%) than those living in a rural area (22%).
Local Government District and sport participation
In 2024/25, around three in every five adults living in Lisburn and Castlereagh (65%), Ards and North down (63%), Belfast (56%) and Antrim and Newtownabbey (55%) had participated in sport in the previous year. In contrast, Derry City and Strabane had the lowest proportion of adults participating in sport in the previous year (38%).
Types of sports participated in
Just over a quarter of adults (26%) participated in ‘Keep fit/aerobics/yoga/dance exercise/weight training’ within the last year, followed by 15% participating in ‘Jogging/running’ or ‘Swimming or diving’.
Sex
There were differences in the types of sports males and females participated in within the last year. Compared with females, a higher proportion of males participated in 10 of the 12 sports listed. Sports with the most notable differences include ‘Football’ (14% males versus 1% females), ‘Golf or pitch and putt’ (12% v 3%) and ‘Cycling for recreation’ (12% v 4%).
Disability
Adults with a disability were less likely to have participated in 8 of the 12 sports listed within the previous year. Some sports showing notable differences between the two groups were ‘Keep fit/aerobics/yoga/dance exercise/weight training’ (16% with a disability versus 30% without a disability) , ‘Jogging/running’ (6% v 20%) and ‘Football’ (3% v 10%).
Deprivation
Differences in sport preferences were examined among adults living in the most and least deprived areas in Northern Ireland. Adults living in the least deprived areas were more likely to have participated in 8 of the 12 sports listed within the previous year.
Some of the sports showing notable differences between the two groups were ‘Keep fit/aerobics/yoga/dance exercise/weight training’ (36% least deprived versus 21% most deprived), ‘Jogging/running’ (22% v 11%), ‘Swimming or diving’ (22% v 11%) and ‘Cycling for recreation’ (13% v 4%).
Sports played in clubs/organisations
The most popular sports played in a club or organisation were ‘Keep fit/aerobics/yoga/dance exercise/weight training’ (40%), ‘Golf or pitch and putt’ (14%), ‘Gaelic games (football, hurling, camogie)’ (11%) and ‘Swimming or diving’ (11%).
Regular participation in sport
Adults in Northern Ireland were asked how many days per week do they normally take part in sport. Just under half (48%) of all adults normally participated at least one day per week, with just over a fifth (22%) normally participating on 4 or more days per week.
When looking at adults who participated in sport at least one day per week, the proportion was lower for females, adults with a disability, adults living in the most deprived areas and those living in a rural area.
Involvement in sport
In 2024/25, just under one in twenty adults (4%) were involved in sports coaching, whilst 2% of adults were a sport administrator/non-coaching volunteer and 1% were a sport development practitioner.
Walking for recreation
‘Walking for recreation’ is not included in the overall sport participation figures. More than three-fifths of adults (64%) had walked for recreation within the previous year. In contrast to the demographic pattern seen with the overall sport participation rates, a higher proportion of females (68%) than males (60%) had walked for recreation.
Just over a quarter of adults (27%) had not participated in sport but had walked for recreation within the previous year. As with the previous results a higher proportion of non-sport participating females (33%) had walked for recreation than non-sport participating males (20%).
More than three-quarters (78%) of adults had participated in sport or
physical activity (i.e. participated in sport or walked for recreation)
in the last year, with 73% doing so in the previous 4 weeks, similar to
the 2023/24 figures of 77% and 74% respectively. A higher proportion of
males had participated in sport or physical activity in the last year
than females (79% and 76% respectively).
There were further differences in the proportions of adults walking for recreation when analysed by deprivation and disability. A lower proportion of adults who have a disability walked for recreation within the previous year (55%) than those without a disability (68%).
Similarly, adults living in the most deprived areas were less likely to have walked for recreation compared to adults living in the least deprived areas (51% and 75% respectively).
Benefits of participating in sports or physical activity
Around seven in every ten adults who had participated in sport or physical activity over the last year cited ‘Improved physical health’ (73%), ‘Keep fit’ (72%) and ‘Improved mental health’ (69%) as benefits. Other benefits cited by taking part in sport or physical activity include ‘Have fun’ (41%), ‘Made me feel better about myself’ (37%) and ‘Lose weight’ (29%).
Only 3% of all adults who had participated stated that they had experienced no benefits as a result of participating in sport or physical activity in the last year.
Sex
Considering benefits of participation in sport or physical activity by sex, males were more likely than females to have stated 6 of the 15 benefits. Some benefits showing notable differences between the two groups were ‘Improved physical health’ (76% males versus 70% females), ‘Have fun’ (44% v 38%) and ‘Developed skills as a team player’ (10% v 4%).
Disability
Those with a disability were less likely than those without a disability to have chosen 9 of the 15 listed benefits of participation in sport or physical activity. Benefits showing notable differences between the two groups include ‘Keep fit’ (66% with a disability versus 75% without a disability), ‘Improved physical health’ (67% v 75%) and ‘Lose weight’ (24% v 31%).
