World’s Most Popular Participation Sports

Soccer/Football

Few things can compete with football as a spectator sport, and the number of people who participate in the sport matches this. According to the most recent global census, the sport is played by 265 million people, with over 5 million referees, accounting for 4% of the world’s population.

Baseball

Baseball has historically been more popular in America than anywhere else in the world, but it is now becoming more popular in other countries such as Japan. Softball is the female version of the game, and the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) estimates that 65 million people play baseball or softball in 140 countries.

Badminton

Badminton is one of the world’s most popular indoor sports, with an estimated 220 million people participating each year. It is especially popular in Asia, where many of the best players in the game’s history have come from.

Field Hockey

Men and women compete in this fast-paced sport in over 100 countries across five continents. Field hockey is a highly technical sport played by 10 outfield players plus a goalkeeper, and its rules differ from the ice hockey variation of the sport.

Volleyball

Volleyball, which originated in America, has an impressive estimated global participation figure of 998 million people. Indoor and outdoor volleyball is played all over the world, with over 220 affiliated national federations registered with volleyball’s global governing body, the ‘FIVB.’

Basketball

Basketball is a hugely popular sport all over the world, with an estimated 450 million people participating in recreational or structured competitions. From its American roots, legendary figures such as Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant have helped to boost the sport’s global popularity.

Cricket

Cricket is most popular in Australia, India, Pakistan, South Africa, and the United Kingdom, but it is also gaining popularity in other countries around the world. According to the International Cricket Council (ICC), the sport is played in 125 countries worldwide.

Tennis

Tennis is the most popular individual sport in the world, according to a Topend Sports ranking. The sport’s doubles version is also extremely popular around the world, ranking among the top ten most popular sports.

Table Tennis

This indoor sport has grown in popularity over the years, with its inclusion in schools, social clubs, and sports centres all over the world. According to the Topend Sports ranking, 300 million people worldwide play table tennis.

Golf

According to Golf Today, 60 million people worldwide regularly participate in the sport, making it one of the most popular pastimes in the world. In these figures, regularly playing golf is defined as participating in one round of golf per year or using a facility such as a driving range.