More adults are taking part in organised sport than ever before.

The Active People Survey shows that more than 6.8 million people aged 16 and over are now taking part in sport at least three times a week – an increase of more than half a million on 2006 figures.

The fastest growth in sports participation was recorded among people in their twenties, while the number of disabled adults doing regular sport stands at 435,000 – an increase of 48,000 in two years.

Overall, 11.73 million people now take part in physical activity at least three times a week.

Sports minister Gerry Sutcliffe said the figures were a direct result of the increased funding of grass root sports.

"It's fantastic that over half a million more people are now taking part in sport since we won the Olympic bid," he said.

"This shows that the record amount of public money invested in community sport in the last decade is delivering results. This is no time to rest on our laurels though. I want to see another million people regularly playing sport by 2012."

A total of 191,000 people were interviewed for the survey, which was commissioned by Sport England following the success of the first Active People Survey, two years ago.

The results of the survey will be used to produce benchmark figures for sports being funded by Sport England, against which their progress towards individual targets will be measured over the next four years.

Swimming remains the most popular sport, with athletics (including running and jogging) and cycling the fastest-growing.

Brigid Simmonds, chair of CCPR, welcomed the results of the survey. "The figures show that participation rates are moving in the right direction - that momentum is critical," she said.

"Governing bodies, supported by Sport England, are succeeding in creating quality opportunities for people across the country. With the right support, that opportunity was always there and the new focus at Sport England has helped governing bodies of sport deliver. There are still areas where more work needs to be done. For example, too few women are playing sport but nevertheless this a sign of real progress and Sport England and governing bodies should be congratulated on their success.

"The data also demonstrates that investment in sport pays off. Ministers could do much more to support the sector by removing unnecessary bureaucracy and by reducing costs which are crippling many sports clubs. With space and investment to grow, community clubs can make real differences, as the data shows."