Sport remains a major element of Australian life and, recent data shows, a significant contributor to the nation’s wallet as well.

Sport and recreation industries generated $12.8 billion in income and employed around 134,000 Australians in 2011-12, according to the latest figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

ABS Director Andrew Middleton says in addition to its health and social benefits, sport and physical recreation has economic importance, reflected in the latest household expenditure, production and international trade data.

“Australia exported over $358 million in sport and recreation goods in 2012-13, up 26 per cent from the previous year.

“We found that Singapore has become a major destination for exports of Australian sporting goods and services... the value of these exports to Singapore rose from $15.6 million in 2011-12 to $73.4 million in 2012-13,” said Mr Middleton.

Australian households spent over $8.2 billion on sport and recreation products in 2009-10.

Of that $8.2 billion; Australians spent $4.4 billion on services such as sports facility hire charges and health and fitness studio charges, as well as $2.9 billion on sports, physical recreation and camping equipment, including swimming pools.

Further details are available for free download from the ABS.