Global Sports Trends in 2025 According to Garmin
Active lifestyles continue to grow worldwide, as shown by Garmin’s 2025 Connect Data Report. The report shows an 8% increase in physical activity compared to 2024, reflecting greater public awareness of health and fitness.
Garmin’s research goes beyond activity counts by revealing shifts in exercise habits globally. Hybrid workouts, balanced cardio and strength training, and rising popularity of new sports like pickleball and padel are notable trends.
Running Remains Dominant, Strength Training Surges
Running leads with over 10.6 million recorded activities globally. Walking comes second with about 4.7 million, followed by strength training with over 2.3 million sessions.
Strength training stands out with a 29% global growth, marking its fourth consecutive year rising more than 20%. In Asia, it grew by 27%, surpassing cycling to become a top-three favorite sport.
In Indonesia, strength training surged by 65%, making it one of the fastest-growing sports in 2025. This indicates increasing public focus on building strength to improve long-term performance and prevent injury.
Daily Step Counts on the Rise, Indonesia Shows Improvement
More than half of Garmin users worldwide average above 8,000 steps daily. About 28% exceed 10,000 steps per day, exceeding standard health recommendations.
Hong Kong ranks first globally with an average of 10,663 steps, followed by South Korea and Spain. Indonesia averages 5,818 steps, 8.24% higher than last year, signaling growing health awareness.
Chandrawidhi Desideriani, Marketing Communications Senior Manager at Garmin Indonesia, states, “Users in Indonesia are increasingly using Garmin Connect to deeply understand their health patterns. Data plays a vital role in creating smarter, sustainable fitness routines.”
Padel Explodes in Popularity, Stress Levels Show Variation
Padel experienced explosive growth in Indonesia, with user activities rising 1,684% year over year. Other rapidly growing sports include track running (+124%) and tennis (+113%).
Garmin’s data also touches on mental health differences. Globally, women report 3% lower stress levels than men. The Netherlands records the lowest stress scores, while Indonesia shows the highest levels.
Indonesian users average a peak Body Battery score of 68 in 2025, slightly down from 70 in 2024, yet they remain among the top 20 globally.
Predictions for 2026: Increasing Reliance on Health Data
The use of wearable technology is expected to rise further, according to the American College of Sports Medicine. Metrics like heart rate variability (HRV), sleep quality, and VO₂ max are becoming integral to many exercise routines.
Fitness apps rank among the top four fitness trends, highlighting digital tools’ growing role in long-term exercise habits. Functional training, yoga, pilates, and core-focused workouts will continue to grow.
Fitness professionals are adopting physiological analytics to design science-based programs that support both physical fitness and mental health.
Garmin Connect Features Enhance User Experience
Garmin Connect+ offers a Rundown feature that summarizes yearly activity, daily steps, sleep scores, popular sports, and habit trends. This helps users track progress easily.
Additionally, Active Intelligence provides personalized long-term recommendations, and Live Activity enables real-time monitoring via smartphones. All functions integrate seamlessly with Garmin’s latest smartwatches.
This digital ecosystem strengthens Garmin’s mission to empower users to understand their bodies and live healthier, more informed lives.
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