Danish sports club membership reaches record high

A record 2.5 million Danes are now members of a sports association, marking the fourth consecutive year of growth, according to new figures from the National Olympic Committee and Sports Confederation of Denmark (DIF) and the Danish Gymnastics and Sports Associations (DGI).

The latest membership data for 2025 shows sustained demand for organised sports, with fitness activities leading the increase. Since 2024, fitness clubs alone have added 15,255 new members, bringing the total to 239,253.

At Vejrum Borger- og Gymnastikforening in Struer, membership in three disciplines—Jumping Fitness, Dance Fitness, and Cross Dance—has more than doubled, rising from 51 in 2024 to 130 in 2025. Liv Berendt Fogh Kristensen, a new member on maternity leave, cited both social connection and physical recovery as motivations for joining.

“It’s incredibly fun. I look forward to it every Wednesday,” she said. “After pregnancy, I thought it would be good to get moving again.”

Women are driving much of the growth, with their membership increase nearly double that of men over the past year. Charlotte Bach Thomassen, DGI’s national chair, attributed the rise in fitness participation to diverse offerings, from traditional gym workouts to group classes integrated into sports like football and handball.

“There’s something for everyone, whether you’re experienced or just starting out,” Kristensen noted.

Thomassen called the trend “fantastic” and credited Denmark’s strong tradition of local sports clubs, which continue to adapt to demand. “Sports associations are in top form,” she said.

Football remains the most popular activity with 390,529 members, though it saw a slight decline. Gymnastics, swimming, and golf also gained members, with swimming adding 11,488 participants since 2024.