Americans Rank Near Bottom Globally in Walking Activity, New Data Shows
Krissy Vann | Host, All Things Fitness and Wellness
Americans are walking less than many of their global peers, and even the most active states are falling short of recommended step counts. That is one of the key findings from the inaugural State of Walking Report released by WeWard, a free walking app backed by Venus Williams. Drawing on data from 7.7 million global users, including 1.3 million in the United States, the report offers one of the most detailed snapshots to date of how often people move in their daily lives.
The analysis, covering January through June 2025, shows sharp differences across age groups, genders, and regions. Adults aged 45 to 54 recorded about 15 percent more steps per day than 16 to 24 year olds, who were the least active group. Men averaged 8,745 daily steps, nearly 30 percent higher than women. No U.S. state reached the updated guideline of 7,000 steps a day, and in every state fewer than half of residents met that threshold. New York led with 6,947 average daily steps, followed by California, Oregon, Washington, and Wisconsin. On a global scale, the United States ranked second to last among OECD nations in daily average steps, ahead only of Canada.
The World Health Organization has reported that 81 percent of young adults worldwide fail to meet activity guidelines, a backdrop that underscores the U.S. trends identified by WeWard. “We're proud to share this first-of-its-kind report to reveal important truths about the state of physical activity,” said Yves Benchimol, WeWard Co-founder and CEO. “While there were notable walking disparities between groups, we think narrowing these gaps is entirely feasible, as we've seen first hand how digital tools can make a real difference in behavior change at the population level.”
The study also examined broader influences on activity levels, including income, access to green space, and screen time. These factors were noted as potential contributors to differences observed across demographics and regions. Tanguy de La Villegeorges, Co-founder and Chief Data Officer at WeWard, added, “At WeWard, we believe that walking is more than just a way to get around: it's beneficial to our health, the environment, and society. Through this report, our goal is to raise awareness about the prevalence of sedentary habits, which is a major challenge of our time and a driving force of our mission.”
For enterprise operators, the findings highlight both challenges and opportunities. The persistent gap between younger and older adults suggests a need for targeted strategies to engage younger demographics. The gender imbalance in daily activity also points to potential areas for program development. The full report is available on WeWard’s website.
