It may be America’s fastest-growing sport, but pickleball courts are a global phenomenon. What was once an American-made sport for silver-haired retirees has become an international sensation. As our beloved sport sheds its derisive ping-pong comparisons, its appeal stretches across the world.

And that leaves some curious players with one question: Where is pickleball most popular?

The Origins of Pickleball

Before we begin, we must know our roots.

Pickleball was invented in the distant year of 1965. Originally intended as a fun diversion for an upper-class family of Bainbridge Island, Washington, the sport’s appeal spread quickly. Sensing its imminent stardom, its creators quickly set about commercializing the sport.

Within three years, pickleball participation had migrated south. It found a welcome home in two snowbird-heavy hotspots: the American Midwest and South.

By 1984, the first “official” pickleball organization was founded. (Originally branded the United States Amateur Pickleball Association, the collective changed its name to USA Pickleball in 2005.) A rival organization, the International Pickleball Federation, appeared in 2010. Even later, in 2018, a third pickleball group, the Professional Pickleball Association, was born from yet another pickleball schism.

This all explains why pickleball is America’s fastest-growing sport, but it doesn’t account for its global growth.

The International Growth of Pickleball

Much of that global spread can be traced to a single organization.

What we now know as the International Pickleball Federation (IPF) was originally founded as the International Federation of Pickleball (IFP). At its inception, this starry-eyed organization was little more than an outreach-oriented splinter of its parent organization, USA Pickleball. (Its later rebranding is a dramatic jar of pickles that we won’t address in today’s blog post.)

Its name even reflected as much. This was no longer a game for Americans; it was for the entire world!

The pickleball enthusiasts heading the IPF vowed to spread pickleball’s appeal to every corner of the globe. Even today, they continue their tireless push for Olympic recognition. Their plans paid off, and pickleball’s popularity skyrocketed.

There are now 77 officially recognized countries playing under the IPF banner, including:

• China
• Ghana
• Guam
• Hong Kong
• Ireland (and Northern Ireland, albeit as a separate entity)
• Nepal
• Rwanda
• Trinidad and Tobago

What Country Is the World’s Pickleball Capital?

Despite that growth, America remains the de facto capital of pickleball. Over 36 million Americans played pickleball in 2023, and that number is only expected to grow.

Nonetheless, other countries are learning of this rapidly growing sport.

Most of the growth is happening in English-speaking and Western nations. Canada, France, and Italy are a few examples of international pickleball hotspots. Avid travelers have also reported growing interest in India.

Unfortunately, pickleball isn’t gaining traction as quickly on an international scale. It remains less popular than other sports, and tracking its growth poses logistic challenges.

Pickleball Tournaments Around the World

There are over eight billion people on the planet. It’s physically impossible to track the total number of pickleball players. Cultural and geographic barriers further complicate the gargantuan task.

Fortunately, there’s an easier way to track the growth of our beloved sport. Pickleball tournaments are popping up everywhere, and it’s safe to assume you won’t see large tournaments without sufficiently eager crowds.

Outside of the United States of America, some of the world’s largest pickleball competition locations include:

• England, host of the English Open
• Italy, host of the Italian Open
• Mexico, host of multiple Americas Championship tournaments
• South Korea, host of multiple Asia Pickleball Open tournaments
• Spain, host of the Spanish Open

Notably, these events have different sponsors. Most are held under the International Pickleball Federation’s guidance. However, some, like the Asia Pickleball Open, are organized by the World Pickleball Federation.

Pickleball Courts Around the World

We can also track the construction of pickleball courts.

Obviously, the United States is the most pickleball-heavy nation. As the birthplace of the sport, it’s only natural for it to have the most courts! USA Pickleball also hosts a global map of public pickleball courts.

If you’re an international player looking for court availability, consider these nations for your next pickleball vacation:

• England (10 listed courts)
• France (4 listed courts)
• Mexico (19 listed courts)

4 Interesting Pickleball Hotspots

Ultimately, we don’t have exact numbers for most of the globe. America is undoubtedly the leader in pickleball courts, but the global population is growing increasingly interested in this unique sport. Participation rates are skyrocketing, and the last three years have only encouraged the sport’s astronomical rise to fame.

There are almost 200 countries, so we can’t address every region. Instead, we’ve highlighted four pickleball hotspots for today’s blog.

1. Pickleball in Asia

Both the IPF and WPF oversee the sport in multiple Asian nations. Travel halfway around the world, and you might be able to play pickleball in China, India, South Korea, Thailand, or Vietnam!

The future is looking bright for our dear sport, and Asia is the perfect market. After all, many citizens already play racket sports, particularly badminton and ping-pong. Fortunately, both sports are closely related to pickleball.

2. Pickleball in Ghana

While pickleball’s growth has exploded across the entire African continent, only one African country is recognized as a fully-fledged member of the International Pickleball Federation.

Best known as a gorgeous West African tourist spot, Ghana has distinguished itself as one of the leading forces behind pickleball’s African journey. Public pickleball courts populate its lush foliage and eye-popping savannahs, and they’re only multiplying.

Interestingly enough, Ghana has recently distinguished itself on a professional level, too. In March 2024, Ghanaian pickleball players won three bronze medals at the All Africa Games. One champion, Lawrencial Onome, optimistically expressed her expectation that the sport would soon become dominant “not only in Ghana but in Africa as a whole.”

3. Pickleball in Ireland

For players in Europe, Ireland is an increasingly pickleball-crazed island!

Michael McDaid introduced the Emerald Isles to pickleball’s charms in 2016, the same year he founded Pickleball Ireland. Since then, the sport has become a year-round activity. While its most popular demographic skews on the older side, plenty of younger players are picking up paddles.

After eight years of dedication, Pickleball Ireland achieved one of its greatest goals. The first Ireland Open was hosted in June 2023, welcoming players from all five counties.

4. Pickleball in Mexico

Finally, it’s only logical for pickleball to spread to its closest neighbors. Canada is an obvious target, but the growth of Mexican pickleball communities may surprise some readers.

On a local level, pickleball courts have a long way to go before gaining widespread acceptance in Mexico. It remains a fairly obscure game, but travel-hungry pickleball players are slowly shifting the tides. Professional trainers often visit Mexico to teach local communities about pickleball and encourage the growth of this delightful paddle sport.

Additionally, international travelers can take advantage of Mexico’s strong tourism industry. Many resorts are purpose-built for pickleball players. Tourists can reserve packages inclusive of court access and training sessions. They also gain access to professional training and events!

Learn More About Pickleball

Regardless of where you live, you can always enjoy a game of pickleball. Pickleball locations cater to everyone, and few enthusiasts have met a sour pickleball player.

Have you ever had an unexpected pickleball encounter while abroad? Let us know!

We also encourage you to browse the rest of our blog, where we post regular updates about America’s fastest-growing sport. You can also share this post to grow those pickleball statistics!