Promotion of physical activity in municipalities has remained stable
Overall, the promotion of physical activity by municipalities remained almost unchanged at the national level in 2024. The overall results reflect municipalities’ efforts to promote physical activity between 2010 and 2024. The information is based on a data collection carried out every two years among all mainland Finnish municipalities.
Increase in personnel working in sports administration and guidance
The number of personnel in sports administration and sports instruction has changed compared to 2021. The greatest change over the two-year period was in the number of sports instructors. In 2023, the work contribution of sports instruction personnel (e.g., sports instructors and adapted physical activity instructors) averaged 3.1 full time equivalents per 10,000 inhabitants. Two years earlier, the corresponding figure was 2.4 FTEs.
The work contribution for sports administration and planning personnel in 2023 averaged 1.2 FTEs, compared with 1.0 FTEs two years earlier. In smaller municipalities, these contributions were higher relative to the population than in larger municipalities.
| Population | Staff in planning and development | Staff in sports instruction |
|---|---|---|
| Under 5 000 | 1,6 | 3,9 |
| 5 000-9 999 | 1,1 | 3,6 |
| 10 000-19 999 | 1,2 | 3,3 |
| 20 000-49 999 | 0,8 | 2,1 |
| Over 50 000 | 0,8 | 1,5 |
Room for improvement in addressing the environmental impacts of sports facilities
More than one third of municipalities (38%) reported that they do not collect information on the environmental impacts of sports facilities, and that such information is not available. One third (33%) reported that some information on environmental impacts is collected or available. Just under one third (29%) reported that comprehensive information on material flows related to sports facilities is collected or systematically available.
One third of municipalities (33%) set annual targets for reducing material flows and environmental impacts of sports facilities. Just under half (42%) reported having issued instructions for all staff on reducing energy, water, and material consumption, as well as waste generation and harmful emissions in all work tasks.
About the data in more detail
- Read the whole statistic report (Julkari) (in Finnish)
- Statistics in TEAviisari
- Indicator data in Sotkanet
Background information
- Data description (in the Data Catalogue)
- Instructions for submitting data (in Finnish)
- Previous statistics (2022) (Julkari) (in Finnish)
Source
Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL). Liikunnan edistäminen kunnissa – TEA 2024. Tilastoraportti 46/2024 (Julkari) (in Finnish)
Description of the statistics
The Promotion of Physical Activity in Municipalities dataset contains information on municipal activities aimed at promoting physical activity among residents and creating conditions that support physical activity. The data relate to municipal efforts to promote physical activity among broad population groups.
The information is used in the monitoring of the Act on the Promotion of Sports and Physical Activity (390/2015) and the National Sports and Health Promotion Policy Guidelines 2020 (Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, 2013), as well as in evaluations carried out by the National Sports Council. Some of the data also form part of the knowledge base for the HYTE coefficient, which influences the state funding allocated to municipalities.
The statistics present monitoring data starting from 2010.
Update schedule
The statistics are published every two years in even numbered years.
The exact publication date can be found in the publication calendar.
Statistics publication calendar
Contact details
Project Manager
tel +358 29 524 7705
[email protected]
Specialist
tel. +358 29 524 7475
[email protected]