The COVID-19 pandemic continues to pummel the health and fitness industry. The latest data shows health clubs, gyms, and studios continue to close at alarming rates, demonstrating the fitness industry's dire need for financial assistance. Tens of thousands of facilities have permanently closed, with thousands more at risk without the same access to the relief provided to other industries.
How Many Gyms Closed Because of the Pandemic?
Looking at data comparing the number of health clubs, gyms, and studios in operation as of March of 2020—when COVID-19 hit—to those same facilities remaining in operation as of December 31, 2021, we now know January 1, 2022:
25% of all health and fitness facilities closed,
30% of studios closed—an 11% increase since January 1, 2021—and
more than 1.5 million industry jobs have been cut.
Third-party payment processing companies that service 95% of U.S. health clubs, gyms, and studios provided the data for this analysis.
This new data proves that time is quickly running out for health and fitness facilities, and illustrates why economic relief is critical for the industry.