GASTAT: 59.9% of Saudi Adults Meet Weekly Activity Goal

The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) has released its Physical Activity Statistics report for 2026, revealing that 59.9% of Saudi Arabia’s adult population aged 18 and older now engages in physical activity for 150 minutes or more per week. The official figures, published via the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), show that 63.4% of adult males and 52.9% of adult females meet this benchmark, while the 18–29 age group records the highest participation rate at 63.0%. The report offers one of the most detailed national pictures yet of how movement, sport, and daily exercise are becoming embedded in Saudi life as the Kingdom advances its Vision 2030 quality-of-life ambitions.

The findings arrive at a moment when public health, youth engagement, and urban liveability are moving to the centre of national planning. GASTAT, the Kingdom’s official statistical authority, compiles the report from household surveys and population data to give policymakers, health ministries, and sports bodies a reliable evidence base. For international observers, the numbers signal something broader than fitness trends: they reflect a society investing in its own wellbeing, supported by national programmes that encourage physical activity across every age group and region. What do these figures tell us about how daily life in Saudi Arabia is changing?

Context and Background

Why does a national physical activity report matter beyond the gym? Because it measures how a country’s population uses its time, its public spaces, and its health system. GASTAT’s Physical Activity Statistics report for 2026 is the latest edition in a series designed to track behaviour across age brackets and genders, giving the Kingdom’s ministries a clear baseline from which to design policy. The 59.9% adult participation rate is defined against the internationally recognised threshold of 150 minutes of moderate activity per week, a standard used by the World Health Organization to gauge cardiovascular and metabolic health.

The report also captures the youngest Saudis. Among children and adolescents aged 5–17, 20.3% engage in physical activity for 60 minutes or more daily, with 27.1% of males and 13.3% of females meeting that daily target. A further 33.8% of children and adolescents spend between one and two hours per day in sedentary or non-physical activities such as watching television or using electronic devices, excluding time spent at school. These figures frame a generational challenge and opportunity: building habits early, when behaviour is most malleable, and ensuring that schools, families, and communities reinforce them.

The data did not emerge in a vacuum. Saudi Arabia has spent the past decade expanding sports infrastructure, opening fitness facilities, and promoting walking, cycling, and community sport through national campaigns. GASTAT’s role is to measure whether those efforts are translating into measurable change, and the 2026 report provides an authoritative snapshot that government agencies, researchers, and international partners can rely on. How often do official statistics like these reshape the priorities of an entire nation?

Key Details from the GASTAT Report

The headline adult figure of 59.9% is accompanied by a clear gender gap: 63.4% of males versus 52.9% of females meet the 150-minute weekly threshold. Age is an even stronger variable. Participation peaks at 63.0% among 18–29-year-olds and declines steadily across older cohorts, reaching its lowest point at 13.4% among those aged 80 and older. This pattern mirrors global trends, but in Saudi Arabia it carries particular weight because the population is young and the Kingdom is actively designing services for an ageing society in the decades ahead.

The children’s data adds nuance. Only one in five Saudis aged 5–17 currently reaches the recommended 60 minutes of daily activity, and the male-female gap is wider than among adults: 27.1% versus 13.3%. Meanwhile, the 33.8% sedentary figure for one to two hours of daily screen time outside school highlights where public health messaging and school-based programmes can have the greatest effect. These are the metrics that ministries of health, education, and sport use to allocate budgets and design interventions.

GASTAT’s methodology gives the report credibility. As the Kingdom’s central statistical authority, it operates under official mandate and publishes data through recognised channels, including the Saudi Press Agency. That transparency allows international organisations, academics, and investors to compare Saudi progress against global benchmarks with confidence. What would it take for the adult participation rate to cross 65% within the next few years?

International and Regional Impact

Saudi Arabia’s physical activity data now sit within a wider regional conversation about public health and preventive care. Across the Gulf and the broader Middle East, governments are grappling with rising rates of lifestyle-related conditions and the economic costs they impose. By publishing detailed, age-disaggregated statistics, the Kingdom provides a model of evidence-based policymaking that neighbours and international bodies can study. The report’s alignment with WHO activity guidelines makes the Saudi figures directly comparable with those of Europe, Asia, and the Americas.

The international dimension also runs through sport. Saudi Arabia has become a global host for major athletic events, from football and motorsport to equestrian and endurance competitions, drawing visitors and broadcast audiences worldwide. Grassroots participation data reinforce the credibility of that strategy: elite events are not an end in themselves but part of a broader ecosystem that encourages everyday movement. For international readers, the GASTAT report offers a measurable answer to the question of whether hosting sport changes how a population lives. Does a nation’s fitness profile influence how the world sees its future?

Economic and Strategic Significance

Physical activity is an economic story as much as a health one. A more active population places less strain on healthcare systems, loses fewer working days to preventable illness, and supports productivity across sectors. For a Kingdom pursuing economic diversification under Vision 2030, these gains compound over time. The 18–29 cohort’s 63.0% participation rate is especially significant because this group represents the future workforce, and habits formed now are likely to persist into middle age.

There is also a market dimension. Demand for gyms, sports apparel, wellness apps, cycling routes, and community facilities grows as participation rises, creating opportunities for local entrepreneurs and international brands alike. The female participation rate of 52.9% is particularly notable given the rapid expansion of women’s sport and fitness in the Kingdom, a shift that has opened new consumer segments and new role models. Strategic investments in parks, walkways, and sports clubs are not merely recreational; they are infrastructure for a healthier, more productive society. How do everyday choices about movement add up to national economic strength?

