People regularly playing sport stands at 15.74 million over 12 months, a rise of 1.65 million since 2005/06.
Bucking the normal trend, the number of women playing sport and being active is increasing faster than men.
Swimming remains the top sport overall but continues to decline, with athletics a close second and rising.
Sport England's Active People Survey began in 2005/06 and measures the number of people taking part in sport across the nation, with findings published every six months.
There was good news for tennis, cricket, boxing and rugby union, with increases in the numbers taking part but football and cycling experienced falls.
Participation figures for lower socio-economic groups and disabled people were low and remain static.
"It's good news that more women are playing sport, and driving an overall increase in the numbers," said Jennie Price, Sport England's chief executive.
"It's particularly great to see This Girl Can is making a real difference. That's because we've really focused on what drives women's attitudes and behaviours.
"If we're to see a further step change in the total number of people playing sport, we need to take a similar, consumer-focused approach in areas where the figures are stubbornly low, like disability and lower socio-economic groups."

The DSS agency says the raids were carried out in recent days and several judges were arrested.
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) accused the authorities of carrying out a "Gestapo-style" operation, demanding the release of those arrested.
President Muhammadu Buhari has pledged to tackle widespread corruption.
Buhari's first year: Five ways Nigeria has changed
In a statement, the DSS said: "The searches have uncovered huge raw cash of various denominations, local and foreign currencies, with real estate worth several millions of naira and documents affirming unholy acts by these judges.
"We have been monitoring the expensive and luxurious lifestyle of some of the judges as well as complaints from the concerned public over judgment obtained fraudulently and on the basis (of) amounts of money paid."
The statement said the judges were from the supreme, appeal and high courts.
The names of the suspects have not been released.
Reacting to the raids, the NBA called on President Buhari to "immediately caution all the state security agencies and to respect the rule of law".
NBA head Abubakar Mahmoud told reporters: "We are not under military rule and we cannot accept this unholy event and Gestapo-style operation."
Since taking office last year, Mr Buhari has vowed to tackle the rampant official corruption, which has stunted economic growth across the country, the BBC's Martin Patience in Nigeria says.
As part of that campaign a number of former senior officials have been charged. But their cases have largely stalled in the courts.
Widespread corruption within the legal system makes it extremely difficult to convict powerful individuals, our correspondent adds.
An increase in the number of women playing sport has driven improved participation figures, according to the latest survey by Sport England.
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Nigeria's security agency says it has seized $800,000 (Â£645,200) in cash in raids targeting senior judges suspected of corruption.