New Study Reveals 36.5 Million People Played Pickleball Last Year

According to the 2023 APP Pickleball Participation Report, 14% of Americans 18+ played pickleball between August 2021 and August 2022. The Dink That equals 36.5 million pickleball players and marks a historic milestone for pickleball participation nationwide.

The 2023 APP Pickleball Participation Report provides a much-needed update to the estimate of pickleball players across the country.

Pickleball Participation vs. Previous Estimates

The 2021 number of 4.8 million players has been quoted everywhere from USA Pickleball to the New York Times. It comes from The Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) 2022 Sports, Fitness, and Leisure Activities Topline Participation Report.

Most estimates anticipated 2022 participation numbers to be somewhere in the 6 to 8 million range, based on the trend of the past two years. The number of 36.5 million absolutely blows that out of the water.

Read Next: Pickleball Growth Explained

There are bound to be some discrepancies between the SFIA study and the newly released APP study. The 2023 study, conducted by YouGov, polled 2,500 nationally representative adults ages 18+ across America.

The estimate of 36.5 million accounts for pickleball participation from players who played at least once between August 2021 and August 2022. The study also estimated that 8.5 million of those players hit the court more than eight times in that same period.

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Pickleball Participation Demand Is Overtaking Supply

The massive jump in pickleball participation is evident at parks and venues throughout the country. Queues to play are commonly 10 to 20 players deep, and many players struggle to find court time because of the high demand.

Public and private entities have rushed to fill the demand for courts. According to Front Office Sports, 66 new places to play are built each month in the US.

The APP Tour Report also notes: "The rapid rise of pickleball also looks set to continue, with 45% of the 36.5 million total players saying they plan to play pickleball more often in the next six months than the previous six-month period."

Pickleball Growth Is Just Getting Started

The numbers underscore what anyone who has picked up a paddle already knows: pickleball growth shows no signs of slowing. This is a sport that rewards players from their very first point.

If you head out to a pickleball park in your area, you will see where everyone has been spending time in 2022. Be careful if your going to try it for the first time, chances are you're going to get hooked.

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The official statement from the APP Tour can be found below.

2023 APP Pickleball Participation Report Reveals 36.5 Million Americans Played Pickleball in 2022

America's fastest-growing sport continues its astonishing increase in pickleball participation. Report highlights include 14% of Americans 18+ having played pickleball in the last 12 months, creating a total national market of 36.5 million pickleball players. Participation rates look set to continue climbing, with 45% of those playing at least once in the last 12 months also saying they plan to play more in the next six months than they did the last six months.

Chicago, IL (January 5, 2023) The Association of Pickleball Professionals (APP), the original and pre-eminent professional, amateur and recreational pickleball organization in the USA and worldwide since 2019, has unveiled the 2023 APP Pickleball Participation Report. A study conducted by YouGov on behalf of the APP shows that pickleball, America's fastest-growing sport, has enjoyed even higher growth than previously thought. 14% of adult Americans (36.5 million people) played pickleball at least once in the 12-month period from August 2021 to August 2022, and 8.5 million people played pickleball eight times or more in the same period.

The rapid rise of pickleball looks set to continue, with 45% of the 36.5 million total players saying they plan to play pickleball more often in the next six months than the previous six-month period.

The 2023 APP Pickleball Participation Report was compiled by YouGov, the international market research and data analytics firm, with the research team polling a sample group of nearly 2,500 nationally representative adults ages 18+ across America.

"The first of what will be our annual APP Pickleball Participation Report clearly shows that Pickleball is not only America's fastest-growing sport, it is growing much faster than anyone really thought. Now, pickleball has to be viewed as one of America's favorite sports," commented Tom Webb, Chief Marketing Officer of the APP.

"In 2020, a pandemic year, previous reports stated that over four million people picked up a paddle to play pickleball, with that number reportedly growing to over five million in 2021. Those numbers appear to have been conservative, but what the APP's report shows is that the popularity of pickleball has exploded. Pickleball courts continue to be built and installed nationwide, and people from coast to coast are trying the sport for the first time, and immediately falling in love with pickleball."

"I fell in love with pickleball the very first time I played, and now I have the honor of being able to compete across America, and internationally, in a sport that is so quickly becoming part of our culture," added Megan Fudge DeHeart, professional pickleball player.

"As the sport grows, so does the recognition of what it takes to be a pro, and that's hugely rewarding. The number of fans at our events increases with almost every competition, and now we know just how big the sport is, that will only continue to increase. I'm excited for the future of our sport for the players today, for those who will continue to flock to pickleball, and for my children who also love the sport, and have a lifetime of playing pickleball ahead of them."

APP Media Contact
Daniel Sagerman – E: dsagerman@intersportnet.com | C: (+1) 847 800 8182

Frequently Asked Questions

How Many Americans Played Pickleball in 2022?

According to the 2023 APP Pickleball Participation Report, 36.5 million Americans played pickleball at least once between August 2021 and August 2022. That accounts for 14% of the U.S. adult population aged 18 and older, making pickleball participation one of the biggest sports stories of the decade.

What Does the 36.5 Million Pickleball Participation Figure Actually Measure?

The 36.5 million figure reflects everyone who played pickleball at least one time during the August 2021 to August 2022 window. A separate group of 8.5 million players hit the court more than eight times in that same period, representing the sport's most dedicated and frequent participants.

How Does the APP Study Compare to the SFIA's Previous Pickleball Participation Numbers?

The Sports & Fitness Industry Association had previously reported 4.8 million pickleball players for 2021, and most industry observers expected that number to climb to 6 to 8 million in 2022. The APP's YouGov-conducted study shattered those projections entirely, revealing that true pickleball participation was nearly five times larger than the most widely cited estimate.

Why Is It So Hard to Find an Open Court if Pickleball Participation Is This High?

The demand driven by surging pickleball participation has far outpaced available court supply. Waits of 10 to 20 players are common at public parks across the country, and according to Front Office Sports, 66 new places to play open every single month in the U.S. to try to meet that demand.

Will Pickleball Participation Keep Growing?

The data strongly suggests yes. 45% of the 36.5 million players surveyed said they plan to increase their pickleball participation in the next six months compared to the prior six-month period. That forward-looking momentum signals that pickleball growth remains one of the most compelling and durable stories in all of American sports.