According to Leger Opinion’s 2024 Physical Activity and Sport Survey, in collaboration with the Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute, 27% of adults have participated in sport in the year preceding the survey. Sport reflects physical activities that involve competition, rules, and developing specific skills. This particular summary examines sport participation by immigration status; for the purpose of this research summary, immigration status is characterized by where the respondent was born either within or outside of Canada. Indeed, sport participation was lower among adults who were born in Canada (26%), compared to individuals who were not born in the country (33%).
In addition to participation rates, “participation” reflects an understanding of the regularity of participation (months per year) and the frequency of participation (times per week) in order to distinguish regular participators and those who do not participate very often. Nationally, almost two out of ten adults (19%) who participated in sport did so every month of the year, whereas an additional 42% participated between six and eleven months of the year. Roughly four in ten (39%) participated in sport for less than six months out of the year.
However, the purpose of this summary is to investigate these factors by immigration status, which appears to be associated with the number of months participating. Fewer individuals born in Canada (37%) stated that they participated in sport for less than six months out of the year compared to individuals who were born outside of Canada (45%), whereas on the contrary, a higher percentage of adults who were born in Canada (21%) indicated that they participated all year long (12 months) compared to those who were born elsewhere (12%).
Figure 1: Regularity of sport participation (number of months/year) by immigration status
Source: 2024 Physical Activity and Sport Survey, Leger with CFLRI
Sport participants were also asked how frequently they participated in sport on a weekly basis during the months that they participated. Almost two out of ten adults (18% – 19% among those who were born in Canada compared to 17% who were born outside of the country) said that they participated frequently at four or more times a week. A further 34% reported two to three times a week (34% among those who were born in Canada and 32% among those who were born elsewhere). Just over one-quarter of adults (28% – 29% among those who were born in Canada and 25% among those who were born elsewhere) stated that they participated once a week. Two out of ten (20%) adults indicated that they participated less often or variably depending on the month or the season; fewer adults born in Canada (18%) indicated that they participated less often or variably compared to those who were born outside of the country (26%).
Figure 2: Frequency of sport participation (number of times/week) by immigration status
Source: 2024 Physical Activity and Sport Survey, Leger with CFLRI
More men than women participate in sport and this difference varies by immigration status
Overall, significantly more men than women (17% difference between the genders) participated in sport in the previous twelve months. This gender difference was also apparent regardless of whether the adults were born in Canada or elsewhere (15% difference between the genders among those born in Canada compared to a 23% difference between the genders among those who were born outside of the country). When exploring this relationship by immigration status, more men who were born outside of the country (43%) reported participating in sport in the past year compared to men born in Canada (34%), however, this relationship was not significant among women (20% of women who were born outside of Canada compared to 19% of women born in Canada).
Nationally, there were considerable declines in sport participation with increasing age; for example, 53% of 18- to 24-year-olds participated in sport compared to 13% of adults aged 65 years and older. This pattern was similar regardless of immigration status. There were also no specific differences per individual age groups by immigration status.
When combining age and gender together, the gender gap appeared among all age groups and the decline in participation rates with age appeared for both men and women. This was also the case among adults born in Canada, and also generally among those born outside of Canada with some exceptions (there were no significant differences by gender among 18 to 24 years who born outside of Canada and the decrease between 18-24-year-old men and 25-44-year-old men was not significant).
Figure 3: Participation in sport by gender and immigration status
Source: 2024 Physical Activity and Sport Survey, Leger with CFLRI
To understand participation better, we can also analyze frequency and regularity by age and gender for those born within or outside Canada. In terms of the number of months participating in sport, a greater percentage of men nationally (21%) reported participation during each month of the year compared to women (16%), whereas relatively more women (43%) said that they participated for less than six months out of the year compared to men (37%). We can then explore whether these national findings also existed when further examining them by immigration status. Among adults born in Canada, a higher percentage of women indicated that they participated in sport for less than six months in the past year compared to men, whereas relatively more men reported that they participated every month of the year. Among those who were born outside the country, there were no significant gender differences.
