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The fitness industry is growing in Switzerland. The number of fitness centers climbed to a record high last year.(symbolic image)
Keystone
The Swiss fitness industry continues to grow. The industry has now finally put the slump during the coronavirus crisis behind it.
At the end of 2024, there was a new record number of fitness centers in this country. With a total of 1,395 centers consisting of chain, individual and special interest fitness centers, there were 3.5% more than in 2023, as the industry association Swiss Active announced on Tuesday.
"The health and fitness industry in Switzerland is clearly continuing to grow," said Marcus Schwedhelm, President of Swiss Active, at a media conference in Zurich on Tuesday.
The number of members also increased again in 2024, rising by 4.7 percent. There are now 1.37 million people who are members of a fitness center. This shows that the Swiss population is significantly more "fitness-oriented" than its neighboring countries.
According to the industry association, 15.2% of the population in Switzerland are members of a health/fitness center. In Germany, the figure is only 13.8 percent and in Austria 13.9 percent, added Sarah Kobel from the German University for Prevention and Health Management (DHfPG), which conducted the study for the entire German-speaking region.
Together, the Swiss "Muckibuden" achieved a turnover of 1.3 billion Swiss francs in 2024. This is an increase of 7.6 percent compared to the previous year. On average, an annual membership cost around CHF 998 at the end of 2024.
Paid memberships are also being used more and more, as members in Switzerland train an average of 1.4 times a week. Two years ago, this figure was 1.2 visits to the fitness center per week.
Meanwhile, fitness center operators need fewer and fewer staff: "Although the number of employees in the industry is decreasing compared to the previous year, the proportion of permanent employees is increasing," explained Kobel.
Looking ahead, however, Schwedhelm is confident: "The economic mood in the industry is extremely positive." The willingness to invest and confidence in the future are also high.
The fourth edition of the study "Key data on the Swiss fitness industry" was conducted in collaboration with the German College for Prevention and Health Management.
03.06.2025, 11:21
03.06.2025, 12:07
