Canadian children are getting lazier, as participation in organized sports declined significantly among the elementary-school-aged set over a 13-year period, suggests a Statistics Canada study.

Only about half (51 per cent) of children five to 14 years old regularly participated in sports, according to 2005 figures, down from 57 per cent in 1992.

And the drop was most pronounced among boys, according to the survey, which identified 3,112 children in that age group, based on the responses of 2,021 household members.

The survey found that 56 per cent of boys played sports in 2005, down from 66 per cent in 1992.

While 45 per cent of girls were sports participants in 2005, the same percentage of five- to 10-year-olds were active in 1992. However, there was a drop in participation over 1992 reported among girls aged 11 to 14, although no precise percentage was given.

Also, boys played an average of 1.8 sports in 2005, compared to 1.9 in 1992, while girls played an average of 1.7 sports in both 2005 and 1992.

City kids least active

The survey also determined what cities and areas of the country had the most sports-active youngsters.

It found children in the largest cities were the least likely to participate in organized sports.

Only 47 per cent of children in Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal — Canada's three most populous cities — were participants. However, children in smaller towns and cities (with a population of 10,000 to 49,999) were more active, with sports participation in mid-size metropolitan areas at 51 per cent.

In all rural areas across Canada, the level of sports participation was 49 per cent.

"This result may be because sports activity in rural settings often involves longer distances, which may limit the opportunities to participate for rural children," says the study.

The study also indicates children from homes with higher incomes are much more likely to play organized sports compared to youngsters in lower-income households.

Sixty-eight per cent of kids in the 15 per cent of households with the highest income were actively involved in sports, compared to 44 per cent in the 15 per cent of households with the lowest income.

Regional differences

As for regional differences, the study indicates children in Atlantic Canada were the most involved in organized sports in 2005, at 61 per cent, while B.C. children had the lowest rates of participation at 44 per cent.

The top organized sports activities in the study for kids aged 5 to 14 in 2005 are:

• Soccer (20 per cent
• Swimming (12 per cent)
• Hockey (11 per cent)
• Basketball (eight per cent)
• Baseball (five per cent)
• Volleyball (three per cent)
• Gymnastics (two per cent)
• Karate (two per cent)
• Skiing, downhill (two per cent)
• Track and field – athletics (two per cent)