How Many People Play Basketball Worldwide?
According to FIBA, it is estimated that at least 450 million people play basketball worldwide, ranging from licensed players to amateurs. The game of basketball is one of the fastest-growing sports in the world, and in Asia and Australia the sport has replaced football as the most popular sport.
At the rate that basketball is growing, it may eventually surpass football as the most-played sport globally. In China, basketball has only recently caught on. The Chinese Basketball Association estimates that close to 300 million Chinese adults and children play basketball, a figure that is equivalent to the total population of the United States. The NBA has recognized huge potential in Chinese basketball and is making a push to expand its presence in the country.
