Athlete: Virat Kohli image: lensbug.chandru, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Which sports are most popular by number of participants in the world?
Sports are one of the most popular forms of entertainment and recreation in the world. Millions of people watch and play various sports every day, either for fun, fitness, or competition. But what are the most popular sports in the world by number of participants? In this article, we will rank the top 10 sports based on how many people actually play them on a regular basis.
We've compiled data from various sources, to estimate the number of participants for each sport. Note that these numbers may vary depending on the source and the definition of participation. For this article, we will define participation as playing the sport at least once a year.
10. Golf
Golf is a sport that originated in Scotland in the 15th century and involves hitting a ball with a club into a series of holes on a course. Golf is played in over 140 countries by about **60 million** people who complete at least one round of golf each year at a golf club.
9. Baseball/Softball
Baseball is a sport that originated in the United States in the 19th century and involves two teams of nine players who take turns batting and fielding. Softball is a similar sport but with a larger ball and a smaller field. Baseball and softball are played in over 140 countries by about **65 million** people who play at least one game each year.
8. Tennis
Tennis is a sport that originated in France in the 12th century and involves hitting a ball with a racket over a net on a rectangular court. Tennis can be played individually or with a partner (doubles). Tennis is played in over 200 countries by about **75 million** people who play at least one match each year.
7. Cricket
Cricket is a sport that originated in England in the 16th century and involves two teams of eleven players who take turns batting and bowling. Cricket is played in over 100 countries by about **100 million** people who play at least one game each year.
6. Table Tennis
Table tennis is a sport that originated in England in the 19th century and involves hitting a small ball with a paddle over a net on a table. Table tennis can be played individually or with a partner (doubles). Table tennis is played in over 200 countries by about **300 million** people who play at least one game each year.
5. Basketball
Basketball is a sport that originated in the United States in the late 19th century and involves two teams of five players who try to score points by throwing a ball through a hoop on a rectangular court. Basketball is played in over 200 countries by about **450 million** people who play at least one game each year.
4. Volleyball
Volleyball is a sport that originated in the United States in the late 19th century and involves two teams of six players who try to score points by hitting a ball over a net on a rectangular court. Volleyball can be played indoors or outdoors, on sand or grass. Volleyball is played in over 200 countries by about **800 million** people who play at least one game each year.
3. Badminton
Badminton is a sport that originated in England in the late 19th century and involves hitting a shuttlecock with a racket over a net on a rectangular court. Badminton can be played individually or with a partner (doubles). Badminton is played in over 200 countries by about **220 million** people who play at least one game each year.
2. Cycling
Cycling is a sport that involves riding a bicycle for recreation, transportation, or competition. Cycling can be done on roads, trails, or tracks, and can be done individually or with others. Cycling is one of the most popular sports in the world by participation, as it is estimated that over **50 million** people cycle every day in Europe alone, and over **1 billion** people cycle at least once a year worldwide.
1. Soccer/Football
Soccer, or football as it is called in most parts of the world, is a sport that originated in England in the mid-19th century and involves two teams of eleven players who try to score goals by kicking a ball into a net on a rectangular field. Soccer is played in over 200 countries by about **4 billion** people who play at least one game each year.
This data-driven analysis was brought to you by JoxStox, your trusted source for sports insights and trends.
