The Government of the Balearic Islands and the University of the Balearic Islands (UIB) have unveiled an extensive study that provides a detailed overview of the sports habits and physical activity levels of both adults and young people across the islands. It is the most complete analysis conducted to date on how the population engages in sport and exercise.

The event featured contributions from the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sports and the UIB’s Vice-Rector for Social and Cultural Outreach, Adrià Muntaner Mas, who highlighted the importance of having an updated scientific foundation to shape future public policies.

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The Government and the University of the Balearic Islands present the most comprehensive study on sports habits in the Balearic Islands

The Minister stressed the need for this research to “understand how our population moves and what it requires”, noting that the findings help identify inequalities, investment priorities and opportunities to promote healthy lifestyles from childhood to adulthood.

Researchers Dr Francisco Javier Ponseti and Dr Josep Vidal-Conti presented the study’s objectives, methodology and key results. Among the most relevant insights:

• A significant proportion of adults give up or reduce sports practice around the age of 40, mainly due to the lack of time.
• Nearly half of school-aged children (10 to 17 years) show low levels of physical activity, particularly girls and secondary students.
• Seven out of ten adults have engaged in sport over the past year, with health and well-being cited as the main motivations.
• There is a notable increase in the use of private sports facilities and natural outdoor spaces.
• 45.5% of the population considers public sports facilities insufficient.
• For young people, family influence and personal motivation are decisive for starting and maintaining sports practice, whereas academic pressure, time constraints and low self-confidence —especially among girls— are major barriers.

The Government emphasises that this study will serve as a strategic tool for designing new sports policies and fostering programmes that promote physical activity at all stages of life. Both the regional administration and the UIB have expressed their intention to continue collaborating to translate the findings into concrete actions that improve public health, well-being and social cohesion.