Contents
- Water recreation participation by age statistics: recent U.S. exposure to pools and natural waters
- Water recreation participation by age statistics: swimming skills and comfort in water
- Water recreation participation by age statistics: swimming lessons and pool-visit frequency
- Water recreation participation by age statistics: water-sports participation across generations
- Water recreation participation by age statistics: historical U.S. water-sports participation trends
- Sources
Water recreation participation by age statistics: recent U.S. exposure to pools and natural waters
A national CDC survey conducted in October–November 2023 asked U.S. adults whether they had spent time at a swimming pool or at another body of water during the preceding six months. The measures are self-reported exposure: they indicate whether respondents had any qualifying time in those settings, not the number of visits, duration of each visit, or participation in a specific water activity. Pools and other bodies of water were asked about separately. CDC, “Recreational Water Exposure” and Table 2
| U.S. adult age group | Spent time at a pool in preceding six months | Spent one or more days at other bodies of water in preceding six months |
|---|---|---|
| 18–29 | 59.0% | 49.5% |
| 30–44 | 58.4% | 51.4% |
| 45–64 | Not reported here | 45.3% |
| 65 years or older | 37.9% | 31.0% |
Among adults aged 18–29, 59.0% reported pool exposure and 49.5% reported spending one or more days at other bodies of water. The corresponding figures for adults aged 30–44 were 58.4% and 51.4%. For ages 45–64, 45.3% reported one or more days at other bodies of water; a pool-exposure figure for this age group is not included in the selected observations. CDC, “Recreational Water Exposure” and Table 2
For adults aged 65 years or older, 37.9% reported spending time at a pool, while 31.0% reported one or more days at other bodies of water during the six-month period. These two measures offer different snapshots of exposure. They do not establish that age itself explains the differences, and neither measure reveals whether a respondent felt comfortable swimming or took part in a sport. The broad “other bodies of water” category also does not identify a particular location or activity, so it should not be interpreted as a count of swimmers, boaters, or windsurfers. CDC, “Recreational Water Exposure” and Table 2
Water recreation participation by age statistics: swimming skills and comfort in water
The same CDC survey asked adults to describe their swimming ability. The categories distinguish respondents who said they did not know how to swim, those who felt comfortable in water where they could stand, and those who reported swimming in deeper water or using multiple strokes efficiently. These are self-assessments rather than results from a practical swimming test. Reading them alongside exposure data helps keep two distinct questions separate: whether someone spent time near or in water, and how they describe their swimming skills. CDC, Table 2, “Swim skill level”
| U.S. adult age group | Did not know how to swim | Comfortable in water where they can stand | Could swim in water over their head | Could swim multiple strokes efficiently |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18–29 | 12.4% | 19.8% | 32.9% | 34.8% |
| 30–44 | 15.6% | 14.5% | 30.0% | 39.9% |
| 45–64 | 15.0% | 14.8% | 32.1% | 38.2% |
| 65 years or older | 18.6% | 20.0% | 32.4% | 29.0% |
The share reporting that they did not know how to swim ranged from 12.4% among adults aged 18–29 to 18.6% among those aged 65 years or older. The figures for ages 30–44 and 45–64 were 15.6% and 15.0%, respectively. These percentages describe what respondents reported in the survey; they do not measure how often they swim or how they would perform in a particular setting. CDC, Table 2, “Does not know how to swim”
Feeling comfortable in water where one can stand was a separate response. It was reported by 19.8% of adults aged 18–29, 14.5% of those aged 30–44, 14.8% of those aged 45–64, and 20.0% of those aged 65 years or older. The category records comfort in a depth respondents could stand in; it does not imply comfort in deeper water or proficiency in a swimming stroke. CDC, Table 2, “Comfortable in water where they can stand”
The share who said they could swim in water over their head was 32.9% for ages 18–29, 30.0% for ages 30–44, 32.1% for ages 45–64, and 32.4% for ages 65 years or older. For the more specific response about swimming multiple strokes efficiently, the reported figures were 34.8%, 39.9%, 38.2%, and 29.0% in the same age-group order. The two responses capture different self-described abilities and should not be collapsed into a single measure of skill. CDC, Table 2, “Can swim in water over their head” and “Can swim multiple strokes efficiently”
Water recreation participation by age statistics: swimming lessons and pool-visit frequency
