An overview of the Global Observatory for Physical Activity – GoPA! 2025 Japan Country Card

Abstract

In September 2025, the Global Observatory for Physical Activity (GoPA!) released the third edition of its Country Cards. GoPA! is an international network established in 2012 with the aim of collecting, analyzing, and disseminating data on physical activity (PA) worldwide. The first edition of the Country Cards, which provide profiles of PA in each country, was published in 2015. The third edition reflects surveillance, policy, and research efforts related to PA, as well as progress made over the past decade, across 186 countries. The third edition of the Country Cards consists of five components for each country: 1) country and demographic data; 2) prevalence of meeting the WHO PA guidelines; 3) policy and surveillance status; 4) PA research; and 5) the capacity pyramid for PA promotion. Newly added information includes prevalence of domain-specific PA (i.e. active leisure and active transport) and gender differences in PA research. In Japan, the prevalence of meeting WHO PA guidelines was 55%, which is slightly lower than the global average and the WHO Western Pacific region, with a large gender gap observed. Despite this, Japan received high overall evaluations in the capacity pyramid for promoting PA, comprising research, policy (availability and implementation) and surveillance (periodicity and data by domain), revealing a gap between capacity and the prevalence of meeting WHO PA guidelines. Further strengthening of PA promotion is needed in the future.