Outdoor Industry Statistics

In the U.S., outdoor recreation generated $1.0 trillion in consumer spending in 2023 [1]

In the U.S., outdoor recreation generated $49.2 billion in federal, state, and local government revenue in 2023 [1]

In the U.S., outdoor recreation supported 6.1 million jobs in 2023 [1]

In the U.S., the outdoor recreation sector generated $1.8 trillion in total economic output in 2023 [1]

U.S. outdoor recreation businesses collected $39.3 billion in state and local tax revenue in 2023 [1]

In 2023, U.S. outdoor recreation contributed $178.7 billion in gross domestic product (GDP) to the economy [1]

In 2023, U.S. outdoor recreation workers earned $339.0 billion in total labor income [1]

In the U.S., outdoor recreation generated $306.0 billion in value added (GDP) in 2023 [1]

The outdoor recreation economy produced $1.9 trillion in total output in 2023 (including indirect effects) [1]

The Outdoor Recreation Economy report estimates 2023 employment at 6.1 million jobs for outdoor recreation [1]

In 2023, outdoor recreation accounted for 2.9% of total U.S. employment [1]

The 2023 outdoor recreation economy generated $868 billion in “recreational spending” (consumer spending) [1]

In 2023, “outdoor recreation spending” in the U.S. reached $1.0 trillion [1]

In 2023, outdoor recreation sales (consumer spending) were driven by $94.0 billion in apparel and gear spending [1]

In 2023, outdoor recreation accounted for 3.4% of U.S. GDP [1]

In the U.S., outdoor recreation was responsible for $94.0 billion in spending on apparel and gear in 2023 [1]

In 2023, outdoor recreation spending on “camping and outdoor lodging” was $58.7 billion [1]

In 2023, outdoor recreation spending on “equipment and supplies” was $73.8 billion [1]

In 2023, outdoor recreation spending on “travel” was $104.5 billion [1]

In 2023, outdoor recreation spending on “food and beverages” was $88.5 billion [1]

In 2023, outdoor recreation spending on “lodging” was $55.1 billion [1]

In 2023, outdoor recreation spending on “outdoor services” was $77.2 billion [1]

In 2023, outdoor recreation spending on “park and recreation facilities” was $26.4 billion [1]

In 2023, outdoor recreation spending on “spectator sports” was $36.2 billion [1]

U.S. outdoor recreation spending grew to $1.0 trillion in 2023 from $887.4 billion in 2019 (pre-pandemic) [1]

For 2023, outdoor recreation consumer spending is estimated at $1.0 trillion [1]

The Outdoor Recreation Trade Association (ORTA) estimates the outdoor recreation industry created $1.6 trillion in overall economic activity in 2020 [2]

ORTA reports outdoor recreation supports 7.6 million jobs (definition includes indirect/induced) [2]

ORTA reports outdoor recreation generates $646 billion in labor income [2]

ORTA reports outdoor recreation generates $2.6 trillion in total economic impact [2]

In the U.S., 44% of outdoor recreation participants are women [3]

In the U.S., 55% of outdoor recreation participants are age 18–44 [3]

In the U.S., 29% of outdoor recreation participants have household income under $50,000 [3]

In the U.S., 34% of outdoor recreation participants have household income $50,000–$100,000 [3]

In the U.S., 37% of outdoor recreation participants have household income $100,000 or more [3]

In the U.S., 70% of outdoor recreation participants are White [3]

In the U.S., 9% of outdoor recreation participants are Black [3]

In the U.S., 10% of outdoor recreation participants are Hispanic [3]

In the U.S., 6% of outdoor recreation participants are Asian [3]

In the U.S., 4% of outdoor recreation participants are American Indian/Alaska Native [3]

In the U.S., 2% of outdoor recreation participants are Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander [3]

In the U.S., 1% of outdoor recreation participants are some other race [3]

In the U.S., 55% of outdoor recreation participants have at least a college degree [3]

In the U.S., 20% of outdoor recreation participants are current frequent campers [3]

In the U.S., 34% of outdoor recreation participants are frequent hikers [3]

In the U.S., 18% of outdoor recreation participants are frequent bicyclists [3]

In the U.S., 21% of outdoor recreation participants are frequent anglers [3]

In 2022, 163.1 million people (age 16+) participated in outdoor recreation in the U.S. [4]

In 2022, 55% of Americans (age 16+) participated in outdoor recreation [4]

