Swimming participation has slightly decreased in England to roughly 4.5 million people who go swimming at least twice a month. However, overall in the UK, outdoor swimming participation has gradually increased from 4.2 million people in 2015 to 6.1 million people in 2018, who went swimming outdoors at least once during the year. Other activites such as coastal walking, coasteering or just spending leisure time at the beach have also increased among British, while
Water sports in the United Kingdom (UK) - Statistics & Facts
Swimming participation has slightly decreased in England to roughly 4.5 million people who go swimming at least twice a month. However, overall in the UK, outdoor swimming participation has gradually increased from 4.2 million people in 2015 to 6.1 million people in 2018, who went swimming outdoors at least once during the year. Other activites such as coastal walking, coasteering or just spending leisure time at the beach have also increased among British, while
Key insights
- Number of adults participating in swimming at least twice a month in England
- 3.8m

Detailed statistics
Swimming participation England 2016-2022
- Share of children 5-16 years who swim at least once a month
- 11.3%

Detailed statistics
Children participating in swimming activities in England 2018-2021
- Share of adults in Scotland who swim at least once a month
- 2%

Detailed statistics
Scotland: swimming participation of adults in the last 4 weeks 2007-2020
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Participation
7
- Premium Statistic Water sports participation England 2016-2022
- Basic Statistic Participation rate in watersports activities in the United Kingdom (UK) 2005-2019
- Basic Statistic Share of individuals participating in watersports in the UK 2019, by activity
- Basic Statistic United Kingdom: number of outdoor watersport participants in 2018, by activity
- Premium Statistic UK: distribution of water sports activity events in 2015-2017, by area
- Premium Statistic UK: distribution of people participating in water sport activities in 2019, by season
- Premium Statistic Waterskiing participation England 2016-2020
Participation
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Premium Statistic
Water sports participation England 2016-2022
Water sports participation England 2016-2022
Number of people participating in water sports in England from 2016 to 2022
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Basic Statistic
Participation rate in watersports activities in the United Kingdom (UK) 2005-2019
Participation rate in watersports activities in the United Kingdom (UK) 2005-2019
Participation rate in any watersports activities in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2005 to 2019
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Basic Statistic
Share of individuals participating in watersports in the UK 2019, by activity
Share of individuals participating in watersports in the UK 2019, by activity
Share of individuals participating in watersports in the United Kingdom (UK) in 2019, by activity
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Basic Statistic
United Kingdom: number of outdoor watersport participants in 2018, by activity
United Kingdom: number of outdoor watersport participants in 2018, by activity
Leading outdoor watersport activities in the United Kingdom (UK) in 2018, by number of participants (in 1,000)
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Premium Statistic
UK: distribution of water sports activity events in 2015-2017, by area
UK: distribution of water sports activity events in 2015-2017, by area
Distribution of any water sports activity events in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2015 to 2017, by area
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Premium Statistic
UK: distribution of people participating in water sport activities in 2019, by season
UK: distribution of people participating in water sport activities in 2019, by season
Distribution of people participating in water sport activities in the United Kingdom (UK) in 2019, by season
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Premium Statistic
Waterskiing participation England 2016-2020
Waterskiing participation England 2016-2020
Number of people participating in waterskiing in England from 2016 to 2020
Fishing
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- Premium Statistic Angling participation in England 2015-2022
- Premium Statistic Children participating in fishing in England 2010-2018
- Premium Statistic Number of sales of rod fishing licences sold in England 2016/17, by area
- Premium Statistic England and Wales: number of net fishing licences from 2008 to 2019
- Premium Statistic United Kingdom: monitored water bodies 2018/19, by band classes of fish population
- Premium Statistic NI: DCAL enforcement activities against illegal fishing on private waters 2011-2018
- Premium Statistic NI: DCAL enforcement activities against illegal fishing on DAERA waters 2017/2018
Fishing
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Premium Statistic
Angling participation in England 2015-2022
Angling participation in England 2015-2022
Number of people participating in angling in England from 2015 to 2022
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Premium Statistic
Children participating in fishing in England 2010-2018
Children participating in fishing in England 2010-2018
Share of children participating in fishing or angling in the last 4 weeks in England from 2010/11 to 2017/18
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Premium Statistic
Number of sales of rod fishing licences sold in England 2016/17, by area
Number of sales of rod fishing licences sold in England 2016/17, by area
Number of rod fishing licences sold in England in 2016/2017, by area (in 1,000)
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Premium Statistic
England and Wales: number of net fishing licences from 2008 to 2019
England and Wales: number of net fishing licences from 2008 to 2019
Number of net fishing licences in England and Wales from 2008 to 2019
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Premium Statistic
United Kingdom: monitored water bodies 2018/19, by band classes of fish population
United Kingdom: monitored water bodies 2018/19, by band classes of fish population
Distribution of water bodies assessed for fish in the United Kingdom (UK) in 2018/2019, by band classes of fish population
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Premium Statistic
