Need some motivation for sports? Here are the 10 most popular sports in the world that people take part in.
Even though it’s hard to know for sure how many people participate in sports around the world, we can get a good idea of some of the most popular sports based on the research we have. This list, however, is up for debate.
Soccer/Football
Football is one of the most popular sports to watch, and the same is true for the number of people who play it, whether they play in 5-a-side leagues or just for fun with their friends. In the last global census done by FIFA, it was estimated that 265 million people play the sport and that there are more than 5 million referees, which is about 4% of the world’s population.
Badminton
Some people might be surprised to learn that badminton is one of the top 10 most popular sports in the world. But badminton is a very popular indoor sport that about 220 million people around the world play regularly. It is very popular in Asia, and many of the best players in the history of the game are from there.
Field Hockey
Men and women from more than 100 countries on 5 continents play this fast-paced sport. Field hockey is a favourite at the Olympics. It is a very technical sport that is played by 10 outfield players and a goalkeeper. Its rules are different from those of ice hockey.
Volleyball
Volleyball is a sport that started in the United States and is played by an estimated 998 million people around the world. Volleyball is played both indoors and outdoors all over the world. More than 220 national federations are registered with the FIVB, which is the global governing body for volleyball.
Basketball
The Federation of International Basketball Associations (FIBA) thinks that at least 450 million people around the world play basketball, either for fun or in organised competitions. Legendary basketball players like Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant have helped the sport spread from its American roots to the rest of the world.
Tennis
Tennis is one of the most popular individual sports in the world. According to a ranking by Topend Sports, about 60 million men and women play tennis around the world. The doubles version of the sport is also very popular all over the world, which is why it is on this list of the 10 sports in which the most people take part.
Cricket
Most people who play this sport are from Australia, India, Pakistan, South Africa, and the UK. However, cricket is becoming more popular in many other places around the world as well. The International Cricket Council (ICC) found that 125 countries from all over the world play cricket.
Table Tennis
Over the years, this indoor sport has become more and more popular and is now played in schools, social clubs, and sports centers all over the world. Table tennis is played by about 300 million people around the world, according to Topend Sports Ranking.
Baseball
In the past, baseball was more popular in the United States than anywhere else in the world. However, countries like Japan are now becoming more and more interested in the sport. Softball is the female version of the game. The World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) says that 65 million people in more than 140 countries play either baseball or softball.
Golf
According to Golf, golf may be one of the most popular things to do in the world. Today, about 60 million people around the world play the sport regularly. According to these numbers, playing golf regularly means playing one round per year or using a facility like a driving range.