Deprivation
Adults living in the most deprived areas were less likely to have chosen 13 of the 15 listed benefits of participation in sport or physical activity compared to those living in the least deprived areas. Some benefits showing notable differences between the two groups were ‘Made me feel better about myself’ (26% most deprived versus 44% least deprived), ‘Opportunities to make friends’ (13% v 29%) and ‘Improved physical health’ (66% v 81%).
Wellbeing
Across a range of measures of individual wellbeing: life satisfaction, self-efficacy, locus of control and loneliness, analysis shows higher individual wellbeing among adults who engaged in sport than among adults who had not engaged in sport. Whilst this report shows a link between engagement and individual wellbeing it does not show that one causes the other. Engagement in the wellbeing section refers to participation in sport at least once within the last 12 months (excluding walking for recreation).
Life satisfaction
Life satisfaction relates to an individual’s satisfaction with their life overall. Respondents were asked: ‘Overall, how satisfied are you with life nowadays?’ and asked to give their response on a scale of 0 to 10, where 0 is ‘not at all satisfied’ and 10 is ‘completely satisfied’. Higher scores on the life satisfaction scale represent a greater sense of contentment with life. Life satisfaction, is one of four measures currently being used by the Office of National Statistics (ONS) to explore and measure national wellbeing 1.
In 2024/25, the estimated mean life satisfaction score for adults in Northern Ireland was 7.7. For adults engaging in sport the estimated mean score was 8.0 which was higher than for those not engaging (7.5).
Life satisfaction trends
In 2024/25, the estimated mean life satisfaction score for adults engaged in sport was 8.0, the same as the mean score in 2023/24.
Self-efficacy
Self-efficacy is the extent or strength of an individual’s belief in their own ability to complete tasks and reach goals. Those with high self-efficacy have confidence in their abilities and make sustained efforts to achieve goals. Those with low self-efficacy often doubt their capabilities, are less ambitious and give up on aims when challenged. This can limit the choices a person makes and how much effort they are willing to invest. Self-efficacy affects the decisions a person makes and what they see as achievable and has been shown to influence physical and mental health, learning and achievement, career and job satisfaction and family relations.
Self-efficacy is measured using five statements (see Definitions) to which an individual indicates how much they agree or disagree on a five point Likert scale. It is presented as an overall score which is the sum total of the 5 statement questions, with a maximum of 25 and a minimum of 5. Higher scores indicate a higher level of self-efficacy.
In 2024/25, the estimated mean self-efficacy score for adults in Northern Ireland was 19.4. For adults engaging in sport the estimated mean score was 20.0, which was higher than for those not engaging (18.8).
Low self-efficacy refers to self-efficacy scores ranging from 5 to 17. In 2024/25, 20.1% of all adults in Northern Ireland had low self-efficacy. For adults who engaged in sport, 15% had low self-efficacy, a lower proportion than among those who did not engage (25%).
Low self-efficacy trends
In 2024/25, 15% of adults who engaged in sport had low self-efficacy, similar to 2023/24 (15%).
Locus of control
Locus of control explains the degree to which a person feels in control over their life. Locus of control is classified as either external or internal. Those with an internal locus of control believe in their own influence and control, while those with an external locus of control believe control over their life is determined by outside factors.
Locus of control is measured using five statements (see Definitions) to which an individual indicates how much they agree or disagree on a five point Likert scale. It is presented as an overall score which is the sum total of the 5 statement questions, with a maximum of 25 and a minimum of 5. The locus of control scale is not a measurement of higher or lower, rather it is a continuum from external to internal.
In 2024/25, the estimated mean locus of control score for adults in Northern Ireland was 17.2. For adults engaging in sport the estimated mean score was 17.6, a more internal locus of control than for those not engaging (16.9).
Locus of control trends
The mean locus of control score for adults who engaged in sport was the same in 2024/25 compared to 2023/24 (both 17.6).
Loneliness
In 2024/25, 17.9% of all adults in Northern Ireland reported feeling lonely ‘often/always’ or ‘some of the time’ and were therefore described as ‘lonely at least some of the time’. For adults who engaged in sport, 14% reported feeling ‘lonely at least some of the time’, a lower proportion than among those who did not engage (22%).
Loneliness trends
The proportion of adults engaging in sport who said they were ‘lonely at least some of time’ was similar in 2024/25 compared to 2023/24 (14% and 13% respectively).
General health
In 2024/25, 72% of all adults in Northern Ireland rated their health as ‘very good’ or ‘good’. For adults who engaged in sport, 83% rated their health as ‘very good’ or ‘good’, a higher proportion than among those who did not engage (60%).
General health trends
In 2024/25, 83% of adults engaging in sport reported having either ‘very good’ or ‘good’ health, this is similar to the 2023/24 figure of 85%.
Technical notes
Continuous Household Survey
The Continuous Household Survey is a Northern Ireland wide household survey administered by Central Survey Unit, Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency. The sample for this survey consisted of a systematic random sample of 8,940 addresses selected from the NISRA Address Register. The findings reported for 2024/25 are based on 4,584 respondents, aged 16 and over.
