by Kelly Campbell
Pickleball has been the fastest-growing sport in the U.S. for four years running, but it’s also on its way to international acclaim.
While the U.S. is still leading the charge as the world’s largest pickleball hub, the number of pickleball players in other countries has steadily increased alongside it. Australia, India, and Europe are just a few places leading the international pickleball wave.
UPA Asia and YouGov Singapore released a study just this week highlighting tremendous pickleball numbers throughout Asia. In surveyed territories, nearly 1.9 billion people have heard of pickleball, with nearly 812 million people having played at least once. The study also concluded a 60% growth rate year over year.
Dink domination around the globe is crucial to pickleball’s legacy and a testament to the sport itself. Once a niche U.S. sport geared towards older people, pickleball is now a global phenomenon, bringing people together. Sharing pickleball internationally allows us to open up the talent pool for pickleball and further develop the sport while spreading its positive influence and benefits to a global market.
Whether you’re scoping out your next international pickleball vacation or want to check in on worldwide pickleball development, read on for more about pickleball’s global expansion.
International Pickleball Hubs
Pickleball’s accessibility, affordability, and physical and mental health benefits all drive international growth.
These are just some countries riding the pickleball wave that will likely continue to foster vibrant pickleball communities in the coming years.
Canada: Considering Canada’s proximity to and close relationship with the U.S., it’s no surprise that it’s one of the biggest pickleball hubs in the world. A recent study estimates that 1.54 million Canadians are pickleball players, indicating a 57% increase in participation over the last three years.
Mexico: The Mexico Pickleball Federation is the governing pickleball body in Mexico, dedicated to fostering growth and promoting pickleball across the country. Mexico’s pickleball popularity is largely in part due to Mexico being a popular American vacation destination. Many resorts and tourist attractions in cities like Cancún and Puerto Vallarta cater to pickleball-playing tourists.
India: The All India Pickleball Association (AIPA) is the governing body of pickleball in India. Pickleball growth in India has exploded over the last year, with the number of active players having increased by 300% in three years. In India, there are reportedly more than 178 million frequent pickleball players.
Japan: The world’s largest pickleball franchise, Picklr, just announced that they will expand in Japan by opening 20 clubs there over the next five years. The plans pave the way for a deeper partnership with Nippon Pickleball Holdings, the leading pickleball organization in Japan.
China: China is on its way to becoming one of the biggest pickleball hubs in the world. At their current pace, China could surpass the U.S. for pickleball dominance. China is estimated to have 60 million pickleball players, and over the next five years, the number is expected to expand to 100 million pickleball players and over 10,000 courts.
Worldwide Dink Domination: Driven by Collaboration & Dedication
As the spotlight on international pickleball intensifies, we’re seeing just how much the world wants to get involved in pickleball. The pickleball obsession-like boom in the U.S. began around 2020, and we’re now seeing that same energy and increased demand across the globe today. It’s the beginning of something big.
Dedicated collaboration and innovation are necessary to truly establish pickleball as an international core sport, but many initiatives are underway to expand pickleball access and awareness.
Increased awareness through international broadcasting and tournaments, celebrity influence, public access, commercial expansion, and community organizations dedicated to establishing pickleball on national and local levels all fuel pickleball’s global domination.
Below are some of the most impactful initiatives, organizations, and deals currently shaping the international future of pickleball.
International Pickleball Federation: The IPF aims to introduce pickleball to all nations so that they may embrace the sport as one of their national sports and ultimately achieve official recognition by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
Global Pickleball Federation (GPF): The mission of the GPF is to grow and promote pickleball internationally, from amateur to professional levels, with integrity and the ultimate goal of gaining recognition by the IOC and securing pickleball’s inclusion in the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Pickleball Federation of the Americas (PFA): PFA promotes, leads, and supports the development of pickleball across North America, Central America, the Caribbean, and South America.
PPA and MLP: The most well-known pickleball leagues are shifting their focus to international development with PPA Asia, MLP Australia, PPA Australia, PPA India and MLP India, and more international tours.
Picklr: The largest pickleball franchise announced that they plan to open 20 pickleball clubs in Japan.
Pickleball World Rankings (PWR), the Pickleball World Series, and the PWR World Tour: All three pickleball bodies bring a standardized international ranking system and tournaments with some of the largest recorded cash prizes (mostly based in the Middle East).
United Pickleball Association: UPA International Championship Series is a series of international tournaments across the globe in 2025 in Australia, India, Canada, Asia (TBA location), Europe, and Texas.
Why is International Pickleball so Important?
International expansion is the natural next chapter in pickleball’s evolution—and a crucial step in cementing its legacy as a global sport with boundless potential.
Consider baseball: long regarded as America’s pastime, its cultural significance runs deep—from everyday expressions to iconic films and childhood memories. Yet what has sustained and grown baseball’s influence isn’t just U.S. popularity but global reach. Today, nearly 28% of MLB players were born outside the continental U.S., and many of the league’s brightest stars come from countries like the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, and Japan.
Japan has embraced baseball so fully that the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) league rivals the MLB in cultural importance and talent. The cross-pollination between leagues has elevated the game worldwide, with MLB players like Shohei Ohtani proving that excellence transcends borders.
Pickleball now stands at a similar crossroads. By nurturing international development, it can evolve from a fast-growing pastime into a mainstay of global sport—one that inspires, connects, and unites across cultures for generations to come.
Sources
Recent Comments