28 July 2022
It is believed that badminton originated in China over 2000 years ago. It was only brought to England around 1870 where it was played almost like tennis. Since then, badminton has boomed in popularity across the world, and it has even been an Olympic sport since 1992.
In fact, badminton is considered the second most popular sport worldwide, much to people’s surprise. To learn more about the popularity of badminton and how it compares to other common sports around the globe, keep reading.
Table of Contents
Where Does Badminton Rank in Popularity Among Other Sports?
It’s difficult to give an exact ranking of the most popular sports around the world. However, most ranking systems place badminton as the second most popular sport worldwide. This fact is shocking to many people in North America where badminton is not as popular.
Although badminton may not be as popular in America, it is super popular elsewhere. It is popular in England, but it is most often played in Asia. Some of the sport’s most talented players hail out of countries like China and Korea as a result.
How Many People Play Badminton Worldwide?
It’s impossible to know exactly how many people play badminton worldwide, but some experts have weighed in on their estimation. It is estimated that about 220 million people play badminton around the globe every year. This high number makes badminton the second most popular sport worldwide.
Experts have estimated reasons why badminton is so popular. It is believed badminton is the second most popular sport around the globe because it is a sport for all ages, and it is low cost to play. Not to mention, it is a non-contact sport that can be played both indoors and outdoors.
These facts make it a versatile sport that can be played by many people in many locations. No wonder the sport has spread across the world!
Where Is Badminton Most Popular?
Badminton is a sport that can be played all around the globe, but it is more popular in some areas than others. Badminton is mainly popular in Asian countries, specifically China and South Korea. The popularity of badminton surpasses table tennis and basketball in these countries.
Badminton is reasonably popular in Europe as well, especially in Great Britain. It isn’t as popular in Europe as it is in Asia, but badminton certainly is more appreciated in Europe than it is in North America and South America.
What Are Some Other Popular Sports?
Given that badminton is the second most popular sport in the world, there is obviously one sport that is more popular. As you might guess, the most popular sport in the world is soccer. Soccer is a game that is popular everywhere, including in Asia, Africa, Europe, North America, and South America.
Just as it’s impossible to give an exact answer about how many people are playing badminton, the same is true of estimating soccer player numbers. Experts believe that there are over 240 million people who play soccer worldwide, though there are billions of people that participate in the sport in terms of fan participation.
Soccer and badminton are the two most popular sports worldwide. What are the sports that follow behind the top two contenders? Here is a list of the most popular sports worldwide in order of popularity:
- Soccer
- Badminton
- Field hockey
- Volleyball
- Basketball
- Tennis
- Cricket
- Table tennis
- Baseball
- Golf
Keep in mind that some resources you look at may have a slightly different list. Experts disagree about the exact placement or ranking of some of these sports. Nonetheless, the 10 sports above are loosely considered the 10 most popular sports in the world.
Final Thoughts
Once again, badminton is considered a super popular sport worldwide. In fact, it is the second most popular sport around the globe, placing second only to soccer. As such, it is estimated that 220 million people play badminton every single year.
Because badminton is the second most popular sport around the globe, it beats out many other popular sports, including field hockey, volleyball, basketball, and even baseball. Badminton’s high ranking on this list is largely due to its popularity in Asia and Europe since it isn’t popular in the Americas.
