From court reservations soaring in Germany to a youth tennis boom in Brazil, the racket sport is experiencing a powerful global surge, as evidenced by the fact that tennis is now played regularly by approximately 1 in every 87 people worldwide.
Key Takeaways
- In 2023, global tennis participation reached 87 million players worldwide, up 5% from 2022.
- Tennis is played regularly by approximately 1 in every 87 people globally as of 2023.
- Over 196 countries have affiliated tennis federations reporting participation data in 2023.
- In the US, 23.6 million people played tennis at least once in 2022 according to USTA.
- Canada reported 4.2 million tennis participants in 2023 per Tennis Canada.
- Australia had 1.3 million tennis players in 2023, per Tennis Australia.
- In the US, 54% of tennis participants were male and 46% female in 2022.
- US tennis players aged 6-17 numbered 5.4 million in 2022.
- Adults aged 18-34 made up 28% of US tennis participants in 2022.
- US tennis participation grew 22% from 2019 to 2022 post-COVID.
- Global tennis play frequency increased 12% in 2023 per ITF.
- UK tennis sessions rose 15% year-over-year in 2023.
- In the US, 74% of tennis participants played recreationally in 2022.
- Globally, 85% of tennis players engage in recreational play per ITF 2023.
- UK competitive league players numbered 120,000 in 2023.
Tennis participation grew globally in 2023, reaching eighty-seven million players worldwide.
Age and Gender Demographics
- In the US, 54% of tennis participants were male and 46% female in 2022.
- US tennis players aged 6-17 numbered 5.4 million in 2022.
- Adults aged 18-34 made up 28% of US tennis participants in 2022.
- In the UK, 52% of tennis players were female in 2023.
- Globally, 40% of tennis players are under 18 years old per ITF 2023.
- In Australia, juniors (under 18) comprised 35% of 1.3 million players in 2023.
- France saw 48% female participation in tennis federations in 2023.
- In China, 60% of tennis players are aged 18-35 in 2023.
- Germany reported 55% male and 45% female players in 2023.
- Brazil had 42% female tennis participants aged 25+ in 2023.
- Globally, females represent 44% of tennis participants in 2023.
- US seniors (55+) played tennis at 2.8 million in 2022.
- In UK, 25-44 age group was 40% of players in 2023.
- Australia women over 35: 28% of total participation.
- France juniors under 12: 450,000 licensed in 2023.
- China female participation doubled to 6 million since 2018.
- Germany under-18 females: 48% of junior players.
- Brazil adults 35-54: largest group at 35%.
- India youth under 18: 2.1 million players.
- Japan seniors over 60: 15% of participants.
Age and Gender Demographics Interpretation
While the global sport of tennis remains a charmingly persistent gentlemen's club by the slimmest of margins, its future is being decisively shaped by a rising wave of youth and increasingly powerful women's participation.
Participation Trends
- US tennis participation grew 22% from 2019 to 2022 post-COVID.
- Global tennis play frequency increased 12% in 2023 per ITF.
- UK tennis sessions rose 15% year-over-year in 2023.
- Australia saw a 8% growth in adult participation from 2022-2023.
- France tennis licenses increased by 4% in 2023 to 2.2 million.
- In the US, core players (playing 8+ times/year) grew 4% to 9.4 million in 2022.
- China tennis participation surged 20% from 2021-2023.
- Japan recreational tennis play up 10% in 2023.
- Germany club memberships stable but casual play up 7% in 2023.
- Brazil saw 12% growth in youth tennis from 2022-2023.
- Post-pandemic, US participation hit record 23.6M in 2022.
- Global junior participation up 15% from 2019-2023.
- UK women’s participation grew 20% in 2023.
- Australia court hires increased 12% YoY.
- France casual play sessions +18% in 2023.
- US frequency: average 15 times/year per player.
- China market growth projected 25% by 2025.
- Japan post-Olympics surge: +9% participation.
- Germany digital bookings up 22% for courts.
- Brazil urban participation +16% in major cities.
Participation Trends Interpretation
It seems the world collectively decided that swinging a racquet is a far more satisfying way to work out post-pandemic frustrations than, say, yelling into the void.
Recreational vs Competitive
- In the US, 74% of tennis participants played recreationally in 2022.
- Globally, 85% of tennis players engage in recreational play per ITF 2023.
- UK competitive league players numbered 120,000 in 2023.
