This presentation deals with the development of sports participation in Sweden as well as trends over time regarding different types of activities and participants. The presentation draws on the most recent available data collected by Statistics Sweden that since 1975 has charted the development of Swedish citizens’ living conditions and leisure-time activities. The results show how participation in sport and physical activity in Sweden has increased gradually over time among those aged 16 years and over, and that over 60% of the total population 16–84 years participate at least two times a week. Dividing these data by sex shows no major differences between the proportion of men and women who exercise. However, the trend over time is that a larger proportion of women than men exercise. In terms of ethnicity, a greater proportion of those with a Swedish background exercises than those with foreign background, with lowest participation rates among foreign women. The results also show that participation rates in Sweden increase with level of education, with the highest participation rates found among those with post-secondary education. Dividing sport and exercise habits by type of activities, the results show that a larger proportion of the population often (20 times per annum or more) participate in an outdoor activity compared to an indoor activity. The development can be understood in light of general political developments in Sweden, with substantial financial support to the voluntary sports movement, as part of the social engineering of the modern welfare society.