Pickleball Statistics

Pickleball Stats for 2023-2024

Monthly Pickleball Statistics

Monthly, roughly 3.04 million Americans play pickleball, considering an estimated 36.5 million players in the United States in 2022.
The average monthly growth of pickleball players over the past three years was approximately 13.22%.
The monthly participation of 18-34-year-olds, the largest age group of players, is about 2.4% nationwide.
On average, about 860 new pickleball courts are built monthly in the United States.
The pickleball paddle market grows about 0.64% per month, given a 7.7% annual growth rate.

Pickleball Location Statistics

While South Atlantic Region had the most participants, West North Central Region showed the fastest growth. Despite being the highest number of participants, the South Atlantic Region needed to have the quickest change. In contrast, the West North Central Region had the most rapid growth despite having few participants.
Despite being third in the number of pickleball courts, Texas saw a faster growth than New Jersey, which has the 11th highest population but only 22nd in the number of pickleball courts.
Despite being known for the sport, Seattle, where pickleball was invented, has fewer pickleball locations than the entire state of California.

Unique Pickleball Player Statistics

Among pickleball players, there are more men (60.5%) than women (39.5%), but the growth in the number of female players (17.6%) outpaced that of men (13.0%) in 2021.
Despite having a significant proportion of senior players (aged 55 and up), the fastest growth in 2021 was seen in players under 24, showing that the sport is gaining popularity among younger audiences.
The average age of pickleball players is declining, with a decrease of approximately 2.9 years from 2020 to 2021, showing the sport’s appeal to younger demographics.
The total prize money available for pickleball tournaments in 2023 will fall between $9.0 and $11.0 million, suggesting a significant investment in the sport.
The state showing the most interest in pickleball, as measured by Google Trends, is Utah, followed by Arizona and Minnesota.
A pickleball court is smaller than a standard tennis court, making it a more accessible sport for many venues.
Despite being invented in the United States, pickleball’s fastest growth rate is currently in Middle America, showcasing its spreading popularity.
The growth in pickleball’s popularity over the past five years has been astounding, with a 467% increase in interest as measured by Google Trends.

Key Pickleball Facts & Stats

In the United States, pickleball has seen remarkable growth over the past few years, experiencing a meteoric rise that solidified its position as the nation’s fastest-growing sport for the third consecutive year. Originating from Bainbridge Island near Seattle in 1965, this blend of ping pong, badminton, and tennis has garnered an estimated 36.5 million enthusiasts by 2023, a substantial leap from 8.9 million in 2022.

Particularly popular among younger adults (18-34 years), who form 28.8% of the nationwide player base, pickleball has seen an average participation growth rate of 158.6% over the past three years.

Despite being most popular in the South Atlantic Region, the most rapid growth is observed in the West North Central Region, with an increase of 29.8% in 2022. The demographic data reveals a gender split of 60.5% male to 39.5% female players, with a faster growth rate among women.

There are currently 10,320 pickleball courts in the US, with California, Florida, and Texas hosting the most locations. Surprisingly, despite its 11th rank in terms of population, New Jersey lags at the 22nd position in pickleball court availability. Among the cities, Seattle, the birthplace of pickleball, Denver and Portland boast the highest number of courts.

A thriving industry has sprung up around pickleball, with the paddle market valued at $152.8 million in 2023, projected to grow at 7.7% until 2028. The coming year will see 47 major pickleball tournaments with a total prize pool between $9.0 and $11.0 million.

Online interest in pickleball has surged by 467% in the past five years, with Utah, Arizona, and Minnesota being the states with the highest interest levels. With its continuous growth, the question remains whether pickleball will hold onto its title as the fastest-growing sport in America and continue its spread worldwide.