92 yoga statistics you need to know

The total number of yoga practitioners worldwide has grown significantly in recent years.

Yoga is one of the simplest exercise modalities to get into. All you really need is a few feet of free space to get started with yoga, and you can practice from the comfort of your own home. So, it’s no surprise millions of people around the world practice it.

The number of yogis is constantly growing — the industry accounts for more than $100 billion in the global economy. But how many people actually practice consistently? What are the benefits of regular yoga? And is it safe at all stages of life?

Global Yoga Prevalence

There are millions of people around the wold who practice yoga, which originated in India.

• There are more than 300 million yoga practitioners around the world, according to MedAlertHelp, a health and medical product organization.
  • There are about 300,000 to 460,000 yogis in the United Kingdom.
  • There are more than 754 yoga facilities in Beijing.
• 40.5% of global yoga practitioners practice during the day, according to The Global Yoga Survey conducted by DoYou, a health and fitness app.
  • 42.2% practice at night.
  • 30.2% practice at irregular times.
  • 80% of survey respondents spend at least 30 minutes (or more) doing yoga.

Yoga Statistics in India

• About 11.8% of people in India practice yoga, according to a February 2020 study in ‌Medicines‌.
  • Of those who practice, about 6% are male and 5% are female. (Note: The terms we use throughout for sex and gender reflect the language used in each cited source.)
  • Of those who practice, about 6% live in urban areas and about 5% live in rural regions.
• According to the Pew Research Center, these are the percentages of people who practice yoga within the country’s most popular religious groups:
  • 61% of people who are Jain
  • 50% of people who are Sikh
  • 38% of people who are Indian Buddhists
  • 36% of people who are Hindus
  • 29% of people who are Muslim
  • 24% of people who are Christian

Yoga Statistics in Australia

• Between 1.7% and 2.9% of the Australian adult population participates in yoga, according to a July 2012 study in the ‌International Journal of Yoga‌.
  • 71.9% of survey respondents started yoga to increase their health and fitness.
  • 86.5% continued their practice to increase flexibility and muscle tone.
  • 61% of yoga sessions in Australia are either Vinyasa yoga or Yin-style yoga (more on that below).
  • 39% of yoga workouts in Australia are gentler sequences involving breathing techniques and meditation.

Yoga Statistics in Canada

• About 21% of people in Canada practice yoga, according to Leger, a Canadian market research and analytics company.
  • 35% of people in Canada who practice are between the ages of 18 and 34.
  • 16% fewer people in Quebec do yoga compared to the rest of the country.

Yoga Demographics in America

Nearly 28% of all Americans have tried a yoga class at some point in their lives, according to the 2016 Yoga in America Study conducted by ‌Yoga Journal‌ and Yoga Alliance. And that number is only growing.

• The number of yoga practitioners grew from 20.4 million in 2012 to 36 million in 2016, according to the 2016 Yoga in America Study.
  • 33% of Americans have tried yoga on their own at least once.
  • 74% of yogis have been practicing for less than five years.
  • 98% of practitioners are beginner to intermediate level.
• Most people who do yoga practice at least once a week:
  • 5 or more times/week: 6%
  • 2 to 4 times/week: 31%
  • 1 time/week: 22%
  • Several times/month: 14%
  • 1 time/month: 6%
  • Less than 1 time/month: 12%
  • Don’t remember: 9%
• Most U.S. yogis are relatively new to the practice. Here is a look at how long people have been doing yoga:
  • 0 to 1 year: 30%
  • 1 to 5 years: 44%
  • 6 to 10 years: 17%
  • 10 years or longer: 7%
• American yogis are relatively equally spread across regions:
  • Northeast: 23%
  • Midwest: 23%
  • South: 32%
  • West: 22%
• In 2021, yoga was the second most popular form of exercise, according to the ClassPass 2021 Fitness and Beauty Trends Report.
  • Livestream yoga was also one of the most popularly booked classes on the fitness class and health club app.
  • 40% of people like to use calming forms of exercise, like yoga, on a high-stress day.

Yoga Statistics by Age

Yoga is a great activity for all ages and fitness levels. But most people who practice yoga are middle-aged — and many of these people have kids who practice yoga, too, according to the 2016 Yoga in America Study.

• About 19% of yoga practitioners are between the ages of 18 and 29.
  • 23% are between the ages of 30 and 39.
  • 20% are between 40 and 49.
  • 17% are between 50 and 59.
  • 21% are 60 and older.
• 37% of people who practice have kids under the age of 18 who have practiced yoga.

Yoga Statistics by Sex

Yoga is significantly more popular among women than men, according to the 2016 Yoga in America Study. But the number of male practitioners in the U.S. more than doubled between 2012 and 2016.

• According to the 2016 Yoga in America Study, about 72% of yoga practitioners are female and 28% are male.
• The number of men who do yoga grew from 4 million in 2012 to 10 million in 2016, according to Harvard Health Publishing.

Yoga Health Statistics

It’s probably no surprise that yoga has some pretty amazing health benefits. And yogis are more likely to enjoy other types of exercise, too!

• Yogis are 20% more likely to feel like they have improved balance and range of motion than those who don’t practice, according to the 2016 Yoga in America Study.

Take a look at the chart below to learn a few benefits yogis say they experience compared to non-practitioners.