Cover Image: i-Fitness

Nigerians spent an estimated ₦90 million every day on gym subscriptions in 2025, amounting to about ₦32.8 billion for the year, according to transaction data processed by Moniepoint. While gym activity is still largely concentrated in major cities, the figures point to a noticeable rise in gym culture, particularly among young Nigerians —or maybe it’s just becoming easier to track with the rise of payment systems like Moniepoint.

Thanks to the drive by fitness influencers, body-aesthetic trends on social media, and a growing focus on wellness among urban youth, gyms across Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt have, over the past few years, doubled as social hubs.

However, when placed in context, the numbers show that Nigeria’s fitness market is still relatively small. ₦32.8 billion annually translates to a modest per-capita spend in a country of over 200 million people, suggesting that regular gym activity remains concentrated among a narrow, mostly urban demographic.

That said, Gym spending today is noticeably higher than it was pre-2020, when fitness culture was less mainstream and digital payments for subscriptions were uncommon. The transition to card and electronic transfer payments has also improved the visibility of gym-related data, which suggests that real participation rates may be larger than previously captured.