Sport England is to launch a national survey to determine how many people in England take part in sport and physical activity.

The Active People survey will question 350,000 people over a period of a year – with at least 1,000 surveyed from every local authority area in the country.

The study, which will also find out what activities people undertake and where they undertake them, will be repeated in three years’ time to measure progress.

Roger Draper, Sport England chief executive, said: “This survey will form a major part of our continued quest to develop England as an active and successful sporting nation. We have the target of increasing participation in sport and physical activity by an average 1 per cent year-on-year.

"This survey will enable us to measure who is and who is not active. The results will also help us develop our sports facilities investment strategy.

“To get more people physically active we must measure activity levels among the population.

“So while Sport England is focusing on developing our talented athletes in readiness for 2012, we are not neglecting the pressing need to ensure the population as a whole takes steps to become fitter and healthier.”