GITNUXREPORT 2025

Tennis Participation Statistics

Global tennis participation exceeds 87 million with growing youth and female engagement.

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

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Statistic 1

In the UK, there are around 3 million tennis players

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The number of tennis players in France exceeds 4 million

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In Australia, tennis is played by over 2 million people

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The number of registered tennis players in Germany exceeds 1.3 million

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In Spain, tennis participation is particularly high among youth, with 25% of children aged 6-17 playing regularly

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Tennis participation in Brazil has grown by 9% over the last five years, reaching over 2 million players

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In France, 55% of tennis players are female, reflecting high female engagement

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Approximately 10% of all sports participants in the UK play tennis, making it a popular sport after football and golf

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Public park tennis courts are used by approximately 15 million players annually in the United States alone

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In Italy, tennis is among the top 10 sports for youth participation, with over 600,000 young players

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Tennis participation is highest in countries with strong national programs, such as Australia, USA, and France, each with over 3 million players

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In the United States, approximately 45% of players participate in doubles matches, which is a popular format

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In the Netherlands, tennis is among the top five sports for participation among adults, with over 1 million players

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Approximately 87 million people worldwide play tennis regularly

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Tennis participation rates are higher in urban areas compared to rural areas globally, with a 15% higher participation rate in cities

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Tennis tournaments attract over 1 billion viewers worldwide annually, influencing increased participation through visibility

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Private club membership accounts for about 40% of tennis players worldwide, showing the importance of club facilities

Statistic 18

More than 80% of tennis players worldwide have access to local clubs or courts, facilitating participation

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Tennis is played by over 60 million Americans

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The U.S. saw an increase of 3.8 million tennis players from 2020 to 2022

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Tennis participation among teens in the U.S. has declined by 20% over the past decade

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There are approximately 1.6 million tennis courts worldwide

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Sports industry reports indicate tennis participation contributes $6 billion annually to the U.S. economy

Statistic 24

Tennis participation among children aged 6-12 has increased by 10% in the last five years

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The fastest-growing age group in tennis is 18-25-year-olds, with a 12% rise in participation over the previous year

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Tennis has a global reach, with participation in Asia growing at an average of 8% annually over the past decade

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The number of women participating in tennis worldwide has increased by 30% over the last decade

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Tennis participation among immigrants has increased by 20% in North America over five years

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In Japan, tennis participation has grown steadily, with a 4% increase annually over the last decade

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The average length of a tennis match in recreational play is approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes

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65% of tennis players worldwide hold a formal coaching or training membership, indicating a focus on skill development

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Tennis participation among college students in the U.S. has decreased by 15% in the last decade

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The global tennis equipment market is valued at over $2 billion, reflecting widespread participation and investment

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Tennis participation in Canada has risen by 7% in recent years, with over 1 million players

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The percentage of tennis players aged 50+ has increased by 25% over the last decade, indicating an aging but active demographic

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In South Africa, tennis participation has increased by around 6% within the last five years, reaching over 500,000 players

Statistic 37

Tennis participation among disabled athletes is growing at a rate of 10% annually, expanding accessibility

Statistic 38

Tennis participation reaches nearly 9 million in India, with rapid growth driven by urbanization and sports promotion efforts

Statistic 39

In South Korea, tennis participation has grown by 5% annually over the last decade, with over 850,000 players

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Over 78% of tennis players worldwide use social media hashtags related to tennis, indicating active engagement and community building

Statistic 41

In the Middle East, tennis participation is growing at 7% annually, with Dubai seeing a 12% increase in recent years

Statistic 42

Tennis among high school students in the U.S. has declined by 12% over the past five years, reflecting shifting sports interests

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Over 40% of tennis federations worldwide report an increase in youth academy enrollments, signaling youth interest

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Tennis participation among the economically disadvantaged has increased by 15% in the last five years, driven by community programs

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In Argentina, tennis participation has grown by 8% over the last five years, with an estimated 500,000 players

Statistic 46

The number of indoor tennis courts worldwide has increased by 10% in the past decade, facilitated by new facilities

Statistic 47

The number of junior tennis players (under 18) worldwide exceeds 6 million, reflecting youth engagement

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Tennis-related mobile app usage for training and tracking has increased by 50% in the last two years, indicating growing tech engagement

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Overall tennis participation is projected to grow by 5% annually over the next decade, driven by new markets and initiatives