Note: Data collection for the 2024/25 CHS was carried out using a mix of telephone and face-to-face interviewing modes, a similar approach to that used in 2022/23 and 2023/24. For 2020/21 and 2021/22 data collection was by telephone interviewing due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. There was also a reduction in the number of questions between 2020/21-2022/23. As a result, the figures from 2020/21 onwards are not directly comparable to previous years due to the significant changes to the survey in terms of methodology and content. More information is available on the NISRA website.
The Executive Office is responsible for publishing estimates of self-efficacy, locus of control, life satisfaction and loneliness for the population of Northern Ireland.
Results of the user survey conducted during summer 2025
An online public survey on the use of the culture, arts, heritage, sport and language official statistics publications produced by Analytics Division was carried out during the summer 2025. The report linked below summarises the findings from that survey which were used to inform the content of the 2024/25 edition of this report: Outcomes of the survey on the use of the culture, arts, heritage, sport and language official statistics publications. Analytics Division welcomes further feedback on the publications, contact us directly with any comments – email: analyticsdivision@communities-ni.gov.uk.
Weighting the Continuous Household Survey
Analysis of the sport module of the CHS has been weighted for non-response. A chi square goodness-of-fit test showed that the CHS sample (4,584) was not representative of the population by age and sex when compared with the 2023 Mid Year Estimates for Northern Ireland NISRA 19 September 2024. As a result, separate weights were produced for age, sex and age and sex combined.
Non-response weighting sometimes increases standard errors, although the impact tends to be fairly small, i.e. the adjustment may be less or greater than 1, but will generally be reasonably close to 1. In the case of the culture, arts, heritage and sport modules of the CHS, the values of the adjustment for all three weighting systems are so close to one, it is not necessary to take account of this in the calculation of standard error and confidence intervals.
While weighting for non-response (also called post-stratification) should reduce bias, it must be acknowledged that it will not eliminate bias. The reasons individuals choose to take part in surveys are complex and depend on lots of factors specific to the individual. As a result, the non-response biases in surveys are likely to be complex. Post-stratification works on the assumption that, by aligning the survey to the population along a small number of dimensions such as age and sex, many of these complex biases will reduce. However, it would be misleading to suggest that they will be eliminated.
Statistical significance in this report
Any statements in this report regarding differences between years and groups are statistically significant at the 95% confidence level. This means that we can be 95% confident that the differences between groups are actual differences and have not just arisen by chance. The base numbers, sizes of percentages or variance of scores (relating to wellbeing) have an effect on statistical significance. Therefore on occasion, a difference between two groups may be statistically significant while the same difference in percentage points or mean score between two other groups may not be statistically significant. The reason for this is because the larger the base numbers or the closer the percentages are to 0 or 100 or the smaller the variance in scores, the smaller the standard errors. This leads to increased precision of the estimates which increases the likelihood that the difference between the proportions or mean scores is actually significant and has not just arisen by chance.
Official Statistics
Our statistical practice is regulated by the Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR). OSR sets the standards of trustworthiness, quality and value in the Code of Practice for Statistics that all producers of official statistics should adhere to. Contact us directly with any comments about how we meet these standards - email:analyticsdivision@communities-ni.gov.uk. Alternatively, you can contact OSR by emailing regulation@statistics.gov.uk or via the OSR website.
Other notes
The following should be noted when interpreting figures and tables:
Definitions
Sport participation - Participated in at least one of the following activities in the 12 months, or 4 weeks prior to the CHS. Does not include walking for recreation:
Sport or physical activity participation - Participated in sports (from list above) or walked for recreation in the 12 months, or 4 weeks prior to the CHS.
Member of a sports club - Are you currently a member of any sports club or organisation? non-playing members of a club are not included.
Instruments for measuring self-efficacy, locus of control and life satisfaction
The instruments for measuring self-efficacy and locus of control are each a simple statement based survey tool. They each take the form of five simple statements to which the individual indicates to what extent they agree or disagree on a five point Likert scale. Self-efficacy and locus of control are each presented as an overall score, minimum 5 and maximum 25, taken from the summated total of the five statement questions.
Self-efficacy statement questions:
- I can always manage to solve difficult problems if I try hard enough.
- I am confident that I could deal efficiently with unexpected events.
- I can remain calm when facing difficulties because I can rely on my coping abilities.
- When I am confronted with a problem, I can usually find several solutions.
- No matter what comes my way, I’m usually able to handle it.
Locus of control statement questions1:
- I am in control of my life.
- If I take the right steps, I can avoid problems.
- Most things that affect my life happen by accident.
- If it’s meant to be, I will be successful.
- I can only do what people in my life want me to do.
1Locus of control statement questions 3, 4 and 5 were reversed and recoded prior to analysis.
Life satisfaction
Life satisfaction is presented as a single statement question, ‘Overall, how satisfied are you with your life nowadays?’ to which the individual responds on an 11 point Likert scale (0-10). Life satisfaction is scored out of 0-10, with 10 being the highest achievable score.
Loneliness
The following question is asked: ‘How often do you feel lonely? Often/always, Some of the time, Occasionally, Hardly ever, Never’.
General Health
The following question is asked ‘How is your health in general? Would you say it was very good, good, fair, bad or very bad’.