Azores with 24,872 federated athletes in 2024, an increase of more than two hundred compared to 2023 - Communication

Secretaria Regional da Educação, Cultura e Desporto

The Azores registered 24,872 federated athletes in 2024, spread across 42 sports, according to the Regional Secretariat for Education, Culture and Sport, through the Regional Directorate for Sport (DRD).

This is the highest figure in the entire historical series, representing an increase of 230 practitioners compared to 2023, a growth mainly influenced by the increase in female athletes (+225).

The distribution by island highlights the diversity and scope of the regional sports system: São Miguel accounts for 50.2% of athletes; Terceira, 25.4%; Faial, 6.9%; Pico, 6.5%; Santa Maria, 3.8%; São Jorge, 3.6%; Graciosa, 2.0%; Flores, 1.3%; and Corvo, 0.3%.

The islands with the greatest competitive diversity continue to be São Miguel, with 36 sports, Terceira, with 31, and Faial, with 21. In terms of participation by gender, males represent 66.63% of participants, while female participation stands at 33.37%, maintaining a sustained growth trend. Training levels continue to prevail, accounting for 74.37% of federated athletes, corresponding to approximately 18,498 young people participating in regular sports activities.

Sports participation rates are once again reaching record levels in the national context. The absolute participation rate stands at 10.52%, the highest ever and the third consecutive year above 10%. The potential participation rate (population aged between six and 34) stands at 31.15%, also the highest figure in the entire historical series, reinforcing the strong impact of the regional sports system and the significant participation of the Azorean population in federated sports.

Regarding non-practising sports agents, in 2024, the Azores registered a total of 1,166 coaches, 1,194 referees and judges, and 1,041 federated officials, maintaining a progressive evolution that demonstrates the expansion of the technical, organisational, and training support base in the Region.

The DRD has made the complete reports on Federated Sports Statistics 2023-24 and 2024 available on the Regional Government Portal, which include detailed data on athletes, coaches, referees, judges, officials and other agents, with overall and island-by-island analyses. These documents, as well as tables, graphs and characterisation maps, may be consulted at https://portal.azores.gov.pt/web/drd/demografia-federada.

Federated Sports Statistics is a key tool for understanding the evolution of sport in the Azores, supporting strategic decisions aligned with the Government Programme and the needs of clubs, associations and other entities in the regional sports system. In publishing this data, the DRD reiterates its commitment to promoting increasingly structured, inclusive and sustainable sports development based on accurate and up-to-date information.