When discussing the most practiced sports in Canada, the first point to clarify is what we actually mean by sport. Some sources include both organized sports (clubs, leagues, championships) and informal or recreational activities, while others focus exclusively on structured, competitive participation. This distinction significantly affects the figures and helps explain which disciplines truly “dominate” in 2025.
The Big Picture: How Active Are Canadians?
According to Statistics Canada, more than half of the population aged 15 and over reported practicing at least one sport in the previous 12 months: 55% overall. Participation remains higher among men (62%) than women (**49%).
When narrowing the scope to organized sport, the numbers decrease. The Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute (CFLRI) reports that 27% of adults take part in organized sports, meaning activities governed by rules, structures, and often competitive formats. This supports the idea that while many Canadians stay active, fewer do so within formal clubs or leagues.
Looking more broadly at physical activity (beyond sport alone), ParticipACTION’s Report Card indicates that 46% of Canadian adults meet national physical activity guidelines (150 minutes per week of moderate-to-vigorous activity). While not a ranking of sports, this figure helps contextualize sport participation within wider public health challenges.
The Most Practiced Activities: Swimming, Cycling, and Running Lead the Way
When considering sports in the broadest sense—where recreational participation plays a key role—three activities stand out clearly:
- Swimming: practiced by approximately 35% of Canadians
- Cycling: around 33%
- Running/jogging: about 27%
These figures highlight the strength of “accessible” sports: activities that can be practiced without club membership, with relatively low costs, and in a wide variety of settings such as public pools, bike paths, parks, and urban streets.
An interesting detail emerges from Statistics Canada data: swimming is the most popular sport among women, while cycling ranks highest among men. This does not diminish other disciplines, but it explains why swimming and cycling consistently remain at the top year after year.
Soccer: A Truly Global Sport With a Massive Registered Base
Among team sports, soccer continues to play a central role. Canada Soccer describes it as the country’s largest participatory sport, with nearly 1,000,000 registered participants across clubs and provincial or territorial associations. While this figure does not capture informal play, it provides a clear measure of organized participation.
In 2025, soccer also confirms its cultural importance: it often serves as an entry point for newcomer families and multicultural urban communities, thanks to manageable costs and widely available infrastructure such as school fields and municipal facilities.
Ice Hockey: National Identity With Complex Participation Dynamics
Ice hockey remains a powerful symbol of Canadian identity, but participation trends are more nuanced than in the past. On one hand, economic and logistical barriers persist, including equipment costs, ice access, and travel requirements. On the other hand, national systems report renewed growth.
For the 2024–25 season, Hockey Canada recorded:
- a 4% increase in total participation
- more than 70,000 new registered players
- a retention rate above 90% among children aged 5–16
These indicators point to a healthy structured system, even as debates about affordability and accessibility continue.
Basketball: Strong Urban Presence and Systemic Growth
Basketball is closely tied to urban and school environments:
- courts are widely available
- informal play is easy to organize
- basketball culture continues to expand
While participation data is not always as centralized as in soccer, growth at the elite and media levels suggests a broader ecosystem that increasingly draws new participants at the grassroots level.
Golf: Massive Numbers Driven by Recreational Play
Golf stands out for its sheer scale. Golf Canada reports that nearly six million Canadians played golf in 2024, explaining why the sport remains among the most widely practiced activities in 2025, particularly during warmer months.
In Canada, golf is often more recreational than competitive, but in terms of total participants, it represents one of the most significant sports nationwide.
Why Certain Sports Are Growing: Time, Cost, Infrastructure, and Data
Sport participation choices in Canada are shaped by several concrete factors:
- Time: lack of time is one of the most commonly cited reasons for not practicing sport
- Cost: sports like hockey, or those requiring specialized equipment and travel, can be less accessible
- Facilities: public pools, parks, and cycling infrastructure encourage informal participation, while dedicated venues influence organized sport
Within this context, the digital ecosystem surrounding sport has also become increasingly relevant. Professional disciplines generate vast amounts of statistics, analysis, and editorial content that reflect audience interest beyond participation alone. Alongside traditional media and streaming platforms, this analytical attention extends to broader sports-analysis environments, including online betting.
