Although it is difficult to estimate exact participation numbers for sports around the world, we can provide a general idea of some of the most popular sports based on available research, though we recognize that the list is subject to debate
Few sports can compete with football as a spectator sport, and this is matched by the number of people who participate in the sport, whether at the grassroots level, in 5-a-side leagues, or simply for fun with friends. According to the most recent global census conducted by the sports governing body FIFE, there are 265 million people who play the sport, as well as more than 5 million referees, which equates to 4% of the world's population.
Some may be surprised to learn that badminton is one of the world's top ten most popular sports. However, badminton is an extremely popular indoor sport, with an estimated 220 million people worldwide participating on a regular basis. It is especially popular in Asia, where many of the game's best players have come from.
This fast-paced sport is played by men and women in over 100 countries across five continents. Field hockey is a highly technical sport played by ten outfield players plus a goalkeeper, and its rules differ from those of ice hockey.
Volleyball, which originated in America, has an impressive global participation figure of 998 million people. Indoor and outdoor versions of the sport are played all over the world, with over 220 affiliated national federations registered to volleyball's global governing body, the 'FIVE'.
The Federation of International Basketball Associations (FIBS) estimates that at least 450 million people worldwide participate in basketball, whether recreationally or in organized competitions. Basketball legends such as Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant have aided the sport's global rise from its American roots.
Tennis, widely regarded as the most popular individual sport in the world, is played by an estimated 60 million men and women worldwide, according to a Top end sports ranking. The sport's doubles version is also extremely popular around the world, which is why it ranks among the top ten most popular sports.
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.
This indoor sport has grown in popularity over the years, with its inclusion in schools, social clubs, and sports centers all over the world. Table tennis is estimated to be played by 300 million people worldwide, according to top sports rankings.
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 estimates that 65 million people play baseball or softball in 140 countries.
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.
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