FIT Africa International Market Report 2026: Nigeria
Nigeria’s fitness, health, wellness, beauty, creative arts, sports and longevity industries are growing, driven by increasing health awareness and disposable incomes. Key players include:
- Fitness: iFitness Centre Ltd, Sky Fitness Gym, Fitness Central, Safari® Fitness, Cumbow Fitness, HIIT Squad, Bodyline Fitness & Gym, Upbeat Centre, FIT Magodo. IREP, Lo Studios.
- Health: SYNLAB Nigeria, PathCare Nigeria, FIT GROUP of Companies, Union Diagnostic and Clinical Services.
- Wellness: Bnatural Spa, Floatherapy, Amani Spa, Eko Gym Spa.
- Beauty: Lola&, House of Tara, Zaron Cosmetics
- Creative Arts: SPAN
- Sports: Basketball (Nigeria’s national team, D’League), Football (Nigerian Premier League, Super Eagles)
- Longevity: Longevity Zone, Kallos and others. Focus on longevity is increasing, with opportunities for service providers
Market Trends
- Growing adoption of digital fitness solutions
- Increasing focus on health and wellness
- Expanding middle class and rising disposable incomes
- Opportunities for collaboration between industries (e.g., fitness and creative arts)
Industry Growth and Revenue
- Fitness:
- Market size: $2.5 million (2022), expected to grow at 9.5% CAGR (2022-2027)
- Revenue streams: Gym memberships, personal training, fitness classes
- Key drivers: Increasing awareness of lifestyle-related diseases, entry of low-budget international fitness chains
- Sports Equipment and Fitness Retail Market: $1.6 billion (late 2025 projections)
- Gyms & Training: ~$181.8 million (projected 2025)
- Health:
- Market size: $1.2 billion (2022)
- Projected growth: 8% CAGR (2022-2027)
- Revenue streams: Clinical services, diagnostic tests, health insurance
- Key drivers: Growing demand for quality healthcare, increasing prevalence of chronic diseases
- Wellness:
- Market size: $300 million (2022)
- Projected growth: 10% CAGR (2022-2027)
- Revenue streams: Wellness products, services (e.g., spas, yoga studios)
- Key drivers: Increasing focus on preventive healthcare, growing awareness of wellness benefits
- Beauty:
- Market size: $1.5 billion (2022)
- Projected growth: 7% CAGR (2022-2027)
- Revenue streams: Beauty products, services (e.g., salons, spas)
- Key drivers: Growing middle class, increasing focus on personal grooming
- Creative Arts:
- Market size: $500 million (2022)
- Projected growth: 12% CAGR (2022-2027)
- Revenue streams: Music, film, fashion, art sales
- Key drivers: Vibrant cultural scene, growing demand for local content
- Sports:
- Market size: $200 million (2022)
- Projected growth: 10% CAGR (2022-2027)
- Revenue streams: Sponsorships, merchandise, broadcasting rights
- Key drivers: Growing popularity of sports, increasing investment in sports infrastructure
- Longevity:
- Market size: $100 million (2022)
- Projected growth: 15% CAGR (2022-2027)
- Revenue streams: Anti-aging products, services (e.g., fitness programs, supplements)
- Key drivers: Increasing focus on healthy aging, growing awareness of longevity benefits
Comparison with Other Big 4 Countries
| Country | Fitness Market Size | Health Market Size | Wellness Market Size | Beauty Market Size | Creative Arts Market Size | Sports Market Size | Longevity Market Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nigeria | $2.5 million (2022) | $1.2 billion (2022) | $300 million (2022) | $1.5 billion (2022) | $500 million (2022) | $200 million (2022) | $100 million (2022) |
| South Africa | $400 million (2022) | $1.5 billion (2022) | $500 million (2022) | $2.5 billion (2022) | $1 billion (2022) | $500 million (2022) | $200 million (2022) |
| Kenya | $90 million (fitness) | $450 million (health) | $200 million (2022) | $1 billion (2022) | $300 million (2022) | $150 million (2022) | $50 million (2022) |
| Egypt | $11.42 billion (health and wellness, 2024) | – | – | – | – | – | – |
Key Takeaways
- Nigeria’s fitness market is growing rapidly, driven by increasing health awareness and disposable incomes.
- South Africa has the largest fitness market size among the Big 4 countries.
- Kenya’s fitness market is growing, driven by increasing demand for health and wellness services.
- Egypt’s health and wellness market is significant, with a large population and growing demand for healthcare services.
Nigeria’s fitness industry size is significantly smaller than South Africa, Egypt, and Kenya, despite having a larger population (over 200 million) and GDP ($447 billion in 2022). Several factors contribute to this disparity:
- Economic inequality: Nigeria’s wealth distribution is highly skewed, with a small affluent class and a large low-income population. This limits the number of people who can afford fitness services and products.
- Limited infrastructure: Nigeria’s fitness infrastructure is still developing, with fewer gyms, fitness centers, and sports facilities compared to South Africa and Egypt.
- Low health awareness: Despite rising obesity rates (8-10% in adults), health awareness and fitness culture are still emerging in Nigeria.
- Informal economy: A significant portion of Nigeria’s economy is informal, making it harder to track and quantify the fitness industry’s size.
- Security concerns: Safety and security issues in some areas may deter investments and limit the growth of the fitness industry.
- Competition from traditional activities: Nigeria has a strong culture of traditional sports and activities, such as football, wrestling, and dancing, which may divert attention and investment away from modern fitness services.
- Limited disposable income: Nigeria’s GDP per capita is lower compared to South Africa and Egypt, leaving consumers with limited disposable income for non-essential services like fitness.
In contrast:
- South Africa has a more developed economy, higher disposable incomes, and a stronger focus on health and wellness.
- Egypt has a large population, growing urbanization, and increasing awareness of health and fitness.
- Kenya’s fitness industry is driven by a growing middle class and increasing demand for health services.
Implications for growth:
- Huge potential: Nigeria’s large population and growing middle class offer significant opportunities for fitness industry growth.
- Investment opportunities: The industry’s small size presents opportunities for investors to enter the market and shape its development.
- Government support: The Nigerian government can promote fitness and wellness through policies and initiatives, driving industry growth.
- Innovation: There’s room for innovative business models, such as digital fitness platforms, to cater to Nigeria’s growing health-conscious population.
- Partnerships and collaborations: Collaborations between fitness businesses, healthcare providers, and tech companies can drive growth and awareness.
With the right strategies and investments, Nigeria’s fitness industry can tap into its vast potential and become a significant player in Africa’s health and wellness landscape.