Lesson figures describe whether adults reported ever taking instruction by the October–November 2023 survey. They do not give the year of instruction, its duration, or the number of lessons. The report separates lifetime experience with any swimming lesson from group, private, and other lesson categories. CDC, Table 2, “Swimming lessons”
| U.S. adult age group | Ever took a swimming lesson | Group lesson from a professional | Private lesson from a professional |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18–29 | 46.9% | 37.0% | 16.2% |
| 30–44 | 47.0% | 35.5% | 15.0% |
| 45–64 | 44.7% | 32.7% | 13.5% |
| 65 years or older | 42.6% | 30.7% | 12.2% |
Ever having taken a swimming lesson was reported by 46.9% of adults aged 18–29 and 47.0% of those aged 30–44. The reported figures were 44.7% for ages 45–64 and 42.6% for adults aged 65 years or older. These are lifetime histories as reported at the survey date, not annual lesson rates. CDC, Table 2, “Has ever taken a swimming lesson”
Group lessons from a professional were reported by 37.0% of adults aged 18–29, 35.5% of those aged 30–44, 32.7% of those aged 45–64, and 30.7% of those aged 65 years or older. Private lessons from a professional were reported by 16.2%, 15.0%, 13.5%, and 12.2%, respectively. Since group and private instruction are reported as separate lesson categories, the percentages should not be added as though they were mutually exclusive. CDC, Table 2, “Has taken group swimming lesson from a professional” and “Has taken private swimming lesson from a professional”
The “other swimming lesson” category was reported by 7.7% of adults aged 30–44, 8.4% of those aged 45–64, and 9.1% of those aged 65 years or older. A value for ages 18–29 is not included in the selected observations, so a complete comparison across the four age groups is unavailable for this category. CDC, Table 2, “Has taken other swimming lesson”
Despite the section’s focus on pool-visit frequency, the selected CDC figures do not provide an age-specific count of pool visits. Pool exposure is reported as any time at a pool during the preceding six months. It cannot be converted into a frequency measure from the information presented here, and lesson history does not fill that gap. CDC, Table 2, “Time at pool” and “Swimming lessons”
Water recreation participation by age statistics: water-sports participation across generations
The Physical Activity Council’s 2025 Overview Report gives U.S. water-sports participation rates by generation for 2024. The measure uses rolling 12-month participation. Generations are birth-year cohorts, so they do not line up exactly with the CDC’s adult age bands. The report’s Water Sports category includes multiple activities, including canoeing, kayaking, sailing, boardsailing/windsurfing, and others; its rates are not specific to windsurfing. Physical Activity Council, 2025 Overview Report on Participation, p. 14
| Generation cohort | Water-sports participation during 2024 |
|---|---|
| Gen Z (born 2000 or later) | 19.1% |
| Millennials (born 1980–1999) | 20.4% |
| Gen X (born 1965–1979) | 15.2% |
| Boomers (born 1945–1964) | 10.0% |
Millennials had a reported participation rate of 20.4%, followed by Gen Z at 19.1%, Gen X at 15.2%, and Boomers at 10.0%. These observations compare the report’s four specified cohorts for its grouped Water Sports category. They do not describe every individual within a cohort or establish the rate for a precise age, and the broad category cannot be used to infer participation in any one listed activity. Physical Activity Council, “2024 Participation by Generation,” p. 14
Water recreation participation by age statistics: historical U.S. water-sports participation trends
The report’s 10-year historical chart covers the U.S. population aged 6 and older and shows rolling 12-month water-sports participation rates. The series declined through 2019, then rose across the later observations shown. These rates describe the chart’s time series; they do not explain why participation changed. Physical Activity Council, 2025 Overview Report on Participation, p. 12
| Year | U.S. water-sports participation rate, age 6 and older |
|---|---|
| 2015 | 14.5% |
| 2016 | 14.3% |
| 2017 | 13.8% |
| 2018 | 13.7% |
| 2019 | 13.6% |
| 2020 | 13.7% |
| 2021 | 14.0% |
| 2022 | 14.4% |
| 2023 | 15.7% |
| 2024 | 16.5% |
The rate was 14.5% in 2015, followed by 14.3% in 2016, 13.8% in 2017, and 13.7% in 2018. It reached 13.6% in 2019. The subsequent values were 13.7% in 2020, 14.0% in 2021, 14.4% in 2022, 15.7% in 2023, and 16.5% in 2024. Each is a rolling 12-month participation rate for people aged 6 and older, rather than an adult-only measure. The chart’s Water Sports category combines activities, so this history is context for the broad category rather than a trend for windsurfing or another single pursuit. Physical Activity Council, “10-Year Historical Trend—Water Sports,” p. 12