Polar users ran their way to over double WHO fitness targets
Over the past 12 months, running played the biggest role in driving Polar users past global fitness targets. With an average of 7.7 km per session and consistent logging across the year, it was the primary contributor to a weekly training average that more than doubled WHO’s 150-minute recommendation.
Exercise habits passed global health benchmarks
Polar’s 2025 Reflected report draws on millions of sessions uploaded to Polar Flow between December 2024 and November 2025. Users averaged 301 minutes of weekly activity, well beyond the World Health Organization’s suggested baseline for moderate-intensity exercise.
Interestingly enough it is older users who trained the most. The 60 to 69 age group clocked 383 minutes per week. The 20 to 29 group came in lowest at 248. But they probably trained with more intensity compared to the older group.
Among countries, Finland led with 362 minutes, followed by Spain, Germany and Japan. The US and Australia sat near the bottom of the rankings.
Running still reigns but variety is everywhere
Running remained the most popular activity globally, making up 14% of all logged workouts. The average distance per run was 7.7 km, with Germany topping the chart at 8.1 km. Japan, Spain and Brazil followed closely. In the US, the average run was 6.3 km, one of the lowest among countries tracked.
Beyond running, walking (12%), strength training (9%) and cycling (6%) were the next most common activities. Most users engaged in more than one sport, and nearly a quarter logged five or more different activities over the year. Disc golf, curling and dancing also made appearances in some regions.
April 27 was peak race day
One standout moment in the calendar was April 27, which saw the highest number of running sessions logged globally. That weekend featured major races in cities like London, Madrid and Hamburg, and reflected running’s strong momentum across the Polar community.
May 13, on the other hand, was the most active day overall across all activity types.
The average marathon finishing time was 4 hours and 12 minutes, showing a modest improvement from previous years. More than half of surveyed users said they plan to take part in a race in 2026.
Sleep and heart rate data add more depth
Polar users averaged 7 hours and 26 minutes of sleep per night, which is pretty decent. Finland topped the sleep chart with 7 hours and 44 minutes, while the overworked Japanese population came in last at just 6 hours and 43 minutes. The average sleep score was 73 out of 100, with anything over 70 considered “good” by Polar’s criteria.
Heart rate data during sleep hovered around 60 bpm on average, suggesting good overnight recovery. The report also showed that bedtime varied widely by country, with Spaniards going to bed around 00:10 on average, a full hour later than most other countries.
Training goals matter more with age
Motivation shifted with age. While younger users cited fitness, weight and performance, older age groups were more focused on maintaining health and energy. Across all demographics, 84% of respondents said they set training goals at least occasionally, with 47% doing so regularly.
The most common driver for all age groups was the desire to stay healthy rather than to chase medals or personal records. Makes sense.
Different countries, different strengths
The report breaks down activity by region with some stark contrasts. Spain logged the longest walking workouts at 5.8 km, while Japan topped the charts for walking duration with 94-minute sessions. In cycling, Spain again stood out with nearly 32 km per ride on average. Australia led in swimming, with pool sessions averaging over 2.5 km.
These regional differences may reflect weather, terrain, culture or even commuting patterns. But across the board, the trend is clear: users are moving more and sleeping better.
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