1 in 3 adults worldwide is insufficiently active | WHO estimates and the 2030 target

According to estimates published by the World Health Organization (WHO), as of 2022, about 1 in 3 adults worldwide—31.3%, or around 1.8 billion people—did not meet the recommended level of physical activity.

The recommended level

The WHO “Guidelines on physical activity and sedentary behaviour” (2020) set out the following levels for adults.

• At least 150–300 minutes per week of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity
• or at least 75–150 minutes per week of vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity
• or an equivalent amount and intensity through a combination of the two

Converted to a daily amount, that is a little over 20 minutes at moderate intensity. Looking only at the numbers, it is not an unreachable level.

The direction is the opposite

What is concerning is the trend. According to the WHO, the share of adults with insufficient physical activity increased by about 5 percentage points from 2010 to 2022. It is not improving; it is worsening. If this trend continues, it is projected to reach 35% in 2030.

Meanwhile, the WHO global action plan sets targets to reduce the proportion of people with insufficient physical activity by 10% by 2025 and by 15% by 2030. The current pace appears to be moving away from those targets.

That said, it is not all bad news. Decreases have been observed in a total of 22 countries—12 high-income countries in Europe, 4 in Oceania, and 6 in sub-Saharan Africa—and analysis indicates that if this trend continues, they are likely to achieve the target.

The figure of 1.8 billion people is so large that it can sound like someone else’s problem. But the breakdown is simply a count of “people who did not reach 150 minutes in a week.” Seen on the scale of one person, it is also a surprisingly reachable matter.

Regarding the situation in Japan, 2024 National Health and Nutrition Survey is also worth reading.

References: World Health Organization (WHO); Japan WHO Association

※This article introduces statistics and system information published by public institutions and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any specific disease. If you have health concerns, please consult a medical institution.

—The Value Village Editorial Team