AusPlay results
2015-2023
This page contains AusPlay data collected from October 2015 to June 2023.
During this period, AusPlay collected national, state and territory data on nearly 400 different participation sports and activities in Australia, along with information on who participated in them. Data was collected via phone interviewing.
In July 2023, AusPlay transitioned from phone to online data collection. This change in methodology is a discontinuity, meaning that the phone time series has ended and participation trends re-start with the 2023-24 data.
A new baseline has been established with the 2023-24 data. It cannot be directly compared with figures from 2015-2023.
Unlock Sports Insights with the AusPlay Data Portal!
Explore and analyse survey data from October 2015 to June 2023 online through the ASC's Power BI platform.
July 2022 - June 2023
The 2022-23 financial year data tables provide national, state and territory estimates on participation in sport and physical activity.
- AusPlay Key Terms and Definition (287 kb)
- AusPlay Estimate Reliability Checker (152 kb)
National
Sports and activities
State and territory
2015-2023
The aggregated AusPlay data, opens in a new tab from October 2015 to June 2023 reveals the most popular sports, how participation evolves with age, and how participation compares across states, territories and local governments.
National participation
What sports and physical activities are most popular in Australia.
Participation by age
The way in which Australians choose to be active as they move through each life stage.
Health
The health of Australians and how they compare against the health guideline criteria.
State, territory and LGA participation
Participant behaviour across states, territories and local governments.
2015-2023
The Sport and Physical Activity Reports, covering the period from October 2015 to June 2023, provide a comprehensive analysis of participation trends, demographics, and behaviours in Australia.
- Archery, opens in a new tab
- Athletics/running, opens in a new tab
- Australian Football, opens in a new tab
- Badminton, opens in a new tab
- Baseball, opens in a new tab
- Basketball, opens in a new tab
- Boxing, opens in a new tab
- Bowls, opens in a new tab
- Bush walking, opens in a new tab
- Canoeing/Kayaking, opens in a new tab
- Cricket, opens in a new tab
- Crossfit, opens in a new tab
- Cycling, opens in a new tab
- Dancing, opens in a new tab
- DanceSport, opens in a new tab
- Equestrian, opens in a new tab
- Fishing, opens in a new tab
- Fitness/gym, opens in a new tab
- Football/soccer, opens in a new tab
- Golf, opens in a new tab
- Gymnastics, opens in a new tab
- Hockey, opens in a new tab
- Jujitsu, opens in a new tab
- Karate, opens in a new tab
- Martial Arts, opens in a new tab
- Motor Cycling, opens in a new tab
- Motor sport, opens in a new tab
- Mountain Biking, opens in a new tab
- Netball, opens in a new tab
- Oztag, opens in a new tab
- Pilates, opens in a new tab
- Rock Climbing/Abseiling/Caving, opens in a new tab
- Rowing, opens in a new tab
- Rugby League, opens in a new tab
- Rugby Union, opens in a new tab
- Sailing, opens in a new tab
- Shooting, opens in a new tab
- Shooting sports, opens in a new tab
- Skate, opens in a new tab
- Ski and Snowboard, opens in a new tab
- Softball, opens in a new tab
- Squash, opens in a new tab
- Surfing, opens in a new tab
- Surf Life Saving, opens in a new tab
- Swimming, opens in a new tab
- Swimming Detail, opens in a new tab
- Table Tennis, opens in a new tab
- Taekwondo, opens in a new tab
- Tennis, opens in a new tab
- Tenpin Bowling, opens in a new tab
- Touch Football, opens in a new tab
- Triathlon, opens in a new tab
- Underwater Sports, opens in a new tab
- Virtual Based Physical Activity ("Exergaming"), opens in a new tab
- Volleyball, opens in a new tab
- Walking, opens in a new tab
- Waterskiing / Wakeboarding, opens in a new tab
- Weightlifting, opens in a new tab
- Yoga, opens in a new tab
2015-2023
Between 2016 and 2023, a number of AusPlay publications were released, highlighting key insights into sports participation in Australia.
National participation update October 2023 AusPlay - National Sport and Physical Activity Participation Report - 2023 (6554 kb) AusPlay - Key findings: National Sport and Physical Activity Participation Report - 2023 (139 kb)
COVID-19 review October 2023 AusPlay - COVID Review October - 2023 (1013 kb)
Sport injury April 2023 AusPlay - Injury from Sport and Physical Activity in Australia Report - 2023 (944 kb)
Participation expenditure April 2023 AusPlay - Participation Expenditure Key Figures - 2023 (172 kb)
National participation update November 2022 AusPlay - National Sport and Physical Activity Participation Report - 2022 (4486 kb) AusPlay - Key findings: National Sport and Physical Activity Participation Report - 2022 (207 kb)
AusPlay Focus July 2022 AusPlay - Community Participation in Commonwealth Games sports - 2022 (1621 kb)
AusPlay Focus July 2022 AusPlay - How Australians’ participation in sport and physical activity is adapting to COVID-normal - 2022 (3287 kb) Ausplay - Key Findings: How Australians’ participation in sport and physical activity is adapting to COVID-normal - 2022 (1475 kb)
AusPlay Focus October 2021 AusPlay - Volunteering in sport - 2021 (3145 kb) AusPlay - Key Findings: Volunteering in sport - 2021 (1598 kb)
AusPlay Focus May 2021 AusPlay - Participation in Summer Olympic and Paralympic sports - 2021 (2660 kb)
AusPlay Focus October 2020 AusPlay - Early impact of COVID-19 on sport and physical activity participation - 2020 (4205 kb)
State of play On 30 April 2019 the ASC released individual reports for 20 of the most popular participation activities in Australia.
- State of Play Report - Australian Football - 2019 (1477 kb)
- State of Play Report - Basketball - 2019 (1475 kb)
- State of Play Report - Bush Walking - 2019 (1336 kb)
- State of Play Report - Cricket - 2019 (1464 kb)
- State of Play Report - Cycling - 2019 (1341 kb)
- State of Play Report - Dancing - 2019 (1435 kb)
- State of Play Report - Fitness Gym - 2019 (1351 kb)
- State of Play Report - Football - 2019 (1553 kb)
- State of Play Report - Golf - 2019 (1372 kb)
- State of Play Report - Gymnastics - 2019 (948 kb)
- State of Play Report - Martial arts - 2019 (1352 kb)
- State of Play Report - Netball - 2019 (1464 kb)
- State of Play Report - Pilates - 2019 (1334 kb)
- State of Play Report - Running Athletics - 2019 (1499 kb)
- State of Play Report - Surfing - 2019 (1327 kb)
- State of Play Report - Swimming - 2019 (1453 kb)
- State of Play Report - Tennis - 2019 (1467 kb)
- State of Play Report - Touch Football - 2019 (1361 kb)
- State of Play Report - Walking - 2019 (1354 kb)
- State of Play Report - Yoga - 2019 (1348 kb)
AusPlay Focus October 2018 AusPlay - Older Australians’ Participation - 2018 (1531 kb)
AusPlay Focus April 2018 AusPlay - Children’s Organised Out-of-school Participation - 2018 (1074 kb)
AusPlay Focus November 2017 AusPlay - Women and Girls Participation - 2017 (5979 kb)
Fact sheet April 2017 AusPlay - Australian kids need active, sporty parents - 2017 (449 kb)
First results December 2016 AusPlay - Summary of key national findings - 2016 (1374 kb)
General enquiries
Any questions or requests for further information about AusPlay can be directed to ausplay@ausport.gov.au.