Playing and watching sports in Australia is a very popular pastime. The number of people who watch and support certain sports does not always correspond to the number of people who participate in a certain sport. Below is a discussion and a list of the number of participants in sports in Australia based on historical data from the mid-1990s.

The figures were taken from a publication by Active Australia (2000). The participation figures refer to persons aged 18 years and over for the period of 12 months during 1995-96. There is quite a difference between male and female participation in sport, as evidenced in the separate lists below.

“Australia’s recent participation data shows that over one in three children (0-14 years) engage weekly in organised sport outside school, while Football Australia registered nearly 1.9 million participants in 2024—underscoring how much youth sport, and particularly soccer, has grown.”

Total Number of Participants in Sports in Australia (1995-96)

The numbers in the table below are for participation in both organized sports and physical activities. The original source had over 40 sports, though only the top 20 are shown here. The most popular in terms of participation for that time period (1995-96) was aerobics, which is rarely considered a sport. In fact, since the time of the study participation in aerobics has significantly declined, largely replaced by modern fitness trends such as CrossFit, HIIT classes, and boutique fitness studios.

In terms of organized sports, golf is the highest ranked, though golf is also for many a physical activity and recreation, not an organized sport. In terms of this study, those who play competitive golf cannot be separated from those who have an occasional round of nine holes. The same applies to tennis, as not all tennis players participate in organized competition—some people just have a hit for fun and fitness.

Aerobics Dominance

In 1995-96, aerobics led all activities with 660,000 participants. This trend has since reversed, with traditional aerobics largely replaced by diverse fitness class offerings.

Gender Participation Gap

The data reveals stark gender differences, with AFL showing 98% male participation and netball 87% female. These gaps have narrowed considerably in recent years.

Soccer's Growth

Soccer ranked 12th in 1995-96, but youth participation has exploded since then, making it one of Australia's most popular participation sports today.

Comparing this data to the list of spectators at Australian sports, there is quite a difference. According to the ABS, the sport that people in Australia most like to watch is Australian Rules Football, followed by Horse Racing and Rugby League. On this participation list, AFL ranked 13th, and Rugby League was 25th, illustrating the disconnect between viewing and participation preferences.

💡 Pro Tip: When analyzing historical sports data, consider demographic shifts, immigration patterns, and the influence of professional leagues on participation rates. Australia's multicultural evolution has significantly impacted which sports attract participants.

See more discussion about Australia's most popular sport

Top 10 Sports and Physical Activities for Males and Females

The gender breakdown reveals striking differences in participation preferences. Male participation was dominated by traditional field sports—golf, cricket, and Australian Rules Football—while female participation centered on fitness activities, court sports, and lawn bowls.

Rank Sport Total % Males % Females
1 Aerobics 600,600 19% 81%
2 Golf 442,800 78% 22%
3 Tennis 317,000 43% 57%
4 Lawn Bowls 280,600 38% 62%
5 Netball 278,800 13% 87%
6 Swimming 166,600 40% 60%
7 Cricket (Outdoor) 164,300 95% 5%
8 Martial Arts 163,700 55% 45%
9 Basketball 161,200 58% 42%
10 Tenpin Bowling 152,400 44% 56%
11 Touch Football 141,600 74% 26%
12 Soccer 128,800 89% 11%
13 Aussie Rules 119,900 98% 2%
14 Squash 108,300 61% 39%
15 Indoor Cricket 93,100 82% 18%
16 Fishing 88,900 82% 18%
17 Volleyball 82,100 54% 46%
18 Walking 77,800 32% 68%
19 Dancing 77,500 17% 83%
20 Motor Sports 72,700 90% 10%
“The role of soccer in the adjustment of immigrants to Australia: a South Australian case study 1947 to 2013” - Justin Peter Civitillo, 2014