Frequency of Sports and Exercise Among 4-11 Year Olds on the Decline. Over the Past Decade, Companions Have Shifted from 'Friends' to a Significant Increase in 'Lesson Peers'
The Sasakawa Sports Foundation published the 'Child and Youth Sports Life Data 2025.' The survey reveals a downward trend in sports frequency among children and an increasing reliance on paid lessons and clubs for sports activities.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 10, 2026 at 00:40
- 🔍 Collected: April 11, 2026 at 00:29 (23h 49m after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 20, 2026 at 00:00 (215h 30m after Collected)
The Sasakawa Sports Foundation (Location: Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo; Chairman: Kazutoshi Watanabe; hereinafter: SSF), which promotes 'Sport for Everyone,' has been investigating the 'frequency of implementation,' 'implementation time,' and 'exercise intensity' of sports among infants to youth in Japan every two years to clarify the current situation.
Recently, on March 24, we published the 'Child and Youth Sports Life Data 2025' (available at Amazon bookstores, etc.), which compiles the latest survey results (survey period: June to July 2025). This survey targets infants, university students, and working-age individuals aged 4 to 11 (sample size: 2,400) and 12 to 21 (sample size: 3,000). With the research theme of 'The influence of the surrounding environment on the sports life of children and youth,' it was found that the frequency of sports and exercise among children and youth is on a declining trend. In addition, we also introduce the sports companions of 4-11 year olds and the activity status of sports clubs for junior high and high school students.
▼ Official Website
https://www.ssf.or.jp/thinktank/sports_life/datalist/2025/index.html
[Key Points of Survey Results]
■ Ages 4-11
- The 'Non-participation group' was 4.0% and the 'Low-frequency group' was 24.2%, an increase of 0.9 points and 7.1 points, respectively, from the 2021 survey.
- As for implementation partners, 'with friends' was the highest at 75.4%. This was followed by 'with peers from lessons or sports clubs' at 58.1%, which is a 12.3-point increase from the 2012 survey.
- 'Lessons,' 'how to spend time after school,' and 'parents' expectations' had a relatively large impact on the frequency of implementation.
■ Ages 12-21
- 'Level 0' was 22.5%, an increase of 2.8 points from the 2021 survey.
- The number of active days per week for athletic club activities is highest at '5 days a week' (51.1%) for junior high school students and '6 days a week' (39.7%) for high school students. Junior high school students have been on a shortening trend since 2017, while the percentage of high school students active '6 days a week' and '7 days a week' increased from the 2023 survey.
[Comment from the Researcher in Charge]
In this survey conducted among children and youth, while the number of those who play sports at a high frequency has decreased, the low-frequency group has increased, indicating an overall decrease in the frequency of implementation. In addition, among elementary school students, there is a correlation between the presence or absence of lessons, how they spend time after school, parents' expectations for sports, and the frequency of implementation. It is inferred that the environment surrounding children's sports, such as the community, school, and family, is deeply involved in sports participation. Furthermore, as the main companions for 4-11 year olds have increasingly become peers from lessons and clubs over the past 10 years, the trend of engaging in sports as a formalized lesson is strengthening.
Nationwide declining birthrates and depopulation...
Recently, on March 24, we published the 'Child and Youth Sports Life Data 2025' (available at Amazon bookstores, etc.), which compiles the latest survey results (survey period: June to July 2025). This survey targets infants, university students, and working-age individuals aged 4 to 11 (sample size: 2,400) and 12 to 21 (sample size: 3,000). With the research theme of 'The influence of the surrounding environment on the sports life of children and youth,' it was found that the frequency of sports and exercise among children and youth is on a declining trend. In addition, we also introduce the sports companions of 4-11 year olds and the activity status of sports clubs for junior high and high school students.
▼ Official Website
https://www.ssf.or.jp/thinktank/sports_life/datalist/2025/index.html
[Key Points of Survey Results]
■ Ages 4-11
- The 'Non-participation group' was 4.0% and the 'Low-frequency group' was 24.2%, an increase of 0.9 points and 7.1 points, respectively, from the 2021 survey.
- As for implementation partners, 'with friends' was the highest at 75.4%. This was followed by 'with peers from lessons or sports clubs' at 58.1%, which is a 12.3-point increase from the 2012 survey.
- 'Lessons,' 'how to spend time after school,' and 'parents' expectations' had a relatively large impact on the frequency of implementation.
■ Ages 12-21
- 'Level 0' was 22.5%, an increase of 2.8 points from the 2021 survey.
- The number of active days per week for athletic club activities is highest at '5 days a week' (51.1%) for junior high school students and '6 days a week' (39.7%) for high school students. Junior high school students have been on a shortening trend since 2017, while the percentage of high school students active '6 days a week' and '7 days a week' increased from the 2023 survey.
[Comment from the Researcher in Charge]
In this survey conducted among children and youth, while the number of those who play sports at a high frequency has decreased, the low-frequency group has increased, indicating an overall decrease in the frequency of implementation. In addition, among elementary school students, there is a correlation between the presence or absence of lessons, how they spend time after school, parents' expectations for sports, and the frequency of implementation. It is inferred that the environment surrounding children's sports, such as the community, school, and family, is deeply involved in sports participation. Furthermore, as the main companions for 4-11 year olds have increasingly become peers from lessons and clubs over the past 10 years, the trend of engaging in sports as a formalized lesson is strengthening.
Nationwide declining birthrates and depopulation...