The European fitness market has experienced a "strong recovery" after two difficult years that saw huge disruptions due to the pandemic.

According to the European Health and Fitness Market Report 2023 – published today (16 May) by Europe Active and Deloitte – the number of gym memberships in Europe increased by around 7 million during 2022, marking an 12.3 per cent jump from 56.2 million in 2021 to 63.1 million.

The figures mark a significant recovery for the sector. During 2020, a year defined by the pandemic, the number of active memberships across European health clubs fell by 10 million – or 15.4 per cent – from 64.8 million in 2019 to 54.8 million.

Other headline figures in the report show that revenues across the total European market increased by 66 per cent to €28.0bn in 2022, nearly reaching the pre-pandemic record high of €28.2bn in 2019

While there were 13 major M&A transactions in the sector during 2022, the top three fitness operators – by number of members – remain the same, with Basic-Fit (3.4 million members), RSG Group (1.81 million) and PureGym (1.66 million) leading the way.

Herman Rutgers, Europe Active Ambassador and co-author of the report, said: "The European Health and Fitness Market Report has become the gold standard for market research in the fitness and physical activity sector.

"Based on the strong rebound shown in our research we are still confident to reach Europe Active's ambition of getting to 100 million members of health and fitness centres by 2030".

Karsten Hollasch, Deloitte, commented: “Entering 2023, the European health and fitness market is back on its growth track. Looking ahead, a positive market development is expected also for this year, further supported by ambitious expansion plans of Europe's largest operators.”

To read the full report, click here.