Billions of people play sports every day, but have you ever wondered what the most played sports are in the world? In fact, unlike what many believe, soccer is not the most practiced sport. So, keep reading if you want to know more!
Top 10 most played sports in the world
Here we will show you the most practiced sports in the world, as well as we will also mention the most popular ones. The fact that a sport has many practitioners does not mean it has the same number of followers or fans.
- Swimming (1.5 billion practitioners)
Despite the fact that swimming is not among the most popular sports, it is estimated that 2 out of 10 people practice swimming. Thus, this is the most practiced sport in the world with about 1.5 billion athletes. Whether they swim in pools or beaches, swimming is undoubtedly one of the most complete sports that exist due to the exercises that are performed. In fact, many people practice it for therapeutic purposes.
- Soccer (1.002 million players)
It is not surprising that this is the most popular sport in the world. In fact, it has an estimated 3.5 billion followers, which usually multiply when the World Cup approaches. Its fans are the largest number of people compared to practitioners.
- Volleyball (998 million players)
It is not as popular as soccer, but it is among the 10 most popular sports in the world. With approximately 900 million followers, it has a little less than the number of players. Whether you play court volleyball or beach volleyball, more and more people are becoming motivated to play it. But also, a new version, snow volleyball, is being developed in the last few years, what do you think about it?
- Basketball (400 million players)
Considered the third most popular sport after cricket with about 2.5 billion followers, basketball is also one of the most practiced. Its greatest advantage is that it can be played in any season of the year. In addition, new versions are also being developed, such as 3×3 basketball, which is a game of teams of 3 players.
- Tennis (300 million players)
It is among the 5 most popular sports with approximately 1 billion followers. This sport can be played on different surfaces such as fast court, cement, grass, clay, and so on… In short, there are many options when playing tennis, so it can be practiced regardless of the season.
- Badminton (200 million players)
It is among the 10 most popular sports, occupying the 6th place after tennis, with about 950 million followers. This sport is more popular in Asia and in recent years it has gained more popularity in Spain thanks to the Spanish Carolina Marin, who won Olympic gold in 2016 at the Rio games. In addition, she has also been European and world champion.
- Baseball (60 million players)
It is not as popular as other sports worldwide, but it is very popular in the United States, Latin America, Caribbean countries and Japan. On the other hand, in countries like Spain, it is almost an unknown sport.
- Handball (18 million players)
Its greatest popularity can be appreciated in Northern Europe, also in other European countries such as Germany, France, Spain and Scandinavian countries. In fact, the Spanish national handball team, both women’s and men’s, excelled in the Olympic Games of Beijing 2008 and London 2012, winning bronze in both cases. Additionally, the men’s team has managed to reach the world championship twice.
- Hockey (3 million players)
It is among the 5 most popular sports after basketball, with 2 billion followers. Whether on skates or ice, it is still a fun sport that can be enjoyed at any time of the year. Its popularity may increase in certain countries depending on its version. For example, we can mention that field hockey is more popular in Belgium and the Netherlands, while ice hockey is more popular in the United States, Canada and Northern Europe.
- Rugby (2 million players)
Although it is not among the most popular sports, it is one of the most complete and noble. Despite how rough it may seem, it is a sport similar to American football, but without so many protections. Its greatest popularity can be seen in Ireland, United Kingdom, Italy, France, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, Argentina, Venezuela, among other countries. It has several versions, such as Rugby 7, Rugby 15, and the popular beach rugby in summer.
