France’s sports and fitness industry has always been one of the most competitive in Europe. As recently as 2022, the fitness market revenue estimated at over €1.5 billion in 2022, which was also the strongest indicator of post-COVID recovery. French citizens stay within general of mixing traditional and modern approaches to staying fit. Running, hiking, cycling, and water sports remain perennial favorites, but fitness and gymnastic activities (especially aided by wearables) have shot up in popularity. In fact, in 2023 fitness facilities such as gyms and other types of sports centers took the lead as the most common places for French people to work out. This doesn’t necessarily mean that exercising in nature fell out of favor entirely as a sizeable portion of the French continues to do so. Technology is playing a growing role in shaping fitness behaviors and is one of the strongest sectors for France’s sports and fitness industry. The connected fitness market in France, while still developing, is poised for significant expansion. Fitness apps and wearables now offer users personalized data on everything from heart rate to sleep cycles. Revenue in this digital segment is projected to surpass $140 million by 2027, while the number of users of digital fitness and wellness devices is expected to exceed 8.2 million by 2028. Still, adoption has room to grow as most people in France are not yet using connected technology to track their fitness. This presents a sizable opportunity for innovation, especially as public awareness around health, longevity, and preventative care continues to rise. It’s most likely that once the price point for most wearables decreases, we’re going to see an increase in purchases.