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America’s Most Relaxed States (Ranked—#9 Is Surprising)

Introduction

Introduction

Which U.S. state has the highest share of people who report no leisure-time physical activity? The answer comes from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS).

BRFSS asks respondents whether they have engaged in any physical activities or exercises outside of work during the past 30 days. The percentages below represent the share of adults who reported no non-work-related exercise, based on combined BRFSS data from 2017 through 2020.

There are many factors that can influence activity levels—job physical demands, climate, access to parks and recreation, and cultural habits among them. Below is the full state-by-state ranking from lowest to highest percent reporting no leisure-time exercise.

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Not Ranked: New Jersey

Not Ranked: New Jersey

A brief note on coverage: BRFSS had insufficient data for New Jersey in the combined 2017–2020 dataset, so New Jersey is excluded from this ranking.

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Overall Average

Overall Average

Across the United States (excluding New Jersey), an average of 25.3% of adults reported no exercise outside of work during the previous 30 days. Keep that national average in mind while reviewing each state’s rate.

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#50: Colorado

#50: Colorado

Percent of people with no exercise outside of work: 17.7%

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#49: Utah

#49: Utah

Percent of people with no exercise outside of work: 18.2%

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#48: Washington

#48: Washington

Percent of people with no exercise outside of work: 18.4%

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#47: Vermont

#47: Vermont

Percent of people with no exercise outside of work: 19.6%

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#46: District of Columbia

#46: District of Columbia

Percent of people with no exercise outside of work: 20.2%

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#45: Oregon

#45: Oregon

Percent of people with no exercise outside of work: 20.7%

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#44: Alaska

#44: Alaska

Percent of people with no exercise outside of work: 20.8%

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#43: Minnesota

#43: Minnesota

Percent of people with no exercise outside of work: 21%

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#42: California

#42: California

Percent of people with no exercise outside of work: 21.2%

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#41: New Hampshire

#41: New Hampshire

Percent of people with no exercise outside of work: 21.5%

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#40: Montana

#40: Montana

Percent of people with no exercise outside of work: 21.5%

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#39: Hawaii

#39: Hawaii

Percent of people with no exercise outside of work: 21.7%

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#38: Wisconsin

#38: Wisconsin

Percent of people with no exercise outside of work: 21.9%

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#37: Idaho

#37: Idaho

Percent of people with no exercise outside of work: 22.2%

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#36: Connecticut

#36: Connecticut

Percent of people with no exercise outside of work: 22.6%

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#35: Maryland

#35: Maryland

Percent of people with no exercise outside of work: 23.2%

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#34: Massachusetts

#34: Massachusetts

Percent of people with no exercise outside of work: 23.3%

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#33: Arizona

#33: Arizona

Percent of people with no exercise outside of work: 23.3%

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#32: Virginia

#32: Virginia

Percent of people with no exercise outside of work: 23.4%

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#31: Wyoming

#31: Wyoming

Percent of people with no exercise outside of work: 23.6%

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#30: New Mexico

#30: New Mexico

Percent of people with no exercise outside of work: 23.7%

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#29: Nebraska

#29: Nebraska

Percent of people with no exercise outside of work: 24.3%

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#28: Michigan

#28: Michigan

Percent of people with no exercise outside of work: 24.3%

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#27: Iowa

#27: Iowa

Percent of people with no exercise outside of work: 24.5%

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#26: North Carolina

#26: North Carolina

Percent of people with no exercise outside of work: 24.6%

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#25: Pennsylvania

#25: Pennsylvania

Percent of people with no exercise outside of work: 24.7%

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#24: Maine

#24: Maine

Percent of people with no exercise outside of work: 24.8%

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#23: Kansas

#23: Kansas

Percent of people with no exercise outside of work: 24.8%

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#22: Illinois

#22: Illinois

Percent of people with no exercise outside of work: 24.9%

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#21: South Dakota

#21: South Dakota

Percent of people with no exercise outside of work: 25.3%

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#20: Rhode Island

#20: Rhode Island

Percent of people with no exercise outside of work: 25.3%

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#19: North Dakota

#19: North Dakota

Percent of people with no exercise outside of work: 25.6%

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#18: New York

#18: New York

Percent of people with no exercise outside of work: 25.9%

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#17: Nevada

#17: Nevada

Percent of people with no exercise outside of work: 26%

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#16: Ohio

#16: Ohio

Percent of people with no exercise outside of work: 26.9%

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#15: Delaware

#15: Delaware

Percent of people with no exercise outside of work: 27.2%

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#14: Florida

#14: Florida

Percent of people with no exercise outside of work: 27.3%

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#13: Georgia

#13: Georgia

Percent of people with no exercise outside of work: 27.4%

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#12: Texas

#12: Texas

Percent of people with no exercise outside of work: 27.5%

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#11: South Carolina

#11: South Carolina

Percent of people with no exercise outside of work: 27.6%

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#10: Missouri

#10: Missouri

Percent of people with no exercise outside of work: 27.8%

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#9: Indiana

#9: Indiana

Percent of people with no exercise outside of work: 28.5%

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#8: Tennessee

#8: Tennessee

Percent of people with no exercise outside of work: 28.9%

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#7: West Virginia

#7: West Virginia

Percent of people with no exercise outside of work: 30.1%

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#6: Oklahoma

#6: Oklahoma

Percent of people with no exercise outside of work: 30.5%

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#5: Alabama

#5: Alabama

Percent of people with no exercise outside of work: 30.7%

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#4: Louisiana

#4: Louisiana

Percent of people with no exercise outside of work: 30.8%

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#3: Arkansas

#3: Arkansas

Percent of people with no exercise outside of work: 31.1%

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#2: Kentucky

#2: Kentucky

Percent of people with no exercise outside of work: 32.5%

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#1: Mississippi

#1: Mississippi

Percent of people with no exercise outside of work: 33.2%

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