Luxembourg residents spent 55.5 million euros on sportswear in 2020, and 18.8 million euros on membership fees for clubs and associations. (Photo: Matic Zorman/Maison Moderne)

Luxembourg residents spent 55.5 million euros on sportswear in 2020, and 18.8 million euros on membership fees for clubs and associations. (Photo: Matic Zorman/Maison Moderne)

In Luxembourg, the sports economy represents 1.1% of gross domestic product (GDP) and employs 4,454 full-time professionals.

, sport in Luxembourg is worth just over €710m, or 1.1% of the country's GDP. The economic importance of sport has decreased from 1.2% of GDP in 2016 to 1.1% in 2020. However, employment in the sector rose from 0.8% of national employment in 2016 to 0.9% in 2020.

According to Statec data, sports infrastructure is the main pillar of the sports economy. This category represents the construction of new sports infrastructures, as well as the management of existing facilities. In 2020, it represented 52% of sports value added, or €335.7m.

In terms of employment, sports facilities are also the main employer in the sports economy, with 2,040 full-time jobs out of a total of 4,454 jobs. This represents 40% of the sector’s workforce from 2016 to 2020, with a peak of 46% in 2020. It should be noted that employment in this category has doubled its growth rate in 2020, rising from 9% in previous years to 21%.

Statec also points out that 2020 was an exceptional year in this area, as the ministry of sport paid the first tranche of subsidies for the .

In addition to infrastructure, the sports sector can count on households. Luxembourg residents spent €55.5m on sportswear in 2020, €18.8m on membership fees for clubs and associations and €184.1m on sports products.

In Belgium, the sports economy represents 1.63% of GDP and directly employs nearly 100,000 people. In France, households spent just over €22bn on sports goods and services in 2019. Across Europe, the sports economy is estimated to account for between 3.4% and 3.7% of GDP and employs around 15 million people professionally.

This story was first published in French on . It has been translated and edited for Delano.