GASTAT Reveals Key Physical Activity Statistics For Saudi Arabia In 2024

The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) has released the 2024 physical activity bulletin for Saudi Arabia. The report reveals that 58.5% of adults aged 18 and above engage in at least 150 minutes of physical activity weekly. Among children and adolescents aged 5 to 17, only 18.7% participate in daily physical activity for an hour or more.

Men in Saudi Arabia are more active than women, with 23.2% of men engaging in regular physical activities compared to just 14% of women. Non-Saudis show a higher level of activity at 62.5%, while Saudis have a lower rate of 54.1%. The age group between 30 and 39 years is the most active, with a participation rate of 62.6% for those engaging in at least 150 minutes of activity weekly.

For children and adolescents aged between 5 and 17, the bulletin indicates that only 18.7% are physically active for at least an hour daily. Meanwhile, a significant portion, about 35.3%, spend over three hours daily being sedentary, which includes activities like watching TV or using electronic devices outside school hours.

Non-Saudi children and adolescents are slightly more active than their Saudi peers, with activity rates of 19.4% compared to 18.5%. Al-Baha Region stands out with the highest percentage of physically active children and adolescents, reaching up to 30.4%, whereas Riyadh records the lowest at just 14.7%.

Walking or cycling as a means of transportation is the most prevalent form of exercise among adults, practiced by about 56% of those surveyed. Leisure activities follow closely at 39%, while work-related physical activities account for about 31%. This data provides insights into how adults incorporate physical activity into their daily routines.

The bulletin draws its findings from the National Health Survey and the Women and Child Health Survey conducted in Saudi Arabia for the year 2024. It uses self-reported data from both adults (aged 18 and older) and children (aged between 5 and 17) to offer a detailed view of lifestyle habits across the Kingdom.

This comprehensive analysis serves as an essential resource for understanding physical activity levels among different demographics within Saudi Arabia's population during this period.

With inputs from SPA