HEALTH REFERENCE
Physical Activity Statistics in the U.S.
Recent, source-linked numbers on how Americans move, where participation gaps remain, and what the federal activity guidelines recommend.
Last updated: September 23, 2026
At a glance
Physical activity can look different from one person and season of life to the next. These statistics offer a plain-language snapshot of national participation, using the latest relevant public data available from U.S. health agencies.
This page is a reference, not personal medical advice. A health professional can help with questions about an activity plan that fits an individual’s circumstances.
About 1 in 4
U.S. adults fully meet the federal activity guidelines.
CDC states that only one in four U.S. adults meet both the aerobic and muscle-strengthening recommendations.
Source: CDC, About Physical Activity, updated August 12, 202522.5%
of adults age 25 and older met both activity targets in 2022.
The National Health Interview Survey found 22.5% met both the aerobic and muscle-strengthening guidelines.
Source: CDC MMWR, 2022 data, published June 6, 202446.3%
of U.S. adults met neither activity target in 2020.
In the 2020 National Health Interview Survey, 46.3% of adults met neither the aerobic nor muscle-strengthening guideline.
Source: National Center for Health Statistics, 2020 data, published August 202213.9%
of adults age 65 and older met both targets in 2022.
The age-adjusted estimate for adults 65 and older was 13.9%, with lower rates among people reporting disabilities or multiple chronic conditions.
Source: National Center for Health Statistics, 2022 data, published November 26, 202412.2% to 33.6%
was the 2022 range by educational attainment.
Adults with a high school education or less had the lowest reported rate of meeting both targets, while adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher had the highest.
Source: CDC MMWR, 2022 data, published June 6, 202416.1% vs. 28.5%
met both targets in the lowest rurality category and the West region.
A CDC analysis of 2020 data found that combined guideline attainment was lowest in nonmetropolitan counties and highest in the West Census region.
Source: CDC MMWR, 2020 data, published January 27, 2023FEDERAL GUIDELINES
What counts toward the adult guideline?
For substantial health benefits, federal guidance recommends 150 to 300 minutes of moderate-intensity activity each week, or 75 to 150 minutes of vigorous activity, or an equivalent mix. Adults are also advised to include muscle-strengthening activity on two or more days each week.
These targets are useful reference points, not a pass-or-fail test. Federal guidance also emphasizes moving more and sitting less, because some activity is better than none.
Read the federal activity guidanceMETHOD & SOURCES
How this page is maintained
The figures above come from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Center for Health Statistics, and the U.S. Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. Each statistic links directly to its source and identifies the year the underlying data was collected.
National survey estimates can change when newer data is published. Good Health Apparel Company reviews this page regularly and will update the figures when a newer comparable source becomes available.
Cite this page
Good Health Apparel Company. “Physical Activity Statistics in the U.S.” Updated September 23, 2026. https://health-matters.us/physical-activity-statistics
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