When it comes to sports, the sheer number of participants can be staggering. From the globally popular soccer to the more niche sports like badminton, millions of people around the world engage in various sports activities. In this article, we'll delve into the top 20 sports by participation numbers, providing insights into the most popular sports globally.
Top 20 Most Participated Sports
- Soccer/Football: With an estimated 265 million participants, soccer is one of the most widely played sports globally.
- Volleyball: Volleyball boasts an impressive 998 million participants, making it the second most played sport in the world.
- Badminton: This indoor sport is played by an estimated 220 million people, particularly popular in Asia.
- Field Hockey: With over 100 countries participating, field hockey has an estimated 10 outfield players and a goalkeeper, making it a highly technical sport.
- Basketball: The Federation of International Basketball Associations estimates a minimum of 450 million people play basketball worldwide.
- Tennis: Widely recognized as the most popular individual sport, tennis is played by an estimated 60 million men and women globally.
- Cricket: The International Cricket Council (ICC) identified that an impressive 125 countries around the world play cricket.
- Table Tennis: This indoor sport has become increasingly popular, with an estimated 300 million people participating worldwide.
- Baseball: Historically more popular in America, baseball is now gaining popularity in other countries, with an estimated 65 million participants.
- Golf: With an estimated 60 million participants, golf is a popular pastime globally.
- Rugby: With an estimated 30 million participants, rugby is a popular sport in the UK, Australia, and New Zealand.
- American Football: This iconic American sport has an estimated 20 million participants, gaining popularity globally.
- Softball: As the female version of baseball, softball has an estimated 15 million participants worldwide.
- Water Polo: This aquatic sport is played by an estimated 10 million people globally.
- Cycling: With an estimated 8 million participants, cycling is a popular recreational and competitive sport.
- Swimming: This aquatic sport is played by an estimated 7 million people globally.
- Gymnastics: With an estimated 6 million participants, gymnastics is a popular sport in various forms, including artistic, rhythmic, and trampoline.
- Wrestling: This combat sport has an estimated 5 million participants worldwide.
- Rowing: With an estimated 4 million participants, rowing is a popular sport globally, particularly in the UK and the USA.
- Boxing: This combat sport has an estimated 3 million participants worldwide.
Resources
- Top 10 Most Popular Participation Sports In The World - Realbuzz - https://www.realbuzz.com/articles-interests/sports-activities/article/top-10-most-popular-participation-sports-in-the-world
- Ranked: The World's Most Popular Sports | TopSport - https://news.topsport.com.au/ranked-the-worlds-most-popular-sports/
- Top 10 Most Popular Sports In The World By Participation - https://talentbacker.com/top-10-most-popular-sports-in-the-world-by-participation/
- A Glimpse into the Most Participated and Popular Sports Worldwide - https://aeonledlighting.com/2023/07/top-world-sports/
- The World's Most Played Sports - https://www.topendsports.com/world/lists/popular-sport/most-played.htm
Other Information
- FIFA - https://www.fifa.com
- International Cricket Council (ICC) - https://www.icc-cricket.com
- Federation of International Basketball Associations (FIBA) - https://www.fiba.basketball
- Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB) - https://www.fivb.com
- World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) - https://www.wbsc.org