Eurobarometer on “European Youth” exposes stable participation in the activities of a sport club

Eurobarometer on “European Youth” exposes stable participation in the activities of a sport club

The European Commission has published its 4th Flash Eurobarometer on “European Youth”. The report aims to analyse the answers given by 10 927 respondents aged 15-30. The survey is designed to collect information on young EU citizens regarding their social involvement. Among other questions, their participation in voluntary activities is addressed.

More than half of the respondents (53%) are involved in at least one organisation and the most popular activities are in a sports clubs (29%). In spite of the overall increased of youth participation in organisations, the Eurobarometer revealed the constant rate of participation in sports club compared with the previous survey (December 2014). The important decrease in young EU citizens’ participation in sports clubs (-6pp) between April 2013 and December 2014 seems over. Social inequalities appears in this report underlying the difference between gender : Men are more likely to have participated in sports club activities than Women (36% vs 23%). Differences also appear between states since participation in sports clubs is more likely for EU citizens in Ireland (42%), Germany (40%) and the Netherlands (39%) compared to 10% of respondents in Hungary. In Italy (+14pp) and Bulgaria (+11pp), 15-30 year-olds are now more more likely to say they have participated in sports club activities compared to December 2014, whereas those in Malta (-17 pp) and the United Kingdom (-13 pp) are now less likely to do so.

In addition, the report points out differences concerning the participation in sports clubs activities, according to the level of education : falling to 19% of those who ended education at the age of 15 or under from 29% of those who ended education at the age of 20 or over. Also, respondents who are still studying are the most likely to get involved in sports clubs, particularly compared to those who are not working (35% vs 14%).

The report shows the impact of social inequalities on the citizens’ involvement in an organisation. Those social differences are particularly relevant in sport, for example the largest differences based on gender or on education are observed for sports. Looking at voluntary activities, 31% of young people in the EU say that they have been involved in an organised voluntary activity in the past 12 months (+6pp compared to 2014). Socio-demographic analysis shows again that higher education is a relevant factor (29% of people who finished their education at the age of 20 or over compared to 25% of those who ended education at the age of 16-19 and 12% ending at the age of 15 or under).

Furthermore, information was asked regarding recognition of voluntary activities, with 28% of voluntarily active young people receiving formal recognition through diplomas or certificates.

Recent Posts

EmpowHER Volleyball: New insights on gender equality in sport leadership

The EmpowHER Volleyball Game Changer (EVGC) project, led by the European Volleyball Confederation (CEV) and co-funded by the EU, has released its Gender Equality Survey Analysis, highlighting the continued underrepresentation of women in volleyball leadership across Europe. Based on over 820 responses, the study shows that women hold only 11–30% of leadership roles, with few […]

Read More
SAFE HARBOUR promoted during the Educational Module 2 of the GUARD project

On 14 October 2025, the SAFE HARBOUR project was presented during Module 2 of the Educational Training within the GUARD Project, held in Zagreb. Together, these initiatives provide a comprehensive approach to advancing safeguarding standards at all levels of European sport. During the session, participants explored how SAFE HARBOUR reviews the GAP Report to identify […]

Read More
OCEAN Sport CO2 Calculator promoted to French National Federations

The EOC EU Office participated in the meeting of the Sustainable Development Club in Paris, where 25 National Federations, came together to discuss solutions to climate action in sport, overseen by the French National Olympic and Sports Committee (CNOSF) and the Ministry of Sport. The OCEAN Sport CO₂ Calculator was presented as a practical tool […]

Read More

Related Posts

October 17, 2025
EmpowHER Volleyball: New insights on gender equality in sport leadership

The EmpowHER Volleyball Game Changer (EVGC) project, led by the European Volleyball Confederation (CEV) and co-funded by the EU, has released its Gender Equality Survey Analysis, highlighting the continued underrepresentation of women in volleyball leadership across Europe. Based on over 820 responses, the study shows that women hold only 11–30% of leadership roles, with few […]

October 17, 2025
SAFE HARBOUR promoted during the Educational Module 2 of the GUARD project

On 14 October 2025, the SAFE HARBOUR project was presented during Module 2 of the Educational Training within the GUARD Project, held in Zagreb. Together, these initiatives provide a comprehensive approach to advancing safeguarding standards at all levels of European sport. During the session, participants explored how SAFE HARBOUR reviews the GAP Report to identify […]

October 17, 2025
OCEAN Sport CO2 Calculator promoted to French National Federations

The EOC EU Office participated in the meeting of the Sustainable Development Club in Paris, where 25 National Federations, came together to discuss solutions to climate action in sport, overseen by the French National Olympic and Sports Committee (CNOSF) and the Ministry of Sport. The OCEAN Sport CO₂ Calculator was presented as a practical tool […]

About us

The EOC EU Office is the House of European Sport, representing the European Olympic Committees (EOC), the IOC and other major sport organisations to the European institutions in Brussels.
CONTACT
crossmenu linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram