Germany's sports clubs hit 30 million memberships for the first time

Germany has just crossed a number that sounds almost made up: more than 30 million memberships in sports clubs. It is a first, and the third record in a row.

What happened?

The DOSB (the German Olympic Sports Confederation, the umbrella body of German sport) counted more than 30 million memberships as of 1 January 2026. That is over 770,000 more than a year earlier, a rise of 2.6 percent.

If this sounds familiar, it is: a year ago the DOSB reported a record of more than 29 million. Growth has continued since then.

There are around 85,000 clubs across the 16 federal states. Hamburg grew fastest at 6.59 percent, followed by Bavaria (4.33) and Brandenburg (3.89).

Who is joining?

The big names, football, tennis and the Alpine Club, contributed a lot in absolute terms. In percentage terms, though, small trend sports lead: darts grew by 20.10 percent, cheerleading by 14.83 and lacrosse by 12.72.

Slightly more women than men drove the growth (2.52 versus 2.17 percent). Even so, clubs remain about 60 percent men and 40 percent women. More than 87 percent of boys aged 7 to 14 are in a club, compared with only 16.4 percent of women over 60.

Growth is strongest among people over 60 (3.9 percent) and children and young people (3 percent).

One caveat: the DOSB counts memberships, not people. Someone who belongs to two clubs is counted twice.

Where does it get tight?

Growth among children and teenagers is weaker than in past years. The DOSB points to demographic change, but also to limited sports facilities and staff. Waiting lists, especially for children's sport, are not unusual.

DOSB board chair Otto Fricke put the renovation backlog for sports facilities at between 25 and 50 billion euros. The federal government has paid 333 million euros a year into its "Sportmilliarde" (a billion-euro renovation fund for local facilities). The budget committee is due to approve another 333 million this week, which would bring it to the full billion.

DOSB president Thomas Weikert called the figure a milestone and said clubs are places where neighbourhoods still come together.

What's next?

The DOSB says clubs need reliable conditions to meet the demand. Whether the money arrives where the waiting lists are longest is the open question.