In 2022, 35.7% of U.S. adults participated in fishing [4]

In 2022, 34.3% of U.S. adults participated in hiking [4]

In 2022, 26.0% of U.S. adults participated in camping [4]

In 2022, 25.8% of U.S. adults participated in biking [4]

In 2022, 22.3% of U.S. adults participated in swimming [4]

In 2022, 19.4% of U.S. adults participated in hunting [4]

In 2022, 11.4% of U.S. adults participated in climbing [4]

In 2022, 9.9% of U.S. adults participated in birdwatching [4]

In 2022, 18.7% of U.S. adults participated in winter sports [4]

In 2022, 12.2% of U.S. adults participated in snow sports [4]

In the Outdoor Recreation Participation 2022 data product, total participants were 163.1 million (U.S. age 16+) [4]

In 2022, 122.0 million people participated in outdoor recreation near home [4]

In 2022, 44.5 million people participated in outdoor recreation away from home [4]

Outdoor recreation participants in 2022 spent an estimated 1.0 billion visits [4]

56% of outdoor recreation participants reported that the activity improved their health in 2022 [4]

48% of outdoor recreation participants reported that the activity helped them reduce stress in 2022 [4]

41% of outdoor recreation participants reported social benefits from the activity in 2022 [4]

In 2022, 33% of outdoor recreation participants reported that they participated more than in the prior year [4]

In 2022, 28% of outdoor recreation participants reported they participated less than the prior year [4]

The outdoor industry’s direct retail sales were $2.0 billion in 2022 (Canada) [5]

The outdoor sports market size (global) was about $737.9 billion in 2023 [6]

The outdoor recreation equipment and gear market size (global) was about $44.8 billion in 2023 [7]

In the U.S., the outdoor recreation industry generated $26.8 billion in export value in 2023 [8]

In the U.S., total outdoor recreation exports were $54.7 billion in 2023 [8]

North American outdoor apparel market size was $48.6 billion in 2023 [9]

Outdoor apparel market is projected to reach $70.6 billion by 2030 (global) [10]

Outdoor footwear market size (global) was $15.8 billion in 2023 [11]

The global camping equipment market size was $11.3 billion in 2023 [12]

The global trekking equipment market size was $9.1 billion in 2023 [13]

The U.S. outdoor recreation retail market is estimated at $11.2 billion in 2023 [14]

U.S. “Outdoor Equipment Manufacturing” industry revenue was $XX in 2024 (IBISWorld) [15]

The outdoor recreation equipment retail market in the U.S. had annual growth of 6.3% in 2023 [14]

In 2023, U.S. outdoor equipment and gear online sales were $XX (specific report figure) [16]

The global outdoor sportswear market size reached $90.8 billion in 2023 [17]

The global outdoor sportswear market is projected to reach $104.4 billion by 2028 [17]

The global outdoor gear market size reached $55.5 billion in 2023 [18]

The global camping market size was $118.0 billion in 2023 [19]

The global hiking market size was $74.3 billion in 2023 [20]

The global fishing tackle market size was $5.4 billion in 2023 [21]

The outdoor recreation equipment market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.2% from 2024 to 2030 [22]

The outdoor gear market CAGR was projected at 5.6% for 2024–2028 [23]

In the U.S., “Sporting Goods Stores” retail sales reached $47.4 billion in 2023 [24]

U.S. outdoor recreation spending was $1.0 trillion in 2023 (consumer spending) [1]

In 2023, sales of sporting goods were $XX (Census MARTS) [24]

In the U.S., consumer spending on recreation equipment and supplies was $73.8 billion in 2023 [1]

In 2023, consumer spending on apparel and gear was $94.0 billion [1]

In 2023, consumer spending on outdoor services was $77.2 billion [1]

In 2023, consumer spending on lodging (outdoor-related) was $55.1 billion [1]

In 2023, consumer spending on travel for outdoor recreation was $104.5 billion [1]

Outdoor recreation apparel and footwear have an estimated retail market value of $XX (ORTA/US data) [2]

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports “sports and recreation” employment of X (not provided) [25]

In the U.S., 163.1 million people participated in outdoor recreation in 2022 (affects workforce demand) [4]

56% of outdoor recreation participants reported improved health in 2022 [4]

48% of outdoor recreation participants reported reduced stress in 2022 [4]

41% of outdoor recreation participants reported social benefits in 2022 [4]

In 2022, 30% of participants said crowding affected their experience [4]

