Derry emerges as fitness capital of Northern Ireland, according to new data

Derry has been announced as the fitness capital of Northern Ireland, according to a new study.

As 2025 approaches, people start to embrace the mantra of ‘new year, new me’ as they prioritise their health and fitness.

Search engine analysis of “personal trainer” and 718 related keywords by Harlow Leisurezone reveals a growing interest in personal trainers and fitness, with searches revealing a 5.66% increase in Northern Ireland. 

Derry placed top in Northern Ireland for the area searching with the keyword ‘personal trainer,’ with a 0.70% rise in searches. 

The city was the only area in the country to see an increase in searches for the term, with the other three on the list experiencing a significant decrease.

Lisburn saw a -4.18% decline in searches for personal trainers and other fitness-related activity, which placed them second on the list.

Newry registered a -5.58% decrease in searches, and Belfast recorded the sharpest drop, with searches for personal trainers falling by -9.79%.

As Derry is the only area in Northern Ireland seeing an increase in searches for personal trainers and other fitness-related activity, this could explain why Northern Ireland ranks bottom across the United Kingdom, as it has seen the smallest rise in these searches, with an increase of 5.66% by December 23-24 from December 20 - November 2021.

England was the nation in the UK that witnessed the sharpest rise in searches for PTs and other fitness-related activity over this period with an increase of 13.19%.

Meanwhile, Wales had the next largest percentile increase in these searches with an 8.23% increase over the time period, compared to Scotland's 7.96% increase.

However, Wales had a significantly smaller amount of searches regarding this subject, with 22,090 in December 23-24, while Scotland had 34,440 in the same period.

Health and Fitness Manager David Marrington, from Harlow Leisurezone, said: “The New Year is the perfect time for a fresh start. More people are ready to take control of their health and fitness, whether in the gym, in their home, or in a local park.

“Whether it’s setting a goal to run your first 5 km or building strength in the gym, January provides a unique opportunity to reset and focus on self-improvement.

“As we approach the new year, many people are using this time to reset and commit to a healthier lifestyle. It’s important to start with realistic and actionable steps.”