Only 37 out of 100 Indonesians Exercise Regularly, Most Are Sedentary?

Exercise has not yet become a lifestyle for the majority of the Indonesian population. Data from Susenas September 2025 shows that only 37.27% of residents aged five years and above participate in physical activity. This means that for every 100 Indonesians, only approximately 37 people are active in exercising.

Sports participation also shows a significant gap. Urban residents are more active in exercising compared to rural residents, with rates of 42.36% and 29.65%, respectively. Furthermore, as household expenditure levels increase, the likelihood of an individual exercising also grows, indicating that economic factors still influence access to and healthy lifestyles.

Interestingly, 37.69% of the population exercises for educational reasons, primarily as part of school activities. Consequently, the school-age group is the most active, with a participation rate reaching 82.72%, followed by the children’s group at 82.13%.

Nevertheless, the duration of exercise among the public remains relatively low. Approximately 30.51% exercise for only 60-89 minutes per week, while 26.20% exercise for 30-59 minutes per week. Only 14.36% of the population meets the recommended minimum of 150 minutes of exercise per week.

In terms of purpose, the majority of the population exercises to maintain health and physical fitness (50.53%). Meanwhile, those who exercise for hobbies or recreation account for 8.02%, and only 0.83% use exercise as a means to achieve athletic excellence or as part of their profession. This data indicates that the culture of sports in Indonesia still faces significant challenges. Amidst increasing awareness of healthy living, a large portion of the population has yet to make physical activity a consistent routine.