30+ Recreation Industry Statistics to Know in 2024

If you own a business in the recreation & entertainment industry, it helps to keep up with industry stats and trends. That way, you know what your audience wants (and what they may demand in the future).

Ready to dive in? Keep reading to get the inside scoop with these recreation industry statistics:

• General recreation industry statistics
• Recreation industry trends statistics
• Recreation industry technology statistics
• Recreation industry demographics statistics

Ready to elevate your recreation and entertainment business? Contact our digital marketing experts today!

General recreation industry statistics

Did you know most people in the United States spend around 5 hours on leisure activities daily? Not surprisingly, the recreation and entertainment industry is booming and is expected to continue growing:

1. Roughly $563 billion of the U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) is attributed to the outdoor recreation economy
2. $395 billion in revenue is currently generated by the arts, entertainment, and recreation sector in the U.S.
3. $316 billion is how much the TV and video market is expected to generate in revenue by 2029
4. $279.5 billion in revenue is currently generated by the TV and video market
5. $137 billion in revenue is how much the video streaming (SVoD) market is expected to reach worldwide by 2027
6. $35.5 billion is the value of RVing, the largest conventional activity in the U.S.
7. 7 million people in the U.S. are employed by the outdoor recreation sector
8. 9% is how much the SVoD market is expected to grow annually worldwide from 2024 to 2027
9. 7% is how much revenue generated by the arts, entertainment, and recreation sector in the U.S. has dropped since 2019
10. Just over 2% of the U.S. GDP is attributed to the outdoor recreation economy

Recreation industry trends statistics

Americans value their recreational time and hobbies. See how people spend their leisure time with these recreation industry trend stats:

11. 85% is how much pickleball participation has grown year-over-year (YoY)
12. 80% of outdoor recreation activities experienced participation growth in 2022
13. Nearly 70% of Americans describe themselves as sports fans
14. 61% of adults view their hobbies and leisure activities as “highly important” to them
15. 55% of the U.S. population over the age of 6 participated in outdoor recreational activities
16. 48% of Americans have played a sport
17. 41% of Americans named cooking & baking as their favorite recreational hobby
18. 31% of Americans named various outdoor activities as their favorite recreational hobby
19. 19% of Americans listed sports and fitness as their favorite recreational hobby
20. 8.9 million people in the U.S. play pickleball

Recreation industry technology statistics

Technology is rapidly changing the way we work and play. That said, expect technology to become more integrated in all sectors of the recreation industry. Don’t believe us? Check out these recreation industry technology statistics:

21. 54% of theme park goers want to be able to plan their itineraries in advance via technology (book spots on rides, virtual lines, etc.)
22. 52% of theme park goers would be more likely to buy refreshments if they could pre-order them for pickup
23. Roughly 33% of Americans use wearable technology like smartwatches to track health data

Recreation industry demographics statistics

Who’s participating in recreational activities? Knowing demographics can help you target the right audience when marketing your recreation business.

Take a look at these recreation industry stats on demographics:

24. 66% of people aged 18-34 rate recreational activities and hobbies as “very important” or “extremely important”
25. 64% of men rate recreational activities and hobbies as “very important” or “extremely important”
26. 58% of women rate recreational activities and hobbies as “Very important” or “Extremely important”
27. 54% of male Americans play sports
28. 52% of Americans aged 18-34 play a sport
29. 52% of Americans aged 35-54 play a sport
30. 43% of female Americans play sports
31. 42% of Americans aged 55+ years play a sport
32. 27% of wealthy individuals in North America are interested in outdoor recreation

Ready to get your name out there?

If you feel inspired by recreation industry statistics and want to do more to reach your customers, we can help! Our digital marketing experts can help your recreation & entertainment business develop a winning strategy customized to your needs and goals.

We have 25+ years of experience helping companies in various industries generate leads and convert prospects. Contact us online today or give us a call at 888-601-5359 to learn more about WebFX’s recreation & entertainment marketing services!

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