Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — Data from the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) revealed that 58.5% of individuals aged 18 and above engage in at least 150 minutes of physical activity per week across Saudi Arabia.

Meanwhile, 18.7% of children and adolescents aged 5 to 17 meet the recommended 60 minutes of daily activity, highlighting the varying levels of physical engagement across different age groups.

The 2024 Physical Activity Bulletin highlights key trends in fitness and lifestyle patterns across various demographics in the Kingdom.

The report shows significant differences between genders, nationalities, and age groups.

Men were found to be more active than women, with 23.2% of men meeting physical activity guidelines compared to 14% of women.

Non-Saudis also recorded higher activity levels at 62.5%, compared to 54.1% among Saudis.

Adults aged 30 to 39 led in weekly physical activity, with 62.6% achieving 150 minutes or more, while those aged 80 and above reported the lowest rates at just 12.2%.

Among children and adolescents, while 18.7% met the recommended daily physical activity levels, 35.3% were sedentary for more than three hours daily outside school hours.

Non-Saudi youth were slightly more active than their Saudi counterparts, at 19.4% compared to 18.5%.

Walking or cycling for transportation was the most popular form of physical activity among adults, practiced by 56% of respondents, followed by leisure activities (39%) and work-related activity (31%).

Regionally, Al-Baha had the highest rate of children and adolescents meeting the 60-minute daily goal, at 30.4%, while Riyadh recorded the lowest, at 14.7%.

Compiled using data from the 2024 National Health Survey, the Women and Child Health Survey, and population estimates from GASTAT, the bulletin provides a comprehensive analysis of self-reported physical activity levels among Saudi Arabia’s population, offering valuable insights into the nation’s health and fitness trends.