The Outdoor Foundation (OF) and the Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) released the findings from their 2024 Outdoor Participation Trends Report. The report reveals that outdoor recreation participation grew to over 175 million people in 2023, marking the ninth consecutive year of record growth.
According to a press release, outdoor recreation participants increased across demographics and activities as new, more casual participants began hiking, biking, camping, running, and fishing.
In 2023, 22.2 million more Americans aged six and older participated in outdoor recreation than in 2019. For the first time, more than half of American women participated in outdoor recreation. Additionally, members of the LGBTQ+ community continued to be the most active adult cohort.
Another finding is that the participant base became more ethnically and racially diverse in 2023, though the change was slight. Seventy percent of participants were White, 10.3% were Black, 13.4% were Hispanic, 5.3% were Asian or Pacific Islander, and 1.4% identified as people with other ethnic and racial origins.
In addition to a diverse participant base, the average number of outings per participant fell by 11.4% – from 70.5 outings per participant in 2022 to 62.5 outings per participant in 2023. In 2023, 7.7 million Americans tried one or more outdoor recreation activities for the first time.
Kent Ebersole, president of OIA, emphasized that for any business aiming to succeed in today’s competitive marketplace, it is crucial to understand the evolving consumer base and outdoor recreation preferences.
“The data in this report reveals invaluable insights so that our members can strategically grow their business and so that our industry can serve a broader audience of participants and make outdoor recreation even more accessible,” Ebersole said.
For over 15 years, the Outdoor Participation Trends Report has been a comprehensive source of insights. The OF, the philanthropic arm of the OIA, funds the research that produces the annual report and publishes the findings in partnership with the OIA every year.
Lesford Duncan, executive director of the OF, highlighted that the report reveals notable shifts in outdoor recreation demographics. He acknowledged the positive trends in participation diversity but emphasized that more work is needed to keep up with the changing demographics of the U.S. population.
“The findings of this report are a clear call for our outdoor ecosystem, including outdoor industry and public sector efforts, to work together to increase participation by prioritizing representation and inclusion in design, marketing, programming, outreach, and advocacy,” Duncan said.
To read the full 2024 Outdoor Participation Trends Report, click here.