Looking at relationships in a different way, a greater percentage of men who were born outside of the country stated that they participated in sport for less than six months out of the year compared to men who were born in Canada, whereas a greater percentage of men who were born in Canada participated in sport every month than men born outside of Canada. These patterns were not significant among women.
There were very few significant differences regarding the regularity of participation (number of months) by age groups nationally, with one exception; relatively fewer older adults (65 years and older) indicated that they participated in sport for fewer than six months out of the year, compared to younger age groups. When considering immigration status, this relationship was significant among adults who were born in Canada. This age-related relationship was not significant among those born elsewhere.
Interestingly, however, there were no significant gender differences with respect to the frequency of participation per week at a national level. However, when looking at frequency of participation by gender and by immigration status, one significant relationship did emerge; a slightly greater percentage (21%) of men who were born in Canada indicated that they participated at least 4 days a week compared to Canadian-born women (15%). When looking at frequency of participation by age, a greater percentage of young adults (aged 18 to 24 years) reported participating in sport at least four times per week compared to adults aged 24 to 64 years, and this pattern was also significant among those who were born in Canada.
Almost half of adults participated in a structured sport environment.
Almost half of sport participants (47% overall; 49% of adults born in Canada compared to 42% born outside of the country) participated in a primarily structured environment, whereas 30% (30% of adults born in Canada compared to 31% of adults born elsewhere) reported a primarily unstructured environment, and 22% (21% of Canadian-born adults and 27% of adults born elsewhere) reported both types of environments.
A slightly higher percentage of men (33%) stated that they participated in primarily unstructured sporting environments compared to women (26%). This relationship was not significant, nor any others, when examining the structure of sport participation by gender and by where individuals were born.
In general, older adults (65 years and older) were most likely to have said that they participated in sport in primarily a structured environment, yet were least likely to say that they have participated in primarily unstructured environments. Among adults who were born in Canada, a greater percentage of older adults indicated that they primarily participated in a structured environment compared to those aged 25 to 64 years, whereas among adults born outside of Canada, older adults were more likely than 18 to 24 years to have reported this. For unstructured sport participation, a higher percentage of adults aged 25 to 64 years who were born in Canada indicated that they primarily participated in unstructured environments compared to older adults but this pattern was not significant among those who were born elsewhere.
Figure 4: Level of structure of sport participation by gender and immigration status
Source: 2024 Physical Activity and Sport Survey, Leger with CFLRI
Half of sport participants indicated that they competed in their sport. Relatively more men (57%) than women (39%) competed in sport. These gender differences also existed, irrespective of where an individual was born. For example, among individuals who were born in Canada, 57% of men competed for sport compared to 38% of women. Among those who were born elsewhere, 57% of men competed compared to 42% of women. Generally, there were no differences in the percentage reporting that they competed with age, regardless of where an individual was born.
Roughly half or less who participated in sport made use of supports, like using a coach or training.
The survey also asked about the use of a coach in sport and whether or not the individual trains. Almost one-third of adults (32% nationally; 31% of those who were born in Canada and 35% born elsewhere) reported the use of a coach for sport. There were no overall differences in the use of a coach by gender of the sport participant, nationally and by immigration status.
There was a considerable decrease in the use of a coach with increasing age of the participant (e.g., 51% of adults aged 18 to 24 years compared to 16% of adults 65 years and older). Although this relationship existed among those who were born in Canada, any differences were not significant among those who were born outside of Canada.
Figure 5: Use of a coach and training in sport by gender and immigration status
Source: 2024 Physical Activity and Sport Survey, Leger with CFLRI
Half of sport participants said that they trained for their sport. Relatively fewer adults who were Canadian-born (49%) trained for sport compared to those who were born elsewhere (59%). In general, a higher percentage of men (54%) stated that they trained for their sport compared to 44% of women. This relationship, however, only appeared among individuals who were born in Canada (53% of men compared to 41% of women), as interestingly, there were no significant differences among adults born elsewhere (59% of men compared to 56% of women).
Generally speaking, there was a decline in the percentage of adults who trained with increasing age, although this relationship was only significant among those who were born in the country. The age-related decline in training was not significant among those who were born elsewhere.
Production of this summary has been made possible through a financial contribution from the Government of Canada. The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent their views.
