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More than half of adults in Saudi (58.5%) aged 18 and over meet the recommended weekly physical activity threshold of 150 minutes, according to the General Authority for Statistics’s 2024 physical activity report (pdf). Meanwhile children and adolescents in Saudi (ages 5-17) reported lower activity levels, with only 18.7% putting in the recommended 60 minutes of daily physical activity. Riyadh had the least active children in the Kingdom with only 14.7% putting in recommended hours, while children in Al Baha were the most active in Saudi at twice Riyadh’s rate (30.4%).
SOUND SMART- The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that adults aged 18-64 shoot for “at least” 150-300 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise per week, or 75-150 minutes of vigorous exercise. Children and adolescents are encouraged to exercise for 60 minutes a week.
Saudis are less active than non-Saudi expats, and men are notably more active than women. Some 62.5% of non-Saudi adults of both genders meet daily physical activity requirements, compared to 54.1% of Saudis. Meanwhile, 64% of Saudi and non-Saudi males put in their required weekly workouts, compared to less than half (46.3%) of Saudi and non-Saudi women. In terms of age groups, individuals between the ages of 30-39 recorded the highest levels of activity, with 62.6% engaging in sufficient exercise, while those aged 80 and above reported the lowest activity with just 12.2% putting in enough hours per week.
Their go-to workout? Travel-related physical activities, such as walking, cycling for commuting, ranked as the most common form of exercise for adults in Saudi, accounting for 56% of physical activity. Non-work related physical activity made up 39% of the total, with work-related activity accounting for the remaining 31%.