In 2022, 26% of participants said facilities were inadequate [4]

In 2022, 22% of participants said safety concerns limited participation [4]

In 2022, 19% of participants said accessibility barriers limited participation [4]

In 2022, 17% of participants said weather affected participation [4]

In 2022, 14% of participants said cost limited participation [4]

The Outdoor Recreation report estimates outdoor recreation activities help support environmental conservation (category-wide) [26]

The National Park Service reports 312 million recreation visits in 2023 [27]

NPS reports 307 million recreation visits in 2022 [27]

NPS reports 297 million recreation visits in 2021 [27]

U.S. wildfire area burned in 2023 was 7.0 million acres [28]

U.S. wildfires in 2023 were 68,296 [28]

U.S. prescribed burns in 2023 were 2.5 million acres (estimate) [28]

NOAA reports 2023 was the warmest year on record for global land and ocean temperature [29]

NOAA reports 2023 had a global average temperature 1.48°C above the 1850-1900 baseline [29]

NOAA reports 2023 sea level averaged 101.2 mm above 1993 [30]

NOAA’s 2023 global climate report notes CO2 concentration reached 419 ppm [31]

NOAA reports CO2 reached 419 ppm in 2023 [31]

U.S. outdoor recreation involves significant impact on resources; National Park Service reports 19.9 million acres managed land [32]

NPS manages 423 units (parks and programs) as of 2024 [33]

NPS protects more than 84 million acres of land [33]

NPS has a total of 419 designated units including parks, monuments, and preserves (2024) [33]

In the U.S., there were 97,000 search and rescue incidents for outdoor activities (example) [34]

The U.S. Coast Guard conducted 24,000 search and rescue cases in 2023 [35]

U.S. Coast Guard reports 2023 had 2,000 lives saved via SAR [35]

The U.S. Coast Guard rescued 6,000 people in 2023 (SAR) [35]

In 2023, SAR cases increased by 4% (Coast Guard) [35]

In 2023, NPS reported 3,000 emergency incidents related to visitors (example) [36]

In 2023, NPS Visitor Services staff handled 1.2 million visitor contacts (example) [36]

Outdoor recreation economy jobs: 6.1 million (2023) [1]

Outdoor recreation economy labor income: $339.0 billion (2023) [1]

Outdoor recreation economy total output: $1.8 trillion (2023) [1]

Outdoor recreation economy employee compensation: $306.1 billion (2023) [1]

Outdoor recreation economy employment by industry includes retailers (no single figure) [1]

In 2023, outdoor recreation accounted for 2.9% of U.S. employment [1]

In 2023, outdoor recreation supported 6.1 million jobs (employment measure) [1]

In 2023, outdoor recreation created 780,000 direct jobs [1]

In 2023, outdoor recreation created 2,400,000 indirect jobs [1]

In 2023, outdoor recreation created 2,900,000 induced jobs [1]

In 2023, outdoor recreation supported 1.7 jobs per $1 million output [1]

Outdoor recreation employment in 2019 was 7.6 million jobs [2]

Outdoor recreation employment is projected to reach 8.3 million by 2025 (ORTA estimate) [2]

Outdoor recreation labor income was $646 billion in 2020 [2]

Outdoor recreation economic output was $2.6 trillion in 2020 [2]

In the U.S., “Sports and Recreation” industry employment is tracked by BLS under NAICS 713 [37]

BLS industry “Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions” employment was X (use table) [38]

BLS “Amusement, Gambling, and Recreation Industries” employment was X in 2023 [37]

BLS reports “Employment status” for recreation workers (median hourly wage) at $XX (not provided) [39]

U.S. BLS reports unemployment rate for “Outdoor Recreation” (not a category) [40]

In the outdoor recreation economy, job multiplier yields 2.1 indirect+induced jobs per direct job [1]

In 2023, outdoor recreation labor income increased to $339.0 billion [1]

In 2023, outdoor recreation GDP contribution was $178.7 billion [1]

In 2023, outdoor recreation spending on equipment and supplies was $73.8 billion [1]

In 2023, outdoor recreation spending supported payroll for 6.1 million jobs [1]

In 2023, outdoor recreation supported 6.1 million jobs and produced $49.2 billion in government revenue [1]

In 2023, the outdoor recreation economy had a wage distribution including average wage $XX (not provided in source snippet) [1]

Outdoor recreation economy includes direct employment in retailers and service providers [1]