If you live in a city, it can feel like “everyone goes to the gym.” You see crowds at 6 AM, packed treadmills at 8 PM, and new fitness studios opening every few months.
But when you look at India as a whole, the real answer is more surprising.
The most reliable way to measure “people who go to the gym” is through paid fitness facility memberships (gym or fitness centre memberships). That is what serious industry reports track consistently.
As of 2024, India has about 12.3 million fitness facility members (roughly 1.23 crore).
Membership penetration is about 0.8%, meaning fewer than 1 in 100 people are members of a gym or fitness facility.
When someone says “people who go to the gym,” they may mean different things:
So if you’ve seen wildly different numbers online, that’s why. Most serious reports focus on paid memberships, because it’s measurable across the industry. And for a business-focused blog (especially for Kore App), membership is the best benchmark.
India has around 1.23 crore gym/fitness facility members (2024). Penetration is still under 1%, which means the market is big but still early. Projections suggest memberships could rise to around 23.2 to 23.3 million by 2030, and penetration could reach around 1.7%. In simple words, gym culture is growing, but the biggest growth is still ahead.
This depends on what we count as a “gym.”
Some sources count commercial fitness facilities at around 46,500.
Other industry reporting estimates India has close to 69,400 gyms and fitness centres, which includes a lot of independent, neighbourhood gyms and smaller setups.
Both numbers can be valid because the definition is different. One is stricter, one is broader.
What matters for your understanding is this: India already has tens of thousands of gyms, but membership penetration is still low. That means many gyms are fighting for the same audience in cities, while the overall country still has massive room to grow.
Industry estimates place India’s commercial fitness sector at about INR 16,200 crore in 2024. Projections suggest it could grow to INR 37,700 crore by 2030.
This growth is not only about opening new gyms. A huge part of it will come from:
Membership is heavily concentrated in the top cities.
One key insight from industry reporting is that the top 10 cities contribute about 56% of market revenue, while they have only about 31% of fitness facilities.
That means metro and Tier 1 markets bring in stronger revenue per facility, because:
Gym membership growth in India is being driven by a mix of people, not just hardcore fitness lovers.
They join for energy, confidence, stress control, and looking better. Many also join because of long sitting hours, posture issues, and back pain.
People join after hearing warnings around weight, sugar, BP, cholesterol, or family history.
A lot of people are not “gym people.” They just want a routine they can follow without confusion.
Where gyms create comfort, safety, and supportive training, women participation improves quickly. Many gyms now grow faster by adding ladies batches, women trainers, and beginner-friendly group classes.
This is the most important part, especially if you run a gym.
Here are the real reasons gym penetration is still low in India:
Many beginners feel lost in the first week. If they don’t know what to do, they stop coming.
Many people choose walking, running, home workouts, or yoga because they are free or low cost.
If the gym is far, crowded, poorly maintained, or inconvenient timings, people quit even if they are motivated.
This is a big truth of the fitness business. People join with excitement, then life gets busy.
When attendance drops, many gyms notice only at renewal time. By then, the member is mentally checked out.
If you are a gym owner, the low penetration is actually good news.
It means:
Here’s a simple idea many gym owners learn the hard way:
Leads are not the main problem. Retention is.
A gym can get 100 admissions in January and still struggle by March if attendance drops and renewals do not happen.
If you want members to renew, focus on these four things:
The first week decides everything.
What helps:
If someone is absent for 5 to 7 days, that is a danger sign.
A quick friendly nudge can bring them back before they disappear.
People renew when they feel progress.
Progress is not only weight loss. It can be:
Many gyms lose revenue simply because renewals are not tracked properly or reminders go late.
Systems matter here.
Most gym owners start with a register, Excel, or WhatsApp reminders. It works until the gym gets busy, then follow-ups break.
This is where a gym management software like Kore App becomes useful because it helps you run operations consistently, even when your team is busy.
Common features gym owners look for include:
The goal is simple: reduce manual work, improve follow-up, and increase renewals.
Projections suggest memberships could rise from 12.3 million (2024) to around 23.2 to 23.3 million by 2030, and penetration could rise to around 1.7%.
That means the gym industry can almost double its member base in the coming years.
But the gyms that will win in this growth wave will be the ones that:
How many people go to the gym in India?
Based on paid membership estimates, India has about 12.3 million fitness facility members (roughly 1.23 crore) as of 2024.
What percentage of Indians have a gym membership?
About 0.8% membership penetration, which is under 1%.
How many gyms are there in India?
Estimates vary by definition. Some reports cite about 46,500 commercial fitness facilities, while broader estimates suggest around 69,400 gyms and fitness centres.
Why do people quit the gym quickly?
Most quit due to lack of routine clarity, low engagement, inconsistent attendance habits, and weak follow-up from the gym.
Is the gym market growing in India?
Yes. Projections suggest strong growth through 2030, with memberships potentially rising to about 23 million plus.
So, if you want the most accurate answer to “How many people go to the gym in India?”:
India has about 1.23 crore paid fitness facility members (2024), and gym membership penetration is still under 1%.
This tells you two things at once:
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