Statistic 50

The percentage of casual players participating less than once a month has decreased by 10% in the last five years, indicating increased regular engagement

Statistic 51

Participation in tennis among the Australian Indigenous population has increased by 12% in recent years, showing inclusive growth

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Women make up approximately 52% of tennis players worldwide

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The average age of a tennis participant in the U.S. is 34 years

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Senior tennis players aged 65+ make up approximately 15% of total players

Statistic 55

A survey shows that 70% of tennis players participate in the sport for recreational purposes

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Weekly tennis participation among adults in the U.S. is approximately 3 million

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The majority of tennis players worldwide play less than 3 times a month, about 60%, indicating casual participation

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The participation rate of recreational tennis players versus competitive players is roughly 70% to 30%, respectively, indicating a predominantly recreational sport

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The average weekly hours spent playing tennis is 2 hours among recreational players, showing moderate engagement

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Over half of all tennis players own their own racquets, indicating a high level of investment in the sport

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Tennis participation data shows that 65% of players have played the sport for over 5 years, indicating high retention

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Tennis is the most played racket sport on college campuses in North America, with over 100,000 collegiate players

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Tennis is the third most participated sport in several European countries, after football and cycling, reflecting broad popularity

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Key Highlights

Approximately 87 million people worldwide play tennis regularly
Tennis is played by over 60 million Americans
In the UK, there are around 3 million tennis players
The number of tennis players in France exceeds 4 million
The U.S. saw an increase of 3.8 million tennis players from 2020 to 2022
Tennis participation among teens in the U.S. has declined by 20% over the past decade
There are approximately 1.6 million tennis courts worldwide
Sports industry reports indicate tennis participation contributes $6 billion annually to the U.S. economy
Women make up approximately 52% of tennis players worldwide
The average age of a tennis participant in the U.S. is 34 years
Tennis participation among children aged 6-12 has increased by 10% in the last five years
Senior tennis players aged 65+ make up approximately 15% of total players
The fastest-growing age group in tennis is 18-25-year-olds, with a 12% rise in participation over the previous year

With over 87 million people worldwide swinging their rackets regularly, tennis continues to surge globally, blending tradition, innovation, and changing demographics to captivate players of all ages and backgrounds.

Country-Specific Player Data

In the UK, there are around 3 million tennis players
The number of tennis players in France exceeds 4 million
In Australia, tennis is played by over 2 million people
The number of registered tennis players in Germany exceeds 1.3 million
In Spain, tennis participation is particularly high among youth, with 25% of children aged 6-17 playing regularly
Tennis participation in Brazil has grown by 9% over the last five years, reaching over 2 million players
In France, 55% of tennis players are female, reflecting high female engagement
Approximately 10% of all sports participants in the UK play tennis, making it a popular sport after football and golf
Public park tennis courts are used by approximately 15 million players annually in the United States alone
In Italy, tennis is among the top 10 sports for youth participation, with over 600,000 young players
Tennis participation is highest in countries with strong national programs, such as Australia, USA, and France, each with over 3 million players
In the United States, approximately 45% of players participate in doubles matches, which is a popular format
In the Netherlands, tennis is among the top five sports for participation among adults, with over 1 million players

Country-Specific Player Data Interpretation

With millions across the globe swinging rackets—from the youth courts in Spain to adult parks in the US—tennis proves it's more than just a game; it's a worldwide sport where participation reflects gender equality, national pride, and a shared love of hitting the ball.

Global Participation and Audience

Approximately 87 million people worldwide play tennis regularly
Tennis participation rates are higher in urban areas compared to rural areas globally, with a 15% higher participation rate in cities
Tennis tournaments attract over 1 billion viewers worldwide annually, influencing increased participation through visibility
Private club membership accounts for about 40% of tennis players worldwide, showing the importance of club facilities
More than 80% of tennis players worldwide have access to local clubs or courts, facilitating participation

Global Participation and Audience Interpretation

With over 87 million players globally, tennis’s urban court count and massive viewership highlight how the sport’s appeal is both a social ladder and a global spectacle, primarily facilitated by the strategic hub of private clubs and accessible facilities.

