Table 6

Most practised sports by Canadians, 20051

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Population aged 15 and over Overall participation rate2 Active participation rate3 Total Male Female Total Male Female thousands percentage percentage Total population 26,106 12,867 13,239 … … … … Total participants 7,314 4,568 2,745 … 100 100 100 Golf 1,487 1,153 334 5.7 20.3 25.2 12.2 Ice hockey 1,298 1,182 116 5.0 17.7 25.9 4.2 E Swimming 764 252 513 2.9 10.4 5.5 18.7 Soccer 708 400 309 2.7 9.7 8.8 11.3 Basketball 626 445 181 2.4 8.6 9.7 6.6 Baseball 520 351 170 2.0 7.1 7.7 6.2 Volleyball 513 210 304 2.0 7.0 4.6 11.1 Skiing (downhill/alpine) 490 267 223 1.9 6.7 5.8 8.1 Cycling 459 283 177 1.8 6.3 6.2 6.4 Tennis 403 237 166 1.5 5.5 5.2 6.0 Curling 294 163 131 1.1 4.0 3.6 4.8 Snowboarding 270 183 E 86 E 1.0 3.7 4.0 E 3.1 E Badminton 268 170 98 E 1.0 3.7 3.7 3.6 E Softball 265 188 77 E 1.0 3.6 4.1 2.8 Football 244 208 F 0.9 3.3 4.6 F Skiing (cross-country/nordic) 197 102 E 95 E 0.8 2.7 2.2 E 3.5 Bowling (10 pin) 177 106 E 72 E 0.7 2.4 2.3 E 2.6 Mountain-boarding 167 109 E 58 E 0.6 2.3 2.4 2.1 Squash 152 E 109 E F 0.6 E 2.1 E 2.4 F Ball hockey 128 E 108 E F 0.5 E 1.8 E 2.4 F Bowling (5 pin) 123 E 47 75 E 0.5 1.7 1.0 2.7 E Rugby 116 E 93 F 0.4 E 1.6 E 2.0 F Canoeing/kayaking 93 E 46 48 E 0.4 E 1.3 E 1.0 E 1.7 E Martial arts 88 E 63 F 0.3 E 1.2 E 1.4 E F Snowshoeing 73 E 49 F 0.3 E 1.0 E 1.1 E F Gymnastics 72 E F 49 E 0.3 E 1.0 E F 1.8 E Karate 72 E F F 0.3 E 1.0 E F F Equestrian 69 E F 63 E 0.3 E 0.9 E F 2.3 E In-line hockey 68 E F F 0.3 E 0.9 E F F In-line skating 67 E F F 0.3 0.9 E F F Below top 30 1,529 804 725 5.9 20.9 17.6 26.4

… not applicable

E use with caution

F too unreliable to be published

1. Respondents may report participation in more than one sport.

2. The percentage is calculated using the total Canadian population aged 15 years and older.

3. The percentage is calculated over the population in at least one sport – the 'active population'.

Source: General Social Survey, 2005.