A notably higher number of women fail the Garda fitness test than men amid concerns about young people's "sedentary lifestyles", new figures have revealed.

The data, which was released to the Irish Examiner, found that last year 444 women took the test, of whom 8.7% failed. 

The failure rate is significantly lower than the 23.7% who failed in 2024, but noticeably higher than the 2.7% who did not pass in 2023. 

By contrast, of the 1,033 men who took the test in 2025, only 1.25% failed, while 5.98% failed in 2024. 

A new fitness test was introduced in 2025, which meant applicants were no longer required to complete sit ups or press ups. 

On Newstalk Breakfast, Neil Michael of the Irish Examiner said both men and women must pass the test in order to become members of An Garda Síochána. 

“Last year, one of the standout facts was the fact that last year saw the lowest number of female applicants actually taking what's called the obligatory Garda physical competency test since 2001,” he said. 

“You have to pass this test in order to get into the Garda - there's just no way around it. 

“Last year also saw the highest percentage in six years of male applicants passing the test. 

“But what was quite surprising was that while more males passed the test the first time round, on the other hand, more female applicants failed the test in 2025, which is the year a newly structured fitness test was introduced.” 

Gardaí on bikes patrol Maylor Street in Cork. Picture by: AG News/Alamy.

Mr Michael continued that occasionally journalists are invited to take part in the Garda fitness test alongside applicants and the general consensus is that it is “actually not that strenuous test”. 

“It's things like jumping over a farm gate, running up and down a flight of stairs, sprinting from one point to another between 20 metres,” he explained. 

“It's not rocket science, it's lifting things, like one of them is lifting a wheel from one base to another and you have to do it in a certain set amount of time.

“In this day and age, there's no reason why female applicants can't be as good as male applicants - it’s not entry into the special forces.” 

While the test was made easier in 2025, Mr Michael noted that some have suggested further changes might be required in order to boost Garda recruitment. 

“A comment was made about the fact that maybe changes need to be put in place to take on board the fact that people, especially in their 20s and 30s, are now leading a more sedentary lifestyle,” he said. 

“But it's hard to kind of get your head around the idea that, why would men be leading a less sedentary lifestyle than women in this day and age?”

Main image: Instructor Garda Seargent Patrick Kirwan demonstrates a fitness test during a recruitment campaign launch at the Garda training centre in Templemore. Picture by: Alamy.com.