- Australia had 450,000 competitive tournament players in 2023.
- France tournament entries reached 1.1 million in 2023.
- US USTA league participants totaled 340,000 adults in 2022.
- China competitive youth players grew to 2 million in 2023.
- Japan had 1.2 million recreational court users in 2023.
- Germany club competitive members: 1.4 million in 2023.
- Worldwide, recreational tennis court usage up 18% since 2020.
- US recreational players: 17.4 million in 2022.
- ITF World Tennis Number users: 5 million recreational.
- UK park tennis sessions: 2.5 million in 2023.
- Australia social tennis groups: 800,000 members.
- France non-licensed recreational: 1.5 million.
- US competitive juniors: 1.2 million tournament players.
- China recreational apps downloads: 10 million.
- Japan interclub competitive: 900,000 participants.
- Germany casual hit-ups: 60% of total play.
- Global competitive events hosted: 250,000 in 2023.
Recreational vs Competitive Interpretation
While professional tennis may get all the headlines, the overwhelming global truth is that for every single grunting pro in a stadium, there are thousands of us happily, and perhaps less gracefully, chasing down balls purely for the love of the game.
Regional Participation
- In the US, 23.6 million people played tennis at least once in 2022 according to USTA.
- Canada reported 4.2 million tennis participants in 2023 per Tennis Canada.
- Australia had 1.3 million tennis players in 2023, per Tennis Australia.
- UK tennis participation stood at 3.1 million in 2023 according to LTA.
- France recorded 2.2 million licensed tennis players in 2023 via FFT.
- Germany had 2.5 million tennis participants in 2023 per DTB.
- China saw 15 million tennis players in 2023, up 10% YoY.
- Japan reported 8.4 million recreational tennis players in 2023.
- Brazil had 2.8 million tennis participants in 2023 per CBT.
- India recorded 4.5 million tennis players in 2023 via AITA.
- Mexico had 1.5 million tennis players in 2023 per FMT.
- In Canada, Ontario province alone had 1.1 million players in 2023.
- New Zealand reported 150,000 tennis participants in 2023.
- Sweden had 400,000 tennis players in 2023.
- Netherlands recorded 1.2 million participants in 2023.
- Switzerland had 500,000 tennis enthusiasts in 2023.
- South Korea saw 3.2 million players in 2023.
- Indonesia reported 1.8 million recreational players.
- Colombia had 800,000 tennis players in 2023.
- In the US, California led with 3.2 million players in 2022.
Regional Participation Interpretation
While the United States boasts a formidable baseline of 23.6 million players, the global court is now a truly international affair, with China's explosive serve at 15 million proving that the future of the game is increasingly multilingual.
Worldwide Participation
- In 2023, global tennis participation reached 87 million players worldwide, up 5% from 2022.
- Tennis is played regularly by approximately 1 in every 87 people globally as of 2023.
- Over 196 countries have affiliated tennis federations reporting participation data in 2023.
- In Europe, 25 million people participated in tennis in 2022 according to the European Tennis Association.
- Asia saw 18 million tennis participants in 2023, driven by growth in China and India.
- Latin America reported 8.5 million tennis players in 2022 per ITF regional surveys.
- Africa had 2.2 million tennis participants in 2023, with South Africa leading at 1.1 million.
- Oceania recorded 1.8 million tennis players in 2023, primarily in Australia and New Zealand.
- North America boasted 27 million tennis participants in 2023 per ITF data.
- The Middle East and North Africa region had 4.7 million players in 2023.
- In 2023, 87 million people worldwide played tennis on 1.2 million courts.
- Europe hosts 40% of global tennis participation with 35 million players.
- Asia-Pacific tennis players numbered 28 million in 2023.
- Americas region had 32 million tennis enthusiasts in 2023.
- Africa and Middle East combined for 7 million players in 2023.
- Russia reported 5 million tennis players in 2023 despite challenges.
- Italy had 1.9 million tennis participants in 2023 per FIT.
- Spain recorded 1.4 million licensed players in 2023.
- Argentina boasted 2.1 million players in 2023.
- South Africa led Africa with 1.2 million players in 2023.
Worldwide Participation Interpretation
The world is clearly volleying back from the pandemic, as evidenced by the fact that one in every eighty-seven humans is now regularly hitting a fuzzy yellow ball, proving tennis is no longer just a country club pastime but a truly global game.
Sources & References
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