Prevalence of insufficient physical activity among adults aged 18+ in Ireland

Ireland: Prevalence of insufficient physical activity among adults aged 18+ was 21.9% in 2022. ▼ Falling

Latest (2022)
21.9%
Change on year
down 3.1%
World rank
117th
of 194 countries
All-time high
39.1%
in 2000
All-time low
21.9%
in 2022
Years of data
23
2000–2022

Prevalence of insufficient physical activity among adults aged 18+ in Ireland, 2000–2022

0102030402000201120222000: 39.12001: 38.42002: 37.72003: 36.92004: 36.12005: 35.32006: 34.52007: 33.72008: 32.92009: 32.12010: 31.32011: 30.42012: 29.62013: 28.82014: 27.92015: 27.12016: 26.32017: 25.62018: 24.82019: 242020: 23.32021: 22.62022: 21.9

Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.

Analysis

Ireland recorded 21.9% for prevalence of insufficient physical activity among adults aged 18+ in 2022. That is the lowest value across all 23 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.1% on the previous year and down 25.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, prevalence of insufficient physical activity among adults aged 18+ in Ireland peaked at 39.1% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 21.9%, in 2022.

That places Ireland 117th out of 194 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 23 years of available data.

Prevalence of insufficient physical activity among adults aged 18+ in Ireland, year by year

Annual values for Prevalence of insufficient physical activity among adults aged 18+ years (age-standardized estimate) (%) in Ireland, 2000 to 2022.
Year Value Change
2000 39.1%
2001 38.4% -1.9%
2002 37.7% -1.9%
2003 36.9% -2.0%
2004 36.1% -2.1%
2005 35.3% -2.2%
2006 34.5% -2.3%
2007 33.7% -2.3%
2008 32.9% -2.4%
2009 32.1% -2.5%
2010 31.3% -2.6%
2011 30.4% -2.7%
2012 29.6% -2.8%
2013 28.8% -2.8%
2014 27.9% -2.9%
2015 27.1% -2.9%
2016 26.3% -2.9%
2017 25.6% -3.0%
2018 24.8% -3.0%
2019 24.0% -3.0%
2020 23.3% -3.0%
2021 22.6% -3.0%
2022 21.9% -3.1%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 35.7% 32.1% 39.1% 10
2010s 27.6% 24.0% 31.3% 10
2020s 22.6% 21.9% 23.3% 3

Countries ranked near Ireland

  1. 114 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 22.6% compare
  2. 115 Botswana 22.3% compare
  3. 116 Myanmar 22.0% compare
  4. 118 Spain 21.8% compare
  5. 119 Ghana 21.2% compare
  6. 120 Gambia 21.2% compare

See the full ranking of 207 places →

More health data for Ireland

All data for Ireland →

Frequently asked questions

What is prevalence of insufficient physical activity among adults aged 18+ in Ireland?
Prevalence of insufficient physical activity among adults aged 18+ in Ireland was 21.9% in 2022, according to World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
What is the highest prevalence of insufficient physical activity among adults aged 18+ recorded in Ireland?
The highest recorded value was 39.1% in 2000.
What is the lowest prevalence of insufficient physical activity among adults aged 18+ recorded in Ireland?
The lowest recorded value was 21.9% in 2022.
How does Ireland rank for prevalence of insufficient physical activity among adults aged 18+?
Ireland ranks 117th out of 194 countries with data for 2022.
Is prevalence of insufficient physical activity among adults aged 18+ rising or falling in Ireland?
Over the last ten years it is down 25.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Ireland data come from?
The figures come from World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory, published as part of Prevalence of insufficient physical activity among adults aged 18+ years (age-standardized estimate) (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Prevalence of insufficient physical activity among adults aged 18+ in Ireland. Statizoid, drawing on World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory. Retrieved 06 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/prevalence-of-insufficient-physical-activity-among-adults-aged-18-years-age-standardized/ireland/

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About this data

Indicator
Prevalence of insufficient physical activity among adults aged 18+ years (age-standardized estimate) (%)
Source
World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory
Licence
CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO (WHO)
Coverage
207 places, 4,761 data points, 2000–2022
Last refreshed