23 Yoga Statistics for Peace of Mind in 2023

As 2021 draws to a close, the popularity of yoga will only increase, so it’s worth looking at relevant yoga statistics to be ready for the future. Once the whole world discovered the mental and physical benefits of yoga during the 1990s, yoga’s popularity soared. Join us on an exciting adventure into the world of yoga and the people behind the numbers.

Top 10 Yoga Statistics for 2022

Yoga Statistics in America and Canada

The United States and Canada are among the Western countries where yoga became the most popular. We explore yoga trends and figures that show that the total number of yogis in North America is a living testimony to the spiritual draw of yoga.

1. Yoga statistics reveal that 75% of yogis claim they lead an active lifestyle.

(Harvard Health Publishing)

Yoga is a gateway to adopting a healthier lifestyle. It is estimated that 75% of people in the US who do yoga also take part in other physical activities. For some, an active lifestyle implies taking up a sport, while for others, this simply means no longer lounging in front of the TV all day. As a point of reference, over 30% of men in the US are very active.

2. Yoga statistics and demographics show that the number of Americans who do yoga increased by 50% from 2012 to 2016.

(PR Newswire)

The number of Americans who practice yoga has increased by more than 50% in just four years. In 2012, there were 20.4 million yoga practitioners, but the number rose to 36 million four years later.

3. At least 1 in 5 Canadians practice yoga regularly. 

(Leger360)

Yoga statistics in Canada show that at least 21% of the population, i.e., close to 1 out of 5 Canadians, does yoga regularly. When it comes to the age group from 18 to 34, the percentage is even higher — 35% or roughly 1 in 3 millennials in Canada practices yoga.

4. There were 55.5 million yoga practitioners in the US in 2020.

(CompareCamp)

Yoga practitioners experience many physical and mental benefits, and Americans are aware of it. If we look at yoga stats for the United States, we can see that the number of yoga practitioners grew from 37.6 million in 2015, hitting a record high last year.

5. Yoga statistics for Canada reveal that there are 2,000 yoga teachers in the country.

(Canadian Yoga Alliance)

When looking at Canadian stats from the last decade and a half, there are at least 2,000 professional yoga teachers there. For a country with 38 million inhabitants, the high number of instructors is a testimony to the popularity of yoga in Canada.

6. Yoga facts for kids say that 8.4% of kids in the US practiced yoga in 2017.

(CDC)

Apart from adults, yoga is popular among children as well. According to the CDC’s 2017 stats, 8.4% of kids in the US practiced yoga, which is an incredible jump compared to 2012, when only 3.1% of children did so. This figure is on a steady rise, and we believe even more kids will take up yoga in the years to come.

Yoga statistics in the UK and Australia

Moving onto the UK and Australia, yoga-related stats further corroborate this ancient Indian practice’s popularity in the Western world. Young people in particular find yoga a great stimulus to live healthier.

7. Yoga statistics in the UK say there are more than 10,000 yoga instructors in the country.

(ThoughtShift)

If you thought that yoga is popular in Canada based on the number of teachers, then you’ll be surprised by the United Kingdom stats. There are more than 10,000 yoga instructors in all of Britain, which is a respectable figure for a country of some 60 million inhabitants.

8. In the UK, the yoga industry worth is $1.28 billion.

(Finder)

In the UK, the Pilates and yoga industry is worth $1.28 billion. This 2020 figure was a growth of 6% from the previous year when the British Pilates and yoga industry raked in around $1.21 billion.

9. 16% of Generation Y in Australia practice yoga regularly.

(Roy Morgan)

When analyzing yoga statistics from Australia, we realize that 16% of Generation Y (around 750,000 people) practice yoga regularly. For Generation Z, the figure is 13%, while 11% of Generation X does yoga on a regular basis.

10. Roughly 87% of yoga teachers and practitioners in the UK are women.

(ResearchGate)

One of the most intriguing facts about yoga is that 87% of yoga teachers and practitioners are women, at least in the UK. This was the result of a 2019 survey that 2,434 yoga practitioners took part in. Their median age was 48.7 years, and 71% of them had a college degree.

11. Yoga facts state that 83.5% of Australian yogis are non-smokers.

(NCBI)

It appears that smoking and yoga don’t go together. In a recent survey, 83.5% of yogis declared themselves non-smokers. Some 22.6% were vegetarian, and 50% had a preference toward organic food, confirming the correlation between yoga and a healthy lifestyle.

Financial Statistics About Yoga

Nowadays, yoga has become a big business, so financial statistics on yoga are especially interesting. From the amount a yoga teacher can earn in a year to the net worth of the biggest yoga brand, here are some financial stats about yoga.

12. The average annual income of a yoga instructor is $46,000, according to yoga stats.

(Zippia)

A yoga teacher can hope to earn $46,000 per year on average. Of course, this depends on the state they live in. New York and California are some of the top-paying states, while yoga instructors from Iowa, Alabama, and Wyoming are paid the least.

13. The average yogi will spend $62,640 over their lifetime on this practice.

(BookRetreats)

Among the more interesting yoga facts and statistics is the total spending on yoga during a person’s lifetime: $62,640. Yogis spend this amount on accessories, workshops, and (private) classes ($28,800). When broken down into monthly expenses, this comes down to $90.

14. Only 8% of yogis would spend over $100 on a memorable yoga experience.

(Fox News)

Despite its global popularity, one of the most interesting facts about yoga is how people are slightly stingy when it comes to luxury treatments. Namely, only 8% of yoga goers would spend $100 or more on a memorable yoga experience.

