Global padel: 58,000 courts, 19M players

Global padel growth continued at a strong pace in 2025. According to the latest report from Playtomic and Strategy&, there are now 58,334 courts worldwide. In the past year alone, nearly 8,000 new courts were built and around 5,000 clubs opened. The sport has moved from a niche trend to a globally structured industry where athletic practice, real estate, technology and investment logic are tightly linked.

The "2026 Global Padel Report" puts the number of active players at 19.4 million, including more than 850,000 with federation credentials. The authors stress that this estimate is deliberately conservative and cross-checks several data sources against the higher figures published by the FIP. For operators, federations and investors, the paper provides a solid basis to compare demand, utilisation and expansion risk.

The estimate of 19.4 million active players also underlines that padel has reached mass appeal without every region yet matching Spain's infrastructure density. That gap is precisely what drives the current investment wave across Europe and Asia.

Growth is spreading across every continent

2025 marks a new stage of geographic spread. Spain remains the historic centre, but momentum no longer comes from southern Europe alone. France delivered the largest share of newly built courts in 2025 and is therefore one of the main drivers of worldwide expansion.

Other regions are catching up. Indonesia added about 800 courts over the year. In Latin America, Mexico and Brazil lead growth; in Africa, South Africa dominates development; Ireland is progressing quickly despite a small base. Since 2016, global court capacity has multiplied: the number of facilities is now roughly six times higher than at the start of that period.

Five market archetypes structure the industry

A central element of the report is the classification of national markets into five development profiles. This makes it possible to compare differences in demand, investment pressure and revenue models systematically instead of treating each country in isolation.

Padel heartlands: maturity instead of a court-building boom

"Padel heartlands" include long-established markets such as Spain, Italy, Portugal and Argentina. They feature dense club networks, a strong playing culture and steady demand. Growth is shifting away from massive new-build waves towards monetisation, professionalisation, multi-site chains and premium formats. Spain remains the reference market: depending on the region, there are between 14 and 37 courts per 100,000 inhabitants.

Sweet spot: France in balanced equilibrium

France is assigned to the "sweet spot" profile – markets where supply and demand grow in sync, occupancy stays high and investment remains disciplined. Playtomic sees the country as having moved out of an earlier hotspot phase into a more mature development stage. The report highlights strong demand intensity, above-average occupancy, nationwide expansion and growth in dedicated padel clubs as well as integration into tennis facilities.

Southern France remains the most active area. According to the report, some venues reach up to nine to ten playing hours per day per court – a figure that underlines the economic appeal of facilities while increasing pressure on densification and service quality.

United Kingdom and Germany as new hotspots

The report identifies the United Kingdom and Germany as the most explosive markets right now. Britain is described as a "demand-driven hotspot". The figures illustrate the bottleneck: average peak-time occupancy is around 85 percent, and nearly half of players report difficulties booking courts.

For Germany, the report describes similar momentum with rapidly growing demand and strong investment interest. Both countries exemplify markets where access to courts still lags behind interest – a signal for operators as well as municipalities and developers who must prioritise capacity.

By framing market analysis in five archetypes, Playtomic and Strategy& give investors a tool to avoid misallocation. Heartlands focus on efficiency and premium experiences, sweet spots on balanced scaling, hotspots on rapid capacity expansion while demand supports pricing. Ignoring this logic risks empty courts or overloaded booking systems.

High occupancy in France and Britain also shows how strongly digital reservations and community features shape operations. Clubs that analyse playing hours, memberships and ancillary revenue can manage peak demand better and schedule coaching capacity more precisely. For the FIP and national federations, the challenge is to connect a growing grassroots scene with reliable licensing and tournament formats without slowing the momentum of open court markets.

What the numbers mean for clubs and operators

The combination of almost 8,000 new builds per year and 5,000 club openings shows that padel is now an infrastructure business. Successful models combine court design, booking software, membership logic and add-on services. In mature markets, occupancy management and revenue per square metre move to the fore, while younger markets mainly seek footprint and accessibility.

For players, the trend means more access but also fiercer competition for prime-time slots. Federations benefit from a growing registered player base but must secure data quality and comparability between regions. The report makes clear: in 2025, padel is no longer just a fashion sport but a globally connected ecosystem with distinct regional rules.