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EVIDENCE BASE FOR SPORT

Socio-economic status and sport

Socio-economic status, what might previously have been referred to as ‘social class’, can sometimes be overlooked in examining inclusion and equity practices. 1, 2

Socio-economic status is often seen as part of an intersectional understanding of how multiple factors can impact on an individual’s experience of discrimination or privilege in different aspects of their lives. 1, 3, 4

An individual’s socio-economic status can impact on how, or if, they engage with sport or physical activity (e.g., types of activities participated in, frequency of participation, etc.). 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

Through including people from across the socio-economic spectrum sports organisations can benefit from increased participation and diversity of ideas and perspectives that can help improve sustainability. 10 In return, sport can support positive physical, social, and mental wellbeing, educational, and employment outcomes. 11, 12, 13

Socio-economic status (SES) refers to where you stand in society based on both your social and financial position. This is usually measured by income, education, employment, occupation, housing, and family structure. 14

PARTICIPATION - 2018 to 2022



Australians aged 18 years and over are more likely to participate in sport at least once a week if they have higher household income, are employed, or a full-time student. 15
Participation in sport at least once per week tends to be lower for Australians aged 18 years and over who did not complete high school (i.e. Year 12). 15
People are more likely to be involved in non-playing roles if they have higher household incomes, are employed, engaged in home duties, or full-time students, compared to those with lower household incomes, those unemployed, retired, or on a pension, or those who did not completed high school. 16

Estimated age group participation in sport-related activities at least once a week 15

Household income
Employment
Education (highest level completed)
Most popular sport-related activities based on income (estimated participants, aged 18 years and over) 17
<$40,000
Swimming - 271,000
Running/Athletics - 198,000
Cycling - 191,000
Golf - 83,000
Bowls - 66,000
Tennis - 65,000
Football/soccer - 60,000
Basketball - 44,000
Netball - 31,000
Surfing - 29,000
$40,000 - $69,999
Swimming - 293,000
Running/Athletics - 241,000
Cycling - 218,000
Golf - 99,000
Tennis - 71,000
Football/soccer - 69,000
Basketball - 51,000
Surfing - 48,000
Cricket - 41,000
Netball - 40,000
$70,000 - $99,999
Running/Athletics - 300,000
Swimming - 295,000
Cycling - 241,000
Golf - 93,000
Football/soccer - 90,000
Tennis - 85,000
Basketball - 62,000
Netball - 58,000
Surfing - 57,000
Cricket - 46,000
$100,000 - $149,999
Running/Athletics - 445,000
Swimming - 437,000
Cycling - 358,000
Tennis - 124,000
Golf - 123,000
Football/soccer - 120,000
Surfing - 84,000
Basketball - 81,000
Australian Football - 66,000
Cricket - 63,000
$150,000 - $199,999
Running/Athletics - 403,000
Swimming - 317,000
Cycling - 295,000
Golf - 102,000
Tennis - 101,000
Football/soccer - 97,000
Surfing - 73,000
Basketball - 71,000
Netball - 60,000
Cricket - 57,000
$200,000+
Running/Athletics - 654,000
Swimming - 503,000
Cycling - 482,000
Golf - 198,000
Tennis - 186,000
Football/soccer - 146,000
Surfing - 116,000
Basketball - 102,000
Mountain Biking - 82,000
Cricket - 76,000
  1. It’s not all about gender or ethnicity: a blind spot in diversity programs is holding equality back, Carle Rhodes, Alison Pullen, Celina McEwen, The Conversation, (24 January 2023).
  2. Problematizing Social Justice in Health Pedagogy and Youth Sport: Intersectionality of Race, Ethnicity, and Class, Symeon Dagkas, Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, Volume 87(3), pp.221-229, (July 2016).
  3. Intersectionality, Australian Sports Commission, (accessed 21 February 2024).
  4. Equality and sport research 2020: technical report for sportscotland, Counsel Limited, (November 2020).
  5. Sports participation among lower income ACT households, Orima Research for the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Government, Sport and Recreation, (November 2021).
  6. Shocking health inequalities in England prompt £250m investment in physical activity, Liz Terry, Sports Management, (3 December 2023).
  7. Addressing the elephant in the room: the need to examine the role of social determinants of health in the relationship of the 24-hour activity cycle and adult cognitive health, Ryan Fisk, Narlon Cassio Boa Sorte Silva, Guilherme Moraes Balbim, et.al., British Journal of Sports Medicine, Volume 57(22), pp.1416-1418, (October 2023).
  8. Active and Inactive Young Australians: An Independent Review of Research into Enablers and Barriers to Participation in Sport, Active Recreation and Physical Activity among Children and Adolescents, Bellew, B., Rose, C., Reece, L., SPRINTER Research Group, University of Sydney for the NSW Office of Sport, (2020).
  9. Perspectives on Sport: Socio-economic variations in sport and physical recreation participation rates, Australian Bureau of Statistics, (April 2014).
  10. Benefits of inclusion in sport, Australian Sports Commission, (accessed 21 February 2024).
  11. Street soccer and homelessness: Exploring social identities, health, and well-being, Joseph O’Rourke, Andrea Bundon, Guy Faulkner, et al., Psychology of Sport and Exercise, Volume 70, (January 2024).
  12. World Children’s Day 2022: FiftyFive5’s Topline Insights for UNICEF, Fiftyfive5, (October 2022).
  13. In sport, we trust: How sport can bridge the UK trust deficit, SportED, (2019).
  14. Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA), Australia, Australian Bureau of Statistics, (27 April 2023)
  15. AusPlay Data Portal: Sport-related participation – frequency of participation, Australian Sports Commission, (accessed 12 February 2024)
  16. AusPlay Data Portal: Sport-related participation – non-playing roles, Australian Sports Commission, (accessed 12 February 2024)
  17. AusPlay Data Portal: Participation by activity, Australian Sports Commission, (accessed 12 February 2024)

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Last updated: 07 March 2024
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