Market Overview
Size and demand definition
- Brevintel analysis values the market at USD 85.4 billion in 2025 ($85.4B), rising to USD 91.2 billion in 2026 and USD 170.9 billion by 2035 ($170.9B).
- Headline cards list a 7% CAGR, while the narrative outlook uses a 7.2% CAGR; both token sets are retained.
- Growth from 2022 to 2025 was approximately 6.5%, establishing a larger demand base before the forecast period.
- The region represented 19.9% of global activewear demand in 2025 and is expected to account for approximately 20.1% by 2035.
- Nike led with over 11% market share in 2025; Nike, Adidas, ASICS Corporation, New Balance, and Puma collectively held 23%.
- Coverage includes performance and athleisure apparel, athletic footwear, and accessories for running, training, outdoor activity, yoga, recreational sports, and everyday active use.
- Sports equipment, wearable electronics, formal team kits, cleated footwear, and purely fashion-led sneakers sit outside this demand definition.
- China supplies scale, India and Malaysia supply the fastest growth, and South Korea and Japan also exceed the regional average.
Market Dynamics
Fitness policy
- China's National Fitness Program of the 14th Five-Year Plan, issued in November 2021, supports associated apparel and footwear demand.
Participation, cities, and materials
- China's National Fitness Plan set a target of 500 million people participating regularly in physical exercise by 2025.
- Anta Sports reported FY2024 revenue of RMB 70.83 billion, up 13.6% year on year, with its premium-brand portfolio growing faster than core banners.
- India's urban population is expected to approach 600 million by 2036, widening the branded and mid-priced activewear base.
- Traceability requirements add complexity as brands reconcile material documentation, chemical-management expectations, and supplier audits.
- Polyester led with a 40% share in 2025 and is projected to edge down to about 39% by 2035 while remaining essential to accessible moisture-management apparel.
- Cotton's share is expected to ease from approximately 20% to 19%; nylon held approximately 22% in 2025 at a 7.2% CAGR.
- Blends are expected to expand from approximately 18% to 19% at a 7.4% CAGR, the fastest material growth rate.
- Industry data suggests a more selective consumer environment, making product innovation, channel precision, and value positioning more important than broad-based expansion.
Segmentation Analysis
Product type and price
- Apparel generated $55.5 billion in 2025, representing 65% of the market, and is forecast to grow at a 7% CAGR.
- Footwear represented $25.8 billion, or 30.2% of 2025 sales, and is the fastest-growing product category at a 7.1% CAGR.
- Accessories contributed $4.1 billion, or 4.8%, and grow at a 5.4% CAGR as a lower-ticket route into brand ecosystems.
- The medium segment was the largest price tier in 2025, valued at approximately $42.7 billion.
- Low-priced products remain critical in price-sensitive markets; high-priced products depend on technical differentiation, especially in running footwear.
- Usage spans training, outdoor, yoga, recreational sports, and everyday athleisure, so one category CAGR conceals several demand occasions.
Distribution channel
- Offline channels generated $70.0 billion in 2025, representing 59% of sales, through specialty stores, mega retail stores, and other outlets.
- Online channels generated $48.7 billion, or 41% of sales, and are forecast to expand at a 10.7% CAGR.
- Physical retail remains important for footwear fitting and fabric evaluation even as its growth is slower.
- Company websites support direct relationships and first-party data, while marketplaces supply assortment breadth.
Regional Outlook
China, India, Japan, and Korea
- China was the largest regional market at $41.5 billion in 2025, equal to 48.5% of APAC sales, and is projected to reach $81.2 billion by 2035 at a 7.0% CAGR.
- A 2025 industry data report cited more than 120,000 fitness venues in China, supporting gym, training, and lifestyle demand.
- India is forecast to grow from $11.5 billion in 2025 to $25.6 billion in 2035 at an 8.4% CAGR, with a population of more than 1.4 billion.
- Japan is projected to rise from $13.4 billion to $27.3 billion at a 7.4% CAGR; Sasakawa Sports Foundation recorded approximately 10.6 million joggers and runners at the 2020 peak.
- South Korea is expected to expand from $8.4 billion in 2025 to $17.9 billion by 2035 at a 7.9% CAGR.
- Vuori's 2025 plan to open its first Seoul store illustrates Seoul's role as an entry point for premium international brands.
Australia and Southeast Asia
- Australia is projected to grow from $3.8 billion to $6.5 billion at a 5.6% CAGR; CBRE estimated Australia's fitness and athletic-clothing market at $4.2 billion in 2024.
- Malaysia is forecast to increase from $1.7 billion in 2025 to $3.6 billion by 2035 at an 8.1% CAGR.
- Indonesia is expected to grow from $2.8 billion to $4.6 billion at a 5.2% CAGR, with a population of approximately 283.5 million.
- Vietnam is projected to expand from $2.4 billion in 2025 to $4.1 billion by 2035 at a 5.6% CAGR.
- India at 8.4% CAGR and Malaysia at 8.1% are the fastest-growing markets; Indonesia, Vietnam, and Australia grow below the regional average.
- China and Japan provide the largest revenue pools even where their CAGRs sit closer to the regional 7.2% path.
Competitive Landscape
Structure
- The market is moderately fragmented: global sportswear companies compete with Chinese national champions, regional specialists, and digitally native entrants.
- Nike's FY2025 Greater China revenue was $6.586 billion.
- Adidas reported 2024 sales of €3.459 billion in Greater China and €1.339 billion in Japan and South Korea.
- Anta Sports reported FY2024 revenue exceeding RMB 70.8 billion, matching the RMB 70.83 billion banner result.
- Lululemon's China Mainland revenue rose 41.2% to $1.361 billion in FY2024, with 48 stores at year-end.
- Decathlon's €100 million five-year India commitment points to accessible, participation-led retail in a high-growth market.
Integrated producers
- Nike
- Adidas
- ASICS Corporation
- Puma
Specialty suppliers
- New Balance