The Most Popular Sports in Singapore

The 10 Most Popular Sports in Singapore - Top Participation Stats

Singapore’s most popular sports can be measured in a few ways: what gets the most views, what people talk about the most or what residents actually do on a regular basis.

Badminton is one of the most popular sports in Singapore! Image credits: Pinterest

We take a look at the sports that people in Singapore actually play. How do Singaporeans stay fit and healthy? What activities do they do each and every day?

For a clean, comparable ranking, we’ll use Sport Singapore’s National Sport & Exercise Participation Survey (NSPS) “Top Sports & Exercise – Overall” dataset. This tracks the top activities enjoyed by Singapore residents aged 13+.

1. Walking/Brisk Walking (40% participation)

Walking sits at the top of the list with 40% participation. This matches the broader national picture: in 2022, 74% of respondents said they exercised or played sport at least once a week, and walking led the activity list. 

The “why” is mostly practical. Walking needs no booking, no gear, and it fits into commuting, errands and family time. Singapore’s green-connectivity planning helps, too. NParks reports 393km of park connectors, as of FY2024 reporting in a 2024/25 sustainability report.

That kind of network makes walking feel less like a chore and more like a default option.

2. Jogging/Running (29% participation)

Jogging/running is next at 29% participation. It’s part of the same participation surge highlighted in the national results: when the 2022 weekly participation rate reached 74%, running remained one of Singapore’s core activities. 

Running is popular because it appeals to all fitness levels. A beginner can do short run-walk intervals, while regular runners can chase pace goals without needing a specific facility.

The NSPS is based on monthly interviews totalling at least 4,500 respondents per year, which gives these activity rankings real weight.

3. Callisthenics (15% participation)

Callisthenics comes in at 15% participation. That number matters because it shows a mainstream shift towards workouts that aren’t facility-dependent.

In national reporting around the survey, SportSG highlighted that callisthenics participation rose during the pandemic years and stayed strong into 2022, with outdoor and simple routines holding their place.

The appeal is obvious: bodyweight training is flexible, low-cost and can be done in short sessions. It also fits the reality of modern schedules, where people want something they can do at home or in a small park space.

4. Cycling (11% participation)

Cycling ranks at 11% participation. The sport is tied to infrastructure, as the Land Transport Authority’s (LTA) 2024/25 sustainability report states that Singapore’s cycling network expanded from 507km (2022) to over 750km (as of 30 September 2025). It’s planned to reach 1,300km by 2030.

Safer, more connected routes reduce the biggest barriers to cycling: confidence and safety. As the network grows, cycling becomes more than a weekend hobby. It becomes a realistic first-and-last-mile option and a convenient fitness habit.

5. Swimming (9% participation)

Swimming sits at 9%. It’s one of those “quietly consistent” activities: it doesn’t need hype to stay popular. It fits Singapore’s climate and works well across all ages and fitness levels.

Swimming also has a practical advantage, as it’s easy on the joints. It’s a solid cardio workout without the heat stress of outdoor running. That combination keeps it in the top five, even as trends shift elsewhere.

Check out the best sports for improving your physical fitness, including swimming, tennis, cycling and more!

6. Other Workout with Equipment (7% participation)

Equipment-based workouts like gym machines and resistance setups show 7% participation in Singapore. This category often reflects people who prefer structured progress: tracking loads, reps or training plans.

It also sits well alongside Singapore’s national participation pattern. In 2022, 44% of participants engaged in sport/exercise more than twice a week, which tends to align with routines that are easier to systemise, including gym training.

Read more tips, interviews and listicles on our fitness and training blog

7. Badminton (6% participation)

Badminton is at 6%. In Singapore, badminton’s popularity is partly cultural and partly practical. It delivers a strong workout in a compact space, it’s social, and it suits both casual and competitive play.

Badminton shows up in age-pattern discussions around NSPS reporting, where higher-intensity sports feature prominently among teens and younger groups. Even without breaking down every age group, badminton’s place in the top 10 confirms that it remains one of Singapore’s most “played” organised sports.

Badminton is also one of the most popular sports in China!

8. Weightlifting/Weight Training (4% participation)

Weight training comes in at 4%. This is a smaller percentage than general equipment workouts, but it typically signals more dedicated strength-focused participation: consistent programming and measurable progression.

This category is also consistent with a broader trend in Singapore. As sports participation levels rose and people looked for repeatable routines, strength training became a common “anchor habit” for those exercising multiple times per week.

9. Yoga (3% participation)

Yoga stands at 3% participation. It keeps participants engaged over time because it doubles as both movement and recovery, especially for people balancing desk work and stress.

Yoga also fits the “low barrier” theme seen across the top of the list. It can be done with minimal equipment and in small spaces, which helps it stay relevant even when lifestyles get busy.

Check out our 20-minute HIIT yoga session - how can you build stamina and find balance?

10. Basketball (3% participation)

Basketball rounds out the list at 3%. While it’s not climbing in popularity like walking or callisthenics, it remains a durable community sport: easy to start (ball + court + people) and naturally social.

It also reflects the “sports that still matter” layer of Singapore’s activity mix: even as walking and running dominate, team and court sports remain part of the regular participation landscape.

The Top Sports in Singapore - Key Takeaways

Singapore’s most popular sports and physical activities lean heavily towards what is easy to repeat: walking (40%), running (29%) and flexible training options like callisthenics (15%).

The current story behind the list is infrastructure and access: NParks reports 393km of park connectors, and LTA reports a cycling network of over 750km, with a target of 1,300km by 2030. 

Even better, the official 2023 topline update confirms that the top five activities in Singapore stayed the same, suggesting these preferences are not a short-term fad but a long-term obsession.