NI: DCAL enforcement activities against illegal fishing on private waters 2011-2018
NI: DCAL enforcement activities against illegal fishing on private waters 2011-2018
Number of protection and enforcement activities by the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL) against illegal fishing on private waters in Northern Ireland from 2010/2011 to 2017/2018, by category
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Premium Statistic
NI: DCAL enforcement activities against illegal fishing on DAERA waters 2017/2018
NI: DCAL enforcement activities against illegal fishing on DAERA waters 2017/2018
Number of enforcement activities by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) waters in Northern Ireland in 2017/2018, by type
Swimming
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- Basic Statistic Swimming participation England 2016-2022
- Basic Statistic Children participating in swimming activities in England 2018-2021
- Premium Statistic Scotland: swimming participation of adults in the last 4 weeks 2007-2020
- Premium Statistic Scotland: swimming participation by adults in the last 4 weeks in 2019, by age group
- Premium Statistic Scotland: number of registered officials of Scottish Swimming from 2011 to 2020
- Premium Statistic Wales: swimming participation of primary and secondary school pupils 2018, by gender
- Premium Statistic Wales: swimming participation of FE college students 2018, by institution
Swimming
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Basic Statistic
Swimming participation England 2016-2022
Swimming participation England 2016-2022
Number of people participating in swimming in England from 2016 to 2022
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Basic Statistic
Children participating in swimming activities in England 2018-2021
Children participating in swimming activities in England 2018-2021
Share of children participating in swimming, diving or lifesaving activities in the last 4 weeks in England from 2017/18 to 2020/21
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Premium Statistic
Scotland: swimming participation of adults in the last 4 weeks 2007-2020
Scotland: swimming participation of adults in the last 4 weeks 2007-2020
Share of adults who participated in swimming in the past four weeks in Scotland from 2007 to 2020
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Premium Statistic
Scotland: swimming participation by adults in the last 4 weeks in 2019, by age group
Scotland: swimming participation by adults in the last 4 weeks in 2019, by age group
Share of adults who participated in swimming in the past four weeks in Scotland in 2019, by age group
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Premium Statistic
Scotland: number of registered officials of Scottish Swimming from 2011 to 2020
Scotland: number of registered officials of Scottish Swimming from 2011 to 2020
Number of officials registered with the swimming technical officials committee of Scottish Swimming in Scotland from 2011 to 2020, by region
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Premium Statistic
Wales: swimming participation of primary and secondary school pupils 2018, by gender
Wales: swimming participation of primary and secondary school pupils 2018, by gender
Swimming participation of primary and secondary school pupils in any form or setting in Wales 2018, by gender
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Premium Statistic
Wales: swimming participation of FE college students 2018, by institution
Wales: swimming participation of FE college students 2018, by institution
Swimming participation of further education college students in Wales 2018, by institution
Boating
8
- Premium Statistic UK: share of people participating in any boating activity 2002-2018
- Premium Statistic UK: share of people who own any boat 2007 to 2017
- Premium Statistic UK: share of people who own a boat 2017 by type
- Basic Statistic Boating activites: seasonal participation in the United Kingdom (UK) 2017
- Premium Statistic UK: distribution of people participating in boating activities in 2017, by season
- Premium Statistic UK: distribution of lifejacket usage for any boating activity from 2013 to 2017
- Premium Statistic England: share of people who had taken a break from boating 2016, by reason
- Premium Statistic England: share of people who got brought back to boating 2016, by reason
Boating
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Premium Statistic
UK: share of people participating in any boating activity 2002-2018
UK: share of people participating in any boating activity 2002-2018
Share of people participating in any boating activity in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2002 to 2018
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Premium Statistic
UK: share of people who own any boat 2007 to 2017
UK: share of people who own any boat 2007 to 2017
Share of people who own a recreational boat in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2007 to 2017
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Premium Statistic
UK: share of people who own a boat 2017 by type
UK: share of people who own a boat 2017 by type
Share of people owning a boat in the United Kingdom (UK) in 2017, by type
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Basic Statistic
Boating activites: seasonal participation in the United Kingdom (UK) 2017
Boating activites: seasonal participation in the United Kingdom (UK) 2017
Distribution of seasonal participation in recreational boating activities in the United Kingdom (UK) 2017
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Premium Statistic
UK: distribution of people participating in boating activities in 2017, by season
UK: distribution of people participating in boating activities in 2017, by season
Distribution of people participating in boating activities in the United Kingdom (UK) in 2017, by season
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Premium Statistic
UK: distribution of lifejacket usage for any boating activity from 2013 to 2017
UK: distribution of lifejacket usage for any boating activity from 2013 to 2017
Distribution of lifejacket usage for recreational boating activity in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2013 to 2017
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Premium Statistic
England: share of people who had taken a break from boating 2016, by reason
England: share of people who had taken a break from boating 2016, by reason
