Top 10 Most Popular Sports In The World

Here we are accumulating the analysis about sports over almost the whole media around the world, of which people are most interested in.




#10 American Football 

Approximated number of fans: 400 million


Regional popularity: Europe, Africa, Asia, America, Australia

This game is commonly referred as the national obsession of millions of Americans. These millions have propelled the sport into the list of most popular sports in the world.

Analyzing a lot of data from various sources, we have made the conclusion that around 400 million fans all over the globe watch this sport. But the surprise is, nearly half of the total are pointed from the United States and Canada.


It is believed that American football actually evolved from Rugby in the late 19th century. The sport was seen as a club or academic sport. Then, in the year of 1920, everything had just changed after the establishment of NFL.


#9 Basketball

Approximated number of fans: 400 million

Regional popularity: America

At first place Basketball was originally played with a soccer ball. The first balls made specifically for basketball were brown, and it was only in the late 1950s that Tony Hinkle, searching for a ball that would be more visible to players and spectators alike, introduced the orange ball that is now in common use. Dribbling was not part of the original game except for the "bounce pass" to teammates. Passing the ball was the primary means of ball movement. Dribbling was eventually introduced but limited by the asymmetric shape of early balls. Dribbling only became a major part of the game around the 1950s, as manufacturing improved the ball shape.

With more than 400+ million spectators around the world Basketball is at 9th place for now in the list of the top 10 most popular sports.


#8 Golf

Approximated number of fans: 450 million


Regional popularity: Europe, Asia, America, Canada

The game's ancient origins are much debated, the mothern game of golf originated in 15th-century in Scotland. The historians trace the sport to the Roman game paganica in which the players used a bent stick to hit a leather ball.


The modern game originated in Scotland. The first written record of gold is James II in 1457. The world's oldest golf tournament was so called The Open Championship, which was first played on 17 October 1860 at Prestwick Gold Club in Ayrshire Scrotland. Scottish golfers have won the earliest majors.


#7 Baseball

Approximated number of fans: 500 million

Regional popularity: America, Japan

The origins of baseball has been the subject of debate and controversy for more than a century. Baseball and the other modern bat, ball and running games, cricket and rounders, were developed from earlier folk games in England. The first published rules of baseball were written in 1839 by Abner Doubleday, a youth living in Cooperstown. Early forms of baseball had a number of names, including "Base Ball", "Goal Ball", "Round Ball", "Fletch-catch", "stool ball", and, simply, "Base". In at least one version of the game, teams pitched to themselves, runners went around the bases in the opposite direction of today's game, and players could be put out by being hit with the ball. Just as now, a batter was called out after three strikes.

Around 500 million fans from Cuba, Japan, Dominican Republic, US put this awesome sport in 7th place in the list of top 10 most popular sports in the world.


#6 Table Tennis

Approximated number of fans: 850 million


Regional popularity: Europe, Africa, Asia, America

The posrt originated in England during the 19th century. It was played by the upper-class as an after-dinner game. Table tennis had a few different names like "whiff-whaff" and has been suggested that the game was developed by the British military.

In our day Table Tennis is sport which is mainly popular in China but the audience in Europe is accepting it fast.

The sport has more than 850 million fans around the globe. Mostly from Asia specifically China and Thailand. These fans put it at its 6th place in the most famous sport around the world.


#5 Volleyball

Approximated number of fans: 900 million

Regional popularity: Europe, Australia, Asia, America

The game was created back in 1895 in Holyoke, Massachusetts by William G. Morgan. The game took some of its characteristics from tennis and handball.

Volleyball was introduced into the Olympics in 1964. There is another variant of this sport called beach Volleyball and it was introduced in 1996.


The huge interest in this sports with around 900 million fans around the world put it at 5th place in the list of top 10 most popular sports in the world.


#4 Tennis

Approximated number of fans: 1 billion


Regional popularity: Europe, Asia, America

Historians believe that the game ancient origin goes back in 12th century in France. Louis X of France was a player of jeu de paume ( "game of the palm" ) which evolved into real tennis that we know in our days.

The modern rules of the game had been introduced at the middle of the 19th century. The game has never been dominated by a single player.

Famous Tennis Stars:

Grigor Dimitorv, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Maria Sharapova


With more than one billion fans Tennis is put at 4th place in the list of the top most popular sports in the world. 


#3 Field Hockey

Approximated number of fans: 2 billion

Regional popularity: Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia

The origin of this game goes back from 200 BC in Ancient Greece when the game have been called "Κερητίζειν" ("kerētízein") because it was played with a horn. In Asia a game similar to "Κερητίζειν" was entertained, using a wooden stick and ball. 

The modern game grew from English schools in the 19th century. The fist club was created in 1849 in Blackheath south-east London. 

The modern rules grew out of a version that had been played by Middlesex cricket clubs for winter sport. 

Currently Field Hockey is at 3rd place of most popular sports on earth. With more than 2.2 billion fans from Asia, Europe and Africa.

#2 Cricket

Approximated number of fans: 2.5 billion

Regional popularity: Asia, Australia, UK, Africa

British Empire has spread this sprot all around the world. Rferences from different sources indicate that it may have been played back in 16th century. It took one more century to be trully completed. 

Cricket is popular across through the ex British colonies.

Cricket is a bat and ball game similar to the baseball, played between two teams of eleven players each. One team bats, attempting to score runs, while the other bowls and fields the ball, attempting to restrict the scoring and dismiss the batsmen. The objective of the game is for a team to score more runs than its opponent. In some forms of cricket, it may also be necessary to dismiss the opposition in order to win the match, which would otherwise be drawn.

Thanks to the 2.5 billion Cricket fans this sport is at the 2nd position in the list of 10 most popular sports in the world.

#1 Football

Approximated number of fans: 3.5 billion

Regional popularity: Europe, Africa, Asia, America

Finally we are down to the most popular sport in the world and with no suprise to anyone it is Football ( Soccer ). 

The official rules of this game were established back in the 19th century. The popularity of the game has created an incerible and unique fan base. Almost every town in the world has their own club and every country has it's national team. 

Top favorite International Teams: Brazil, Germany, Spain, Italy

Top favorite Club Teams: Real Madrid, Barcelona , Bayern Munich, Manchester United, Man City, AC Milan, Chelsea

Football has more than 3.5 billion fans and it is proudly shown at the 1st place in the list of top most popular sports in the world