In 2025, the International Federation of Padel (FIP) announced a figure that sparked a reaction throughout the padel world:  35 millions of practitioners in the world An impressive number, sometimes considered optimistic by some observers, who question the calculation method used and the reality of the practice in some countries.

So, are these 35 million players credible or is this an estimate too favorable to the growth of the sport? In light of the latest available studies, the answer seems to lean towards the first hypothesis: yes, this figure is probably close to reality, even if the counting methods may vary.

Global growth that has become difficult to ignore

In his World Padel In its 2025 forecast, the FIP puts forward several indicators that demonstrate the rapid expansion of padel:

  •  35 million amateur practitioners 
  •  850 licensed players , or a progression of  42%  compared to the previous study
  • More than  24,600 clubs and infrastructures 
  • More than  77 lots 
  • A practice documented in  150 countries 
  •  87 national federations affiliated to the FIP 

These figures show that padel is no longer just a Spanish or Argentinian phenomenon, but a sport now established on all continents.

Europe remains the engine of development

The global distribution of practitioners highlights a European dominance.

According to FIP data:

  •  61,3% of players are located in Europe 
  •  19% in South America 
  •  7,7% in North and Central America 
  •  6,8% in Asia 
  •  4,9% in Africa 
  •  0,3% in Oceania 

Europe alone therefore represents almost two-thirds of the global padel market, driven in particular by Spain, Italy, Sweden, France, the Netherlands and Belgium.

Figures that are sometimes disputed

The criticisms are not really about the growth of the sport, but more about the definition of the word "practitioner".

In international studies, a practitioner is not necessarily a licensed player or a regular competitor. It can be someone who has played several times during the year, or even occasionally.

This method is also used in many sports. Tennis, golf, and running also use estimates of participants that far exceed the number of registered players.

This explains the considerable gap between the  An estimated 35 million practitioners  and  850,000 federal licenses recorded .

The Playtomic 2026 study offers another interpretation

The latest analyses carried out by Playtomic in 2026 propose a different approach, based in particular on field bookings and player activity in clubs connected to the platform.

According to this methodology, the number of active practitioners worldwide would be closer to  20 billion video gamers worldwide. .

A figure lower than FIP estimates, but which remains simply colossal.

Because even taking into account Playtomic's low estimate, padel is already among the most practiced racket sports in the world.

The truth probably lies somewhere in between.

Comparing FIP data and Playtomic data is actually like comparing two different indicators.

The FIP seeks to measure all people who play padel, even occasionally.

Playtomic measures more of the players who are actually active in the clubs and on the fields recorded by its ecosystem.

In other words, both figures can be correct simultaneously.

It therefore seems reasonable to estimate that the global padel population is currently somewhere between  20 to 35 million practitioners This confirms a fundamental trend: padel continues to gain ground at a speed rarely seen in the recent history of sport.

More than the figure itself, the momentum is impressive.

Beyond the debate on statistics, one observation is unanimous: padel has never experienced such expansion.

With over  77,000 plots of land identified , a presence in  150 countries Near  300 FIP tournaments to be organized in 2025  and more than  11,000 players ranked in the professional rankings All indicators converge towards the same conclusion.

Whether padel has 20, 25 or 35 million players today, the essential question may no longer lie there.

The real question is rather how far this growth can go over the next decade.

Franck Binisti

Franck Binisti discovered padel at the Club des Pyramides in 2009 in the Paris region. Since then, padel has been part of his life. You often see him touring France to cover major French padel events.

On the same subject

Tags