15. As of May 2021, yoga industry statistics value Lululemon’s net worth at $41.99 billion.

(MacroTrends)

Lululemon Athletica Inc (LULU) is presently the biggest yoga clothing brand on the planet, with a net worth of $41.99 billion (as of May 2021). Its lowest stock price was $0.4 in 2009, only to peak at $49.21 near the end of 2020. While this may not seem too impressive when compared to the typical fashion industry statistics, remember that we are talking about a niche market.

Interesting Yoga Facts and Benefits

Did you know which types of yoga there are and how popular yoga is at the workplace?

16. Acro and wellness yoga each have a market share of 24%.

(CompareCamp)

When it comes to the types of yoga most practiced, acro yoga and wellness yoga are most popular, both taking up 24% of the market in the US. Trailing behind them is power yoga, i.e., yoga-Pilates with a market share of 17%. Anusara yoga captures 14%, and Bikram yoga 10%.

17. Yoga demographics data shows that 38% of yoga practitioners are age 50 or older.

(The Washington Post)

So far, we have mostly focused on young and bendy yoga lovers. However, demographics tell a different story, as 38% of yoga practitioners in the US are 50+. Out of this figure, 17% are from 50 to 60 years old, while 21%, i.e., more than a fifth of all yogis, are aged 60 or older.

18. Fun facts about yoga show that 44.8% of yoga practitioners consider themselves beginners.

(Yoga Journal)

When we take a closer look at surveys about yoga, we realize that 44.8% of all yogis are essentially beginners. Out of this percentage, 22.9% of folks are genuinely new to yoga, while the remaining 21.9% have made long pauses in practicing yoga, so they are not proficient.

19. Yoga injuries statistics reveal that yoga can cause pain in roughly 10% of cases.

(ScienceDaily)

There are numerous scientific studies on yoga injuries that look into the effect yoga has on healthy people, as well as old injuries. In 10% of cases, scientists recorded incidences of musculoskeletal pain caused by yoga, and in 21% of cases, existing injuries were made worse by doing yoga.

20. 1 in 7 workers in the US meditate, as shown by yoga in the workplace statistics.

(Time)

Yoga is popular among the workforce as well. Whether it’s yoga or simply meditation, 1 in 7 American workers practices mindfulness in the office. The percentage of workers who practice yoga doubled in the decade from 2002 to 2012, and it’s currently at 11%.

Yoga Statistics From the Practitioners’ Perspective

Finally, we will say a word or two about the yoga practitioners. Aside from discussing experienced yogis, we’ll also take a look at people who are either new to yoga or are strongly considering taking it up in the foreseeable future.

21. With 5.2 million downloads, Yoga Go was the most popular yoga app of 2021.

(Statista)

Mindfulness and yoga apps were very popular throughout 2021. Stats show that the most popular mindfulness app was Calm, with 9.6 million downloads, while Yoga Go took the cake in the yoga category. Moreover, Yoga for Weight Loss — the second most popular yoga app, was downloaded 1.4 million times. It shares third place with Daily Yoga for Everyone, which had the same number of downloads.

22. For 34% of people, the morning is the best time to do yoga.

(Eventbrite)

Although yoga can be practiced any time and any place, 34% of people, i.e., a third of yoga lovers, prefer to exercise in the morning. An additional 18% like to practice yoga in the evening.

23. Facts about yoga benefits reveal that a “lack of flexibility” is the excuse 32% of respondents in the US give for not taking up yoga.

(Christine Noel Yoga)

All the facts about yoga benefits are insufficient for a lot of people. In fact, 32% of Americans asked why they are hesitant to take up this activity list “lack of flexibility” as the main reason why they haven’t started yoga classes yet.

FAQ

Where is yoga most popular in the world?

Although yoga’s global popularity is undeniable, India is the country with the most practitioners. Speaking of yoga history facts, the practice developed some 5,000 years ago as part of the sacred teachings of the Indus Valley civilization.

Is yoga scientifically proven?

Yes, scientific studies have confirmed numerous health benefits of yoga. From improved heart health to lowering blood pressure, yoga has the power to improve a person’s quality of life. In this sense, facts and myths have to be discerned from each other.

How much is the yoga industry worth?

The global yoga industry is currently worth over $88 billion — and that’s just counting yoga studios. At this pace, it’s projected to reach $215 billion by 2025. That’s an 11.7% CAGR.

How many people practice yoga?

The latest statistics put the number of people who practice yoga worldwide at 300 million. As mentioned earlier, yoga is most popular in India, with at least 100 million, predominantly young, yoga practitioners there.

Is Raja yoga synonymous with yoga?

When we look at historical and linguistic facts about Raja yoga, we can safely say that Raja yoga is the direct antecedent to the modern practice of yoga. In the 19th century, Swami Vivekananda gave this interpretation based on which we determine classical yoga today, i.e., the type of yoga most popular in the West.

Conclusion

For some people, it is extremely hard to understand the draw of yoga. However, one look at yoga statistics is enough to make them take this ancient Indian practice seriously. We have tried to break down the statistics by country in an attempt to discover what it is that still draws the modern Westerner to yoga in 2021.

Sources

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Stefan is a postdoctoral researcher in American and Irish literature, as well as a dedicated content writer. He is a polyglot wannabe who relishes the opportunity to travel. Stefan writes only about topics he can contribute to. Swimming, boxing, and shooting are his favourite hobbies.

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