35 million padel players worldwide: is the figure real?
35 million padel players worldwide – can this figure really be trusted? In 2025, the International Padel Federation (FIP) sparked debate across the sport with exactly that number. Some observers see it as optimistic, while others question the counting method and the real breadth of participation in individual countries. A look at the latest studies suggests the order of magnitude is plausible, even if different definitions of the term "practitioner" lead to variations.
Global growth that can no longer be ignored
In the World Padel Report 2025, the FIP summarizes several indicators that illustrate the pace of expansion. It estimates 35 million amateurs, while 850,000 players are licensed – an increase of 42 percent compared with the previous survey. There are also more than 24,600 clubs and facilities, over 77,300 courts, participation in 150 countries, and 87 national federations under the FIP umbrella.
These figures show that padel is no longer a regional phenomenon limited to Spain or Argentina. The sport is established on every continent and is growing in markets that had barely any courts a few years ago. The combination of infrastructure expansion, rising license numbers, and growing media visibility makes this momentum tangible for federations, investors, and clubs alike.
Europe remains the engine of development
The global distribution of practitioners highlights Europe's dominant role. According to FIP data, 61.3 percent of players are in Europe. South America follows with 19 percent, North and Central America with 7.7 percent, Asia with 6.8 percent, Africa with 4.9 percent, and Oceania with 0.3 percent.
Nearly two thirds of the global market is therefore concentrated in Europe – driven by countries such as Spain, Italy, Sweden, France, the Netherlands, and Belgium. In these markets, new halls, public facilities, and professional leagues have emerged at the same time. For many federations, this means not only more players but also growing demand for coaches, tournament formats, and infrastructure planning.
Why the figures are debated
Criticism rarely targets the basic growth story but rather the definition of the word "practitioner." In international studies, not every person automatically counts as a licensed player or regular competitor. It is often enough for someone to have played several times a year – even occasionally.
This method is not unusual in sport. Tennis, golf, and running also work with estimates that are well above official license totals. That is why the gap between 35 million estimated practitioners and 850,000 recorded licenses is so wide. Both figures measure different realities and should not be compared one to one.
Playtomic provides a second perspective
Analyses by Playtomic from 2026 take a different approach. The platform relies mainly on court bookings and the activity of players in clubs connected to its ecosystem. Under this logic, the number of active practitioners is closer to around 20 million worldwide.
That is lower than the FIP estimate but still an impressive figure. Even under this more conservative assumption, padel already ranks among the most widely played racket sports in the world. Playtomic mainly measures players who are regularly active in organized structures – not every occasional recreational match outside digitally tracked booking systems.
The plausible range lies between two indicators
FIP and Playtomic are therefore not comparing the same phenomenon. The FIP captures everyone who plays padel – even irregularly. Playtomic focuses more on demonstrably active club players within its network. Both approaches can be correct at the same time because they answer different questions.
A range between 20 and 35 million practitioners therefore seems realistic. This band confirms the structural trend: padel is gaining ground at a pace rarely seen in recent sports history. For federations, equipment brands, and media, this above all means one thing – the market is growing faster than many established racket sports ever did.
More than a number: the momentum matters
Beyond the statistics debate, there is consensus: padel has never experienced comparable expansion. More than 77,000 recorded courts, presence in 150 countries, nearly 300 FIP tournaments in 2025, and more than 11,000 players in the professional rankings all point in the same direction. Whether the global community today comprises 20, 25, or 35 million people does not fundamentally change the trend.
The real question is rather how far this development can go over the next ten years. New halls, growing youth work, stronger media rights, and the professionalization of the tour landscape are all pushing the sport forward at once. For players, clubs, and investors, what matters is that behind the debate over millions there is stable momentum – and that is clearly visible in the available data.