Share of people who had taken a break from boating in England in 2016, by reason (top three)
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Premium Statistic
England: share of people who got brought back to boating 2016, by reason
England: share of people who got brought back to boating 2016, by reason
Share of people who got brought back to boating in England in 2016, by reason (top three)
Public funding
5
- Premium Statistic Public funding for Olympic diving in the UK since 2000, by location of games
- Premium Statistic Public funding for Olympic rowing in the UK since 2000, by location of games
- Premium Statistic Public funding for Olympic sailing in the UK since 2000, by location of games
- Premium Statistic Public funding for Olympic swimming in the UK since 2000, by location of games
- Premium Statistic UK: Sport England's public funding for British Water Ski and Wakeboard 2013-2017
Public funding
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Premium Statistic
Public funding for Olympic diving in the UK since 2000, by location of games
Public funding for Olympic diving in the UK since 2000, by location of games
Public funding for Olympic diving in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2000 to 2024, by location of games (in GBP)
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Premium Statistic
Public funding for Olympic rowing in the UK since 2000, by location of games
Public funding for Olympic rowing in the UK since 2000, by location of games
Public funding for Olympic rowing in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2000 to 2024, by location of games (in GBP)
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Premium Statistic
Public funding for Olympic sailing in the UK since 2000, by location of games
Public funding for Olympic sailing in the UK since 2000, by location of games
Public funding for Olympic sailing in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2000 to 2024, by location of games (in GBP)
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Premium Statistic
Public funding for Olympic swimming in the UK since 2000, by location of games
Public funding for Olympic swimming in the UK since 2000, by location of games
Public funding for Olympic swimming in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2000 to 2024, by location of games (in GBP)
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Premium Statistic
UK: Sport England's public funding for British Water Ski and Wakeboard 2013-2017
UK: Sport England's public funding for British Water Ski and Wakeboard 2013-2017
Sport England's investment plans for British Water Ski and Wakeboard* in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2013 to 2017, by category (in 1,000 GBP)
Membership
7
- Premium Statistic United Kingdom: number of Royal Yachting Association (RYA) clubs 2016, by country
- Premium Statistic United Kingdom: number of Royal Yachting Association club members 2016, by country
- Premium Statistic Swimming club membership in England 2016-2021
- Premium Statistic Sailing club membership in England 2016-2021
- Premium Statistic Canoeing club membership in England 2016-2021
- Premium Statistic Swim Wales: number of members from 2011 to 2019
- Premium Statistic Scottish Canoe Association: number of members in Scotland 2015-2022
Membership
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Premium Statistic
United Kingdom: number of Royal Yachting Association (RYA) clubs 2016, by country
United Kingdom: number of Royal Yachting Association (RYA) clubs 2016, by country
Number of Royal Yachting Association (RYA) clubs in the United Kingdom (UK) in 2016, by country
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Premium Statistic
United Kingdom: number of Royal Yachting Association club members 2016, by country
United Kingdom: number of Royal Yachting Association club members 2016, by country
Number of Royal Yachting Association (RYA) club members in the United Kingdom (UK) in 2016, by country
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Premium Statistic
Swimming club membership in England 2016-2021
Swimming club membership in England 2016-2021
Share of swimming participants who are members of a club in England from 2016/2017 to 2020/2021
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Premium Statistic
Sailing club membership in England 2016-2021
Sailing club membership in England 2016-2021
Share of sailing participants who are members of a club in England from 2016/2017 to 2020/2021
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Premium Statistic
Canoeing club membership in England 2016-2021
Canoeing club membership in England 2016-2021
Share of canoeing participants who are members of a club in England from 2016/2017 to 2020/2021
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Premium Statistic
Swim Wales: number of members from 2011 to 2019
Swim Wales: number of members from 2011 to 2019
Number of members of Swim Wales from 2011 to 2019
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Premium Statistic
Scottish Canoe Association: number of members in Scotland 2015-2022
Scottish Canoe Association: number of members in Scotland 2015-2022
Number of members of the Scottish Canoe Association in Scotland from 2015 to 2022
Import & export
4
Import & export
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Basic Statistic
United Kingdom: sailboards import value 2014-2018
United Kingdom: sailboards import value 2014-2018
Value of sailboards imported to United Kingdom from 2014 to 2018 (in 1,000 British pounds)
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Basic Statistic
United Kingdom: sailboards export value 2014-2018
United Kingdom: sailboards export value 2014-2018
Value of sailboards exported from United Kingdom from 2014 to 2018 (in 1,000 British pounds)
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Basic Statistic
United Kingdom: water-skis and surfboards imports 2014-2018
United Kingdom: water-skis and surfboards imports 2014-2018
Value of water-skis, surfboards and other water-sport equipment imported to United Kingdom from 2014 to 2018 (in 1,000 British pounds)
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Basic Statistic
United Kingdom: water-skis and surfboards export value 2014-2018
United Kingdom: water-skis and surfboards export value 2014-2018
Value of water-skis, surfboards and other water-sport equipment exported from United Kingdom from 2014 to 2018 (in 1,000 British pounds)
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