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A newly released survey on the fitness and health market has revealed that Australians spent up to $3.5 billion on fitness clubs and gyms in 2023 and that one in five of Australians over 18 have a gym membership.

The information, released by retail intelligence platform GapMaps and based on data powered by CommBank iQ - which tracks the largest 27 brands within the industry - shows that the top fitness chains across Australia have over 3,000 locations.

GapMaps’ 2023 Australia Annual Health & Fitness Centres Report, covering the last calendar year shows that Sydney residents spend more on fitness than those in Melbourne, with 16% higher gym spending per capita and a 13% higher ratio of major gym locations per capita. However, there are major variations in both gym spending per capita and gym store provisions across each city as outlined in detail within the GapMaps platform.

Anytime Fitness remains the largest chain nationally with 561 locations, adding a net additional 11 locations over 2023. 61% of all Australians live within 3 kilometres of an Anytime Fitness including 89% of Sydneysiders.

The report also reveals that despite cost-of-living pressures, the industry continues to grow, with the majority of operators increasing their network size in 2023. Excluding F45, the tracked brands added a net 53 locations in 2023. Brands such as Fitstop and BFT continued major expansions, adding 39 and 27 locations respectively.

It also indicates turbulence within the sector, with challenges at F45, who are now reporting 111 less locations on their company website versus 12 months prior. In addition, CrossFit now reports 39 fewer affiliated locations versus January 2023.

However, for both of these brands, while they are reporting large declines on their websites, up to half of the locations appear still to be trading - and their long-term affiliation with the brand is unclear.

GapMaps track the location of over 1,500 brands within Australia and this provides insights on where brands are clustering and the observable expansion and optimisation strategies of each brand.

Click here to view the 2023 Australia Annual Health & Fitness Centres Report.

Image: Anytime Fitness was Australia's largest fitness chain nationally with 561 locations in 2023.

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