The bar chart illustrates the number of men and women holding fitness memberships over a thirty-year period from 1970 to 2000. Overall, it is clear that membership figures for both genders were subject to considerable volatility, with men experiencing the most dramatic fluctuations.
In 1970, male membership stood at 2,100, which was more than double the 1,000 recorded for women. By 1975, both groups saw an increase, with men reaching a peak of 4,000, while female membership doubled to 2,000. Following this, male numbers declined to 2,500 in 1980 and dropped further to 1,800 by 1985. Conversely, female membership experienced a growth trend during this interval, peaking at 2,800 in 1985, which surpassed the male figure for the first and only time in the period.
By 1990, the figures for both genders were similar, at approximately 2,100 and 2,200 for men and women respectively. A significant surge occurred in 1995, where male membership reached a high of 5,000, while women reached 2,800. Finally, by 2000, both groups saw a sharp decline, with male membership falling to 1,000 and female membership decreasing to 2,000.