Growth and Trends in Tennis

Tennis is played by over 60 million Americans
The U.S. saw an increase of 3.8 million tennis players from 2020 to 2022
Tennis participation among teens in the U.S. has declined by 20% over the past decade
There are approximately 1.6 million tennis courts worldwide
Sports industry reports indicate tennis participation contributes $6 billion annually to the U.S. economy
Tennis participation among children aged 6-12 has increased by 10% in the last five years
The fastest-growing age group in tennis is 18-25-year-olds, with a 12% rise in participation over the previous year
Tennis has a global reach, with participation in Asia growing at an average of 8% annually over the past decade
The number of women participating in tennis worldwide has increased by 30% over the last decade
Tennis participation among immigrants has increased by 20% in North America over five years
In Japan, tennis participation has grown steadily, with a 4% increase annually over the last decade
The average length of a tennis match in recreational play is approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes
65% of tennis players worldwide hold a formal coaching or training membership, indicating a focus on skill development
Tennis participation among college students in the U.S. has decreased by 15% in the last decade
The global tennis equipment market is valued at over $2 billion, reflecting widespread participation and investment
Tennis participation in Canada has risen by 7% in recent years, with over 1 million players
The percentage of tennis players aged 50+ has increased by 25% over the last decade, indicating an aging but active demographic
In South Africa, tennis participation has increased by around 6% within the last five years, reaching over 500,000 players
Tennis participation among disabled athletes is growing at a rate of 10% annually, expanding accessibility
Tennis participation reaches nearly 9 million in India, with rapid growth driven by urbanization and sports promotion efforts
In South Korea, tennis participation has grown by 5% annually over the last decade, with over 850,000 players
Over 78% of tennis players worldwide use social media hashtags related to tennis, indicating active engagement and community building
In the Middle East, tennis participation is growing at 7% annually, with Dubai seeing a 12% increase in recent years
Tennis among high school students in the U.S. has declined by 12% over the past five years, reflecting shifting sports interests
Over 40% of tennis federations worldwide report an increase in youth academy enrollments, signaling youth interest
Tennis participation among the economically disadvantaged has increased by 15% in the last five years, driven by community programs
In Argentina, tennis participation has grown by 8% over the last five years, with an estimated 500,000 players
The number of indoor tennis courts worldwide has increased by 10% in the past decade, facilitated by new facilities
The number of junior tennis players (under 18) worldwide exceeds 6 million, reflecting youth engagement
Tennis-related mobile app usage for training and tracking has increased by 50% in the last two years, indicating growing tech engagement
Overall tennis participation is projected to grow by 5% annually over the next decade, driven by new markets and initiatives
The percentage of casual players participating less than once a month has decreased by 10% in the last five years, indicating increased regular engagement
Participation in tennis among the Australian Indigenous population has increased by 12% in recent years, showing inclusive growth

Growth and Trends in Tennis Interpretation

Despite a century of tradition with over 60 million Americans stepping onto courts, the sport’s rising demographics, global expansion, and digital engagement reveal that tennis is perhaps more alive—if not necessarily fitter—than ever, even as youth and high school participation serve as a reminder that culture and interest sometimes bounce out of bounds.

Player Demographics and Behavior

Women make up approximately 52% of tennis players worldwide
The average age of a tennis participant in the U.S. is 34 years
Senior tennis players aged 65+ make up approximately 15% of total players
A survey shows that 70% of tennis players participate in the sport for recreational purposes
Weekly tennis participation among adults in the U.S. is approximately 3 million
The majority of tennis players worldwide play less than 3 times a month, about 60%, indicating casual participation
The participation rate of recreational tennis players versus competitive players is roughly 70% to 30%, respectively, indicating a predominantly recreational sport
The average weekly hours spent playing tennis is 2 hours among recreational players, showing moderate engagement
Over half of all tennis players own their own racquets, indicating a high level of investment in the sport
Tennis participation data shows that 65% of players have played the sport for over 5 years, indicating high retention
Tennis is the most played racket sport on college campuses in North America, with over 100,000 collegiate players

Player Demographics and Behavior Interpretation

While tennis boasts a balanced gender split and high player retention, the sport’s predominantly casual nature—highlighted by monthly play and recreational dominance—suggests it’s more about enjoyment than competition, with a loyal following that keeps the net alive well beyond its peak adolescence.

Regional Tennis Engagement

Tennis is the third most participated sport in several European countries, after football and cycling, reflecting broad popularity

Regional Tennis Engagement Interpretation

With tennis ranking just behind football and cycling in European participation, it proves that swinging a racket is more than just a sport—it's a widespread passion that rallies enthusiasm across the continent.