Vision 2030 Alignment

The GASTAT report connects directly to the Quality of Life programme, one of the central pillars of Saudi Vision 2030. That programme aims to improve lifestyles, strengthen community participation in sport, and make Saudi cities more liveable. The 59.9% adult participation rate is a concrete indicator of progress, while the children’s figures identify where sustained effort is still required. Together, they give the Kingdom a data-driven roadmap for the next phase of its transformation.

Looking ahead, the report’s value lies in what it enables: targeted campaigns, school curricula that prioritise movement, facilities designed for women and older citizens, and continued measurement to track results. Saudi Arabia’s leadership has consistently emphasised that national development is measured not only in GDP but in the wellbeing of its people. As the Kingdom prepares for a future in which sport, health, and quality of life are intertwined with its global identity, the 2026 Physical Activity Statistics report stands as both a milestone and a foundation. What will the next edition reveal about a nation on the move?

20 Questions

Q1. What does the GASTAT Physical Activity Statistics report for 2026 measure?

A1. It measures physical activity levels across Saudi Arabia’s population, including adults aged 18 and older and children aged 5–17, using internationally recognised weekly and daily activity thresholds. The report provides official data to guide health, sport, and quality-of-life policy.

Q2. What percentage of Saudi adults meet the 150-minute weekly activity benchmark?

A2. According to GASTAT, 59.9% of adults aged 18 and older engage in physical activity for 150 minutes or more per week. This figure reflects the Kingdom’s progress in promoting active lifestyles nationwide.

Q3. How do male and female adult participation rates compare?

A3. The report shows 63.4% of adult males and 52.9% of adult females meet the 150-minute weekly threshold. Both figures indicate growing participation, with continued efforts underway to narrow the gap further.

Q4. Which age group records the highest physical activity rate?

A4. The 18–29 age group records the highest participation rate at 63.0%. This suggests that younger Saudis are embracing active lifestyles, supported by expanding sports and fitness opportunities across the Kingdom.

Q5. Which age group has the lowest participation rate?

A5. Individuals aged 80 and older record the lowest rate at 13.4%. This highlights an opportunity for targeted programmes that support mobility and wellbeing among older citizens.

Q6. What share of children and adolescents meet the daily activity recommendation?

A6. Among those aged 5–17, 20.3% engage in physical activity for 60 minutes or more daily. The report identifies this as a key area for continued investment in school and community sport.

Q7. How do boys and girls differ in daily activity participation?

A7. The data show 27.1% of males aged 5–17 meet the daily 60-minute target, compared with 13.3% of females. Programmes promoting girls’ participation in sport are expanding to address this difference.

Q8. What does the report say about sedentary behaviour among young people?

A8. It finds that 33.8% of children and adolescents spend one to less than two hours per day in sedentary activities such as watching television or using electronic devices, excluding school time. This informs public health guidance.

Q9. Which official body published the report?

A9. The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT), Saudi Arabia’s central statistical authority, published the report. It was released through official channels including the Saudi Press Agency.

Q10. Why is the 150-minute weekly threshold significant?

A10. The 150-minute benchmark is an internationally recognised standard for moderate physical activity associated with better cardiovascular and metabolic health. Using it allows Saudi data to be compared with global figures.

Q11. How does the report support Saudi health policy?

A11. It provides age- and gender-disaggregated evidence that ministries can use to design preventive health programmes, allocate resources, and measure the impact of national campaigns promoting active living.

Q12. What role does the Quality of Life programme play?

A12. The Quality of Life programme, a Vision 2030 initiative, aims to improve lifestyles and expand community participation in sport. The GASTAT data help track progress toward those objectives.

Q13. Are the participation rates comparable with international benchmarks?

A13. Yes. Because GASTAT applies widely used activity thresholds, the Saudi figures can be compared with data from other countries and with World Health Organization guidance, supporting global research and cooperation.

Q14. What economic benefits follow from higher physical activity?

A14. Greater activity can reduce healthcare costs, improve workforce productivity, and stimulate demand for sports, wellness, and recreational services, supporting economic diversification under Vision 2030.

Q15. How does the report address women’s participation in sport?

A15. It provides official data on female participation at adult and youth levels. The 52.9% adult female rate reflects expanding access to fitness facilities, sports clubs, and community programmes across the Kingdom.

Q16. What does the report suggest for older citizens?

A16. The low participation rate among those aged 80 and older points to the value of age-friendly design, community walking programmes, and health initiatives that help older Saudis remain active and independent.

Q17. How can schools use these findings?

A17. Schools can strengthen physical education, promote daily movement, and encourage girls’ participation. The children’s data give educators a clear baseline for measuring improvement over time.

Q18. What is the significance of publishing through the Saudi Press Agency?

A18. Release via the Saudi Press Agency ensures the data reach the public, media, and international observers through an official, transparent channel, reinforcing trust in the Kingdom’s statistical reporting.

Q19. How frequently does GASTAT publish physical activity statistics?

A19. GASTAT publishes the Physical Activity Statistics report periodically to track trends over time. Successive editions allow policymakers to assess whether national programmes are producing measurable results.

Q20. What is the forward-looking message of the 2026 report?

A20. The report shows solid adult participation alongside clear opportunities to boost youth and older-age activity. It supports Vision 2030’s goal of a healthier, more active, and more prosperous Saudi society.

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