Geocaching runs on real-world placement, not just map dots. With over 4 million active caches worldwide and 72% of them being traditional hides, the activity density is easy to see. The statistics also reveal cache deserts in some regions and heavy repeat finds in others, shaping what geocachers experience on their next trip.
Key Takeaways
- As of October 2023: June 2026, there are over 4 million active geocaches worldwide listed on Geocaching.com
- Over 5,000 geocaching events held annually worldwide in 2023
- In 2023, total finds logged reached 175 million cumulatively since 2000
- The USA leads with 100 million finds logged since inception by 2023
- Over 23 million registered users on Geocaching.com as of October 2023: June 2026
Geocachers are logging more finds and visits than ever, showing steady growth in the community.
Related reading
01 · Category
Cache Statistics30 stats
01
As of October 2023: June 2026, there are over 4 million active geocaches worldwide listed on Geocaching.com
02
In 2022, geocachers hid approximately 450,000 new caches globally, marking a 4.2% increase from the previous year
03
The United States hosts 2.4 million geocaches, accounting for 60% of the global total as of mid-2023
04
Traditional caches make up 72% of all active geocaches, with over 2.8 million instances worldwide in 2023
05
Earthcaches number around 45,000 globally, focusing on educational geology sites as of September 2023: June 2026
06
Multi-caches constitute 12% of geocaches, totaling about 480,000 active ones in 2023
07
Mystery/Puzzle caches represent 8% of the total, with 320,000 active worldwide per latest data
08
Letterbox Hybrid caches total 85,000 globally as of 2023, blending stamp collecting with geocaching
09
The average geocache size is Small (3.5 liters), comprising 55% or 2.2 million caches in 2023
10
Micro caches (under 100ml) make up 25% of all geocaches, totaling 1 million units worldwide
11
Difficulty rating average for all caches is 2.5 out of 5, based on 4 million geocaches in 2023
12
Terrain rating averages 2.2 out of 5 across global geocaches as of late 2023
13
Virtual caches, grandfathered in, number only 200 active worldwide in 2023
14
Webcam caches total fewer than 100 active globally due to rarity, per 2023 data
15
Wherigo caches stand at 15,000 worldwide, requiring app interaction in 2023
16
Reference Point caches, introduced recently, number 5,000 as of 2023
17
The oldest active geocache, GC1, dates to May 3, 2000, with over 10,000 finds
18
Mega-event caches associated with events exceed 1,200 globally in 2023
19
Underwater caches total around 500 worldwide, requiring diving skills in 2023
20
Geocaches in national parks number over 10,000 but with restrictions in 2023
21
Premium member-only caches total 1.8 million, 45% of all active in 2023
22
Archived caches exceed 5 million historically since 2000, per 2023 records
23
Caches with 3D-printed containers number about 20,000 in 2023 surveys
24
Nano caches, smallest size, total 150,000 globally as of 2023
25
Caches owned by the Groundspeak team number 500 special ones in 2023
26
High elevation geocache at 6,088m on Aconcagua, one of 50 extreme altitude caches
27
Polar geocaches in Antarctica total 150, challenging due to environment in 2023
28
Caches in active volcanoes number under 20 worldwide, highly risky
29
Floating caches on water bodies total 2,500 requiring boats in 2023
30
Caches hidden by celebrities or officials number 300 notable ones in 2023
Interpretation
Cache Statistics Interpretation
The sheer volume of geocaches, from two and a half million in the average American backyard to a single brave one on an active volcano, proves humanity’s most consistent hobby is cleverly hiding junk for strangers to find.
02 · Category
Community Statistics20 stats
01
Over 5,000 geocaching events held annually worldwide in 2023
02
Mega-events (1,000+ attendees) number 50 per year, like MEGA 2023
03
CITO (Cache In Trash Out) events clean 1 million kg litter yearly 2023
04
Regional gatherings average 100 attendees, 2,000 such events 2023
05
Geocaching forums have 10 million posts since 2000 by 2023
06
Local organizations like MOC groups number 500 worldwide 2023
07
Travel bug races see 1,000 active competitions yearly 2023
08
Waymarking.com, sister site, has 1 million waymarks linked to caches 2023
09
Geocaching podcasts listeners total 500,000 monthly in 2023
10
Merchandise sales via shop: 1 million items yearly 2023
11
Volunteer reviewers approve 90% of cache submissions, 500k yearly
12
Souvenir programs released 200 new ones in 2023 events
13
Hackathons for API developers: 10 events with 1,000 participants 2023
14
Charity fundraisers via geocaching raise $500,000annually 2023
15
Women in Geocaching groups have 100,000 members globally 2023
16
Youth programs engage 200,000 kids under 18 yearly 2023
17
International meetups cross borders: 200 events yearly 2023
18
Cache maintenance contests reward top owners yearly, 2023 edition 500 winners
19
Social media mentions of #geocaching reach 1 million posts yearly 2023
20
Geocaching apps downloads exceed 10 million on Google Play by 2023
Interpretation
Community Statistics Interpretation
Geocaching is a global phenomenon where millions of people, cleverly disguised as normal citizens, are secretly organizing massive clean-ups, international parties, and digital treasure hunts, all while convincing each other to buy t-shirts for the privilege.
