The World's Most And Least Active Countries

Have you ever wondered where people tend to walk the most every day on average? Scientists at Stanford University have answered this question by collecting data on a "planetary-scale" to determine how active people are in different countries. While Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare recommends a person walk 8,000 to 10,000 steps a day, the UK's National Obesity Forum says somebody walking 7,000 to 10,000 would be considered moderately active.

The research found that on average, people walk 4,961 steps a day, far less than the recommended amount above. People in Hong Kong are the most active with 6,880 steps a day while they are least active in Indonesia, averaging a mere 3,513. The infographic below shows the average steps taken in a selection of larger countries included in the research. In China, people average 6,189 steps a day while in Japan, that number is 6,019. Americans are less active and can be found in the middle of the pack, averaging 4,774 daily steps.