Amy Fraser16 April 2024 | 9:50

South Africans are CRAZY ABOUT SPORTS! Just ask the 25m ACTIVE participants

Is there a nation on the Earth more sports-mad than South Africa? Probably not, suggests a new study by Eighty20.

South Africans are CRAZY ABOUT SPORTS! Just ask the 25m ACTIVE participants

Photo: Wikimedia Commons/Andrew Moore

Clarence Ford interviews Andrew Fulton, Director at Eighty20.

Listen below.

South Africans are passionate about sport, especially when we have world-beaters such as the Springboks, Dricus du Plessis, and Banyana Banyana.

A study by Eighty20 reveals that around 75% of South Africans are interested in sports, with approximately 25 million actively participating.

The statistics remain steady across age brackets, with sports interest ranging from 73% (among those aged 15-24) to 76% (among those aged 25-34).

Participation levels varied from 54% (among those aged 50 and above) to 59% (among those aged 25-34).

Notably, Indian, Coloured, and Black South Africans are more interested in sports than their White compatriots.

Women and men are equally interested in sports (74% and 76%, respectively), but men are more likely to participate, with 65% of males engaging in sports compared to only 50% of women.

Currently, the top three sports are: 

  1. Soccer
  2. Dancing
  3. Netball

South Africa, with its attractive climate, has a reputation as a sporting hub and superpower.

"It's become a better world for women with more choice and they're getting more involved with sport."
- Andrew Fulton, Director – Eighty20

Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the interview.