03 · Category
Find Statistics21 stats
01
In 2023, total finds logged reached 175 million cumulatively since 2000
02
Average finds per cache lifetime is 250, based on 4 million caches in 2023
03
Daily finds worldwide average 500,000 in peak 2023 summer months
04
Favorite points awarded total 50 million, averaging 12 per popular cache
05
TB hotels (travel bug caches) see 1 million movements yearly in 2023
06
Event attendance logs exceed 2 million per year globally in 2023
07
First-to-find (FTF) logs number 450,000 new for 2023 hides
08
Logs with photos attached: 30% of all finds, totaling 50 million images in 2023
09
Maintenance logs per cache average 5 per year for active ones in 2023
10
Webcam captures submitted total 10,000 historically by 2023
11
Challenge cache completions logged: 500,000 in 2023 alone
12
Souvenir earns from events: 5 million in 2023 mega-events
13
DNF logs total 40 million cumulatively, 20% of all logs by 2023
14
Owner-disabled caches reactivated after finds requests: 100,000 yearly
15
Multi-find caches (multiple logs per visit) average 1.2 logs per visit
16
TB discoveries (not grabs) number 20 million in 2023 logs
17
High favorite caches (over 100) total 10,000 with millions of points
18
Seasonal finds peak in July at 20 million monthly worldwide 2023
19
Night caching finds with flashlights: 5% of total logs in 2023
20
Virtual reward finds since 2020: 2 million for opted-in caches
21
Group finds logged by teams: 15% of total in family events 2023
Interpretation
Find Statistics Interpretation
In the grand, slightly obsessive theater of geocaching, 2023 proved that millions of us are happily lost in a worldwide game of high-tech hide-and-seek, where every "found it" log, favorite point, and wayward travel bug tells a story of adventure, community, and the occasional triumph over a stubbornly clever hiding spot.
More related reading
04 · Category
Location Statistics21 stats
01
The USA leads with 100 million finds logged since inception by 2023
02
Germany has 400,000 geocaches, second highest globally in 2023
03
Canada hosts 300,000 caches across its vast terrain in 2023
04
Australia has 50,000 caches, dense in urban areas per 2023 data
05
UK geocaches number 45,000, popular in Scotland highlands 2023
06
France with 80,000 caches leads Europe outside Germany in 2023
07
Brazil has 25,000 caches, growing in Amazon regions 2023
08
Japan features 15,000 urban and mountain caches in 2023
09
Russia spans 20,000 caches across 11 time zones 2023
10
Poland has 35,000 caches, high density in national parks 2023
11
Geocaches per capita highest in Finland at 1 per 1,000 people 2023
12
Antarctica has 150 caches, all requiring expedition in 2023
13
Highest density state: Washington USA with 80,000 caches 2023
14
Lowest density continent: Africa with 10,000 caches total 2023
15
Urban caches in top 100 cities total 1 million in 2023
16
Island nations like Iceland have 5,000 caches per 400k pop 2023
17
Mountainous regions like Alps host 50,000 caches across countries 2023
18
Desert caches in Sahara and similar: 2,000 extreme ones 2023
19
Coastal caches worldwide: 500,000 near shorelines 2023
20
Airport caches for travelers: 1,000 at major hubs 2023
21
UNESCO sites with caches: 800 protected locations 2023
Interpretation
Location Statistics Interpretation
The statistics reveal that geocaching, in its quest to leave no stone unturned, has turned America into a giant scavenger hunt, made Germany a world champion in hide-and-seek, and even convinced a few brave souls that a penguin might appreciate a Tupperware box in Antarctica.
05 · Category
User Statistics23 stats
01
Over 23 million registered users on Geocaching.com as of October 2023: June 2026
02
In 2022, users found 150 million geocaches collectively worldwide
03
Average active user finds 50 caches per year, based on 2023 data from 5 million actives
04
55% of geocachers are male, 45% female as per 2022 demographics survey
05
Average age of geocachers is 42 years old from 2023 global survey
06
40% of users are premium members paying for advanced features in 2023
07
Top user, cache king, has over 1.2 million finds as of 2023
08
New accounts created in 2022: 2.5 million globally
09
25% of users participate in daily caching streaks over 1 year in 2023
10
Challenge caches completed by users total 100,000 unique achievements yearly
11
Souvenir collectors: 30% of users have over 100 country souvenirs in 2023
12
Power Trail participants make up 15% of active users, focusing on high-volume finds
13
Users with over 10,000 lifetime finds number 50,000 in 2023 rankings
14
Family caching accounts for 35% of activity, per 2022 parent survey
15
International travelers among users: 20% log finds in 10+ countries yearly
16
App-only users (no website) comprise 60% of new signups in 2023
17
Disabled geocachers using adaptive methods number 5% of community in 2023
18
Educators using geocaching in classrooms: 50,000 teachers registered in 2023
19
Corporate team-building events with geocaching involve 100,000 participants yearly
20
Veterans and military users: 10% of total, leveraging GPS skills
21
Users logging DNFs average 20% of attempts, per 2023 analysis
22
Multi-language profile users: 15% supporting non-English logs in 2023
23
Lifetime achievement badges awarded to 1 million users since inception
Interpretation
User Statistics Interpretation
While the average geocacher is a 42-year-old with a respectable 50 finds a year, the true spirit of the hobby is found in the glorious paradox of its community: a bustling digital nation of 23 million where a "cache king" with over 1.2 million finds can inspire both a family outing and a teacher's lesson plan, proving that the real treasure isn't the container, but the wildly diverse human adventure of seeking it.
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Priyanka Sharma. (2026, February 13). Geocache Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/geocache-statistics
MLA
Priyanka Sharma. "Geocache Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/geocache-statistics.
Chicago
Priyanka Sharma. 2026. "Geocache Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/geocache-statistics.
Sources & references
29 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level