Females Aged 15+
Headline indicators
Participate in sport or physical activity 1+ per week
Participate in sport-related activity 1+ per week
Participate through a sports club or association 1+ per year
Take on a non-playing role 1+ per year
Top motivations in 2022–23
Physical health or fitness
Fun/enjoyment
Social reasons
Psychological/mental health/therapy
To be outdoors/enjoy nature
![](https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0018/1121391/Female-running.png)
What’s changed?
Fewer females aged 15+ are motivated by being outdoors/enjoying nature in 2022-23 than in 2021-22. This is likely linked to exercise being used as a reason to be able to leave home during COVID-19 lockdowns.
Top barriers in 2022–23
Poor health or injury
Not enough time/too many other commitments
Increasing age/too old
Not a priority (any more)
Too lazy
What’s changed?
Not having enough time to exercise is becoming more of a barrier again for women, though it is not yet back to pre-COVID-19 levels.
![](https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0017/1121390/A-women-feeling-sick.png)
All participation rates 2016–17 to 2022–23
![](https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0020/1121393/Two-women-running.png)
What’s changed?
Participation rates among females 15+ have declined across regular frequencies. Rates for 1+ per week, 3+ per week, 5+ per week and 7+ per week, which increased for women during COVID-19, have dropped back to previous levels or below.
Most popular sport-related activities 2022–23
![](https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0005/1092371/Runner-AUSPLAY-Icon-Navy-Green.png)
777,000
![](https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0009/1092366/Swimming-AUSLAY-Icon-Navy-Green.png)
734,000
![](https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0011/1092368/Netball-AUSLAY-Icon-Navy-Green.png)
405,000
![](https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0005/1085918/Soccer-colour-navy-green.png)
242,000
![](https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0006/1092642/Triathon-iStock-1363881419-Navy-Green.png)
236,000
![](https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0004/1092370/Basketball-AUSPLAY-Icon-Navy-Green.png)
199,000
![](https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0007/1092643/Volleyball-AUSPLAY-Icon-Navy-Green.png)
178,000
![](https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0003/1092369/Tennis-AUSPLAY-Icon-Navy-Green.png)
174,000
![](https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0007/1092373/AFL-AUSPLAY-Icon-Navy-Green.png)
132,000
![](https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0014/1121108/Abseiling-iStock-1328340072-Colour-Navy-Green.png)
111,000
![](https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0009/1092366/Swimming-AUSLAY-Icon-Navy-Green.png)
853,000
![](https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0005/1092371/Runner-AUSPLAY-Icon-Navy-Green.png)
668,000
![](https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0006/1092642/Triathon-iStock-1363881419-Navy-Green.png)
503,000
![](https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0003/1092369/Tennis-AUSPLAY-Icon-Navy-Green.png)
184,000
![](https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0011/1092368/Netball-AUSLAY-Icon-Navy-Green.png)
147,000
![](https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0005/1092641/Surfing-AUSPLAY-Icon-Navy-Green.png)
115,000
![](https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0005/1085918/Soccer-colour-navy-green.png)
105,000
![](https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0004/1092370/Basketball-AUSPLAY-Icon-Navy-Green.png)
85,000
![](https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0004/1092640/Canoeing-Kayaking-AUSPLAY-Icon-Navy-Green.png)
76,000
![](https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0003/1092639/Equestrian-AUSPLAY-Icon-Navy-Green.png)
66,000
![](https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0009/1092366/Swimming-AUSLAY-Icon-Navy-Green.png)
659,000
![](https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0006/1092642/Triathon-iStock-1363881419-Navy-Green.png)
324,000
![](https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0005/1092371/Runner-AUSPLAY-Icon-Navy-Green.png)
195,000
![](https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0011/1092638/Golf-AUSPLAY-Icon-Navy-Green.png)
175,000
![](https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0003/1092369/Tennis-AUSPLAY-Icon-Navy-Green.png)
157,000
![](https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0010/1092637/Lawn-Bowls-AUSPLAY-Icon-Navy-Green.png)
110,000
![](https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0009/1092636/Martial-Arts-AUSPLAY-Icon-Navy-Green.png)
75,000
![](https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0004/1092640/Canoeing-Kayaking-AUSPLAY-Icon-Navy-Green.png)
73,000
![](https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0005/1092641/Surfing-AUSPLAY-Icon-Navy-Green.png)
60,000
![](https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0012/1121115/DanceSport-iStock-1427882012-Colour-Navy-Green.png)
49,000
Top 10 sports/activities shown.
![](https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0019/1121392/Female-swimming-on-the-starting-block.png)
Most popular non-sport-related activities 2022–23
![](https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0016/1115170/Fitness-gym.png)
1,688,000
![](https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0018/1115172/Walking.png)
1,223,000
![](https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0005/1115168/Bushwalking.png)
464,000
![](https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0003/1115175/Exergaming.png)
354,000
![](https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0019/1115173/Yoga.png)
349,000
![](https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0017/1115171/Pilates.png)
315,000
![](https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0008/1121120/Dancing.png)
120,000
![](https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0018/1115172/Walking.png)
2,019,000
![](https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0016/1115170/Fitness-gym.png)
1,353,000
![](https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0019/1115173/Yoga.png)
517,000
![](https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0005/1115168/Bushwalking.png)
508,000
![](https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0017/1115171/Pilates.png)
421,000
![](https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0003/1115175/Exergaming.png)
252,000
![](https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0008/1121120/Dancing.png)
84,000
![](https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0018/1115172/Walking.png)
2,494,000
![](https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0016/1115170/Fitness-gym.png)
1,431,000
![](https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0019/1115173/Yoga.png)
344,000
![](https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0005/1115168/Bushwalking.png)
323,000
![](https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0017/1115171/Pilates.png)
317,000
![](https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0008/1121120/Dancing.png)
111,000
![](https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0003/1115175/Exergaming.png)
72,000
Activities with estimates of less than 40,000 not shown.
*Virtual/technology-based/gaming exercise, for example, motion sensing console games, smart treadmills, online platforms such as Zwift.
![](https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0003/1121394/Women-walking-her-dog.png)