The Active Lives Children and Young People (CYP) Survey provides insight on the sport and physical activity behaviours of children and young people aged 5-16 years old. The latest headline data (published 4th December) cover the last academic year (Sept 2024 – July 2025).
The data show that, in London:
- Just under half of CYP (47%, 529,000) are classed as ‘active’ (taking part in sport and physical activity for an average of 60 minutes or more every day)
- 53% (594,600) are not meeting the Chief Medical Officers’ guidelines for physical activity
- Brent (43%), Islington (35%), Enfield (35%), Greenwich (34%), Kensington and Chelsea (34%), Sutton (34%), Newham (33%), Tower Hamlets (33%), Bexley (32%), Hillingdon (31%), Waltham Forest (31%), and Kingston-upon-Thames (30%) have a higher proportion of ‘less active’ CYP than the London (and national) average
Nationally, significant inequalities remain in activity levels with:
- Boys (52%) more likely to be active than girls (46%)
- CYP of Black, Asian and other ethnicities are the least likely to be active
- Those from the least affluent families are the least likely to be active (45%)
- Activity levels are lowest for those in school Years 3-4 (ages 7-9, 42%)
- CYP with a disability or long-term health condition are equally likely to be active as those without one