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Pickleball by the Numbers - Growth Stats from USA Pickleball and APP

  • Writer: Tim Montague
    Tim Montague
  • Jan 19
  • 4 min read

As you know, pickleball is the fastest growing sport in the USA and is now also attracting bigger audiences in Asia and Europe. Today in Jan. 2025 there are an estimated 48.5 million Americans (1 out of 7) who have tried pickleball! There are 13.6 million regular players. The sport continues to evolve, attract new audiences (the 23 to 35 year old demographic is the fastest growing), and mature. There is a national shortage of facilities but obviously we're doing our part at the CUPC to change that! Enjoy these stats and feel free to reach out to me with your favorites! -Tim Montague, Owner/Developer


2024 USA Pickleball

Annual Facts & Highlights

Publish Date: Jan. 14, 2025

  • Places to Play: The USA Pickleball court location database, Pickleheads, added 4,000 new locations in 2024, bringing the total to 15,910 courts nationwide.

  • Total Known Courts: The Pickleheads database now includes 68,458 courts, with 18,455 new courts added in 2024.

  • Membership: USA Pickleball continues to support a strong membership base of 62,260. The sport is embraced by players at all skill levels and backgrounds, driven by USA Pickleball’s dedication to expanding programs, offering new membership benefits and providing opportunities through sanctioned tournaments and strategic partnerships as the sport continues to grow.

  • USA Pickleball Ambassadors: USA Pickleball has 2,051 dedicated ambassadors promoting the sport across the country.

  • Sanctioning: USA Pickleball sanctioned 142 tournaments in 2024 including the premier pickleball event, the Biofreeze USA Pickleball National Championships, and 13 Golden Ticket events across the country.

  • Tournament Sanctioning: USA Pickleball sanctioned 142 tournaments in 2024, including the Biofreeze USA Pickleball National Championships and 13 Golden Ticket events held across the country.

  • Community & Youth Grants: In 2024, USA Pickleball awarded $45,350 in grants supporting 33 community programs, 4 collegiate initiatives and 102 youth-focused projects.

  • Paddle & Ball Approvals: USA Pickleball Equipment & Evaluation Committee (EEC) and its third-party accredited independent lab tested and approved 1,713 new paddle and ball submissions in 2024. Of these, 1,225 paddles and 81 balls were approved, with additional results still pending for submissions. A total of 476 new manufacturers and brands registered in 2024.

  • Facility Development: Building upon the 2023 success where USA Pickleball played a key role in the development of over $300 million in new pickleball facilities, including more than 35 regional and sector-level venues. 2024 saw increased focus and growth on facility services in part due to Pickleheads’ ‘find a facility’ functionality.  With the introduction of feasibility studies, AI-powered acoustic assessments and material suppliers onboarded, USA Pickleball is poised to continue supporting the development of facilities into 2025.

  • 2024 Biofreeze USA Pickleball National Championships: The 2024 Biofreeze USA Pickleball National Championships not only brought together top athletes to courts for its 16 occurance, but also supported the community, generating an estimated $3.6 million in economic impact. Held from Nov. 9-17 at the Arizona Athletic Grounds in Mesa, Ariz. The premier pickleball event showcased the sport’s rapid growth, with over 2,600 players from 47 states and 13 countries competing in front of 10,000 spectators.In addition to 3,835 matches played over 111 competition hours, volunteers contributed over 1,600 hours to support the event which also featured the Dinks for a Difference Celebrity Match presented by Lerner & Rowe which supported USA Pickleball Serves, the organization’s charitable arm. Through USAP Serves, a pickleball court was donated to an under-resourced local community, and two pickleball clinics were held—one for youth and one for veterans.

  • Officiating Program: In 2024, USA Pickleball's officiating program saw significant growth, surpassing 1,100 members, including Trainees through Certified Referees (CR). Credentialed Level 1 and Level 2 referees increased by over 7%, while Certified Referees grew by 9%, with new CRs outpacing retirements. There were 29 on-court evaluations completed in 2024, achieving a success rate consistent with previous years.

  • Professional Pickleball Registry (PPR): USA Pickleball's training partner, the Professional Pickleball Registry, ended 2024 with 8,754 members. PPR conducted 295 workshops across the U.S., with 3,318 participants.

  • Pickleball Coaching International (PCI): Another key training partner, PCI, finished 2024 with 1,037 U.S. members and 1,422 members globally. PCI’s newly launched Level 1 (Thinkific) course saw 895 new signups.

  • Pickleball Magazine: USA Pickleball's publishing partner, Dollard Publishing, produced 8 issues of Pickleball Magazine in 2024 offering readers to learn more about the sport and people involved.  Learn more about Pickleball Magazine.

  • USA Pickleball Rulebook & Handbook: USA Pickleball's Rules Committee and Board approved the updated 2024 Official Rulebook, along with the 2024 USA Pickleball Officiating Handbook.

  • A Sport for All: The 2024 Biofreeze USA Pickleball National Championships featured wheelchair pickleball as a competitive division for the first time, held Nov 9-11 at the Arizona Athletic Grounds in Mesa, Ariz. This marked a significant step for the sport's inclusivity, offering adaptive players the opportunity to compete on the sport’s premier stage and enforcing USA Pickleball’s support for adaptive play.

  • Media Attention: Pickleball continued to dominate the headlines in 2024, maintaining its status as the fastest-growing sport in America for the fourth consecutive year. Top-tier media outlets like The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, CNBC, Sports Business Journal, Forbes and Sports Illustrated extensively covered the sport’s growth and impact.





Pickleball in the U.S. has seen explosive growth, with 48.3 million adults playing in 2023, up 35% from 2022[1][5]. The average player age is 34.8, reflecting its appeal to younger demographics; 70% of avid players are aged 18–44, with the largest group being 25–34 (40%)[1][5]. Men dominate participation, comprising 62% of avid players[1]. Regionally, the South Atlantic leads with over 1 million players, while the West North Central shows the fastest growth[2][5]. Despite its inclusivity across all ages, younger players are driving its rapid expansion[1][3][5].


Citations:

[1] New APP Research Reveals Nearly 50 Million Adult Americans ... https://www.theapp.global/news/nearly-50-million-adult-americans-have-played-pickleball

[2] Pickleball Statistics and Facts (2025) - Market.us News https://www.news.market.us/pickleball-statistics/

[3] Pickleball's Franchise Evolution Reflects Shifting Demographics and ... https://frandata.com/spotlight-pickleball-franchise/

[5] The Numbers Behind America's Fastest Growing Sport in 2024 https://www.pickleheads.com/blog/pickleball-statistics

[7] Chart: Pickleball Has Taken the United States by Storm - Statista https://www.statista.com/chart/32915/pickleball-participation-in-the-united-states/

[8] Pickleball participants US 2023 - Statista https://www.statista.com/statistics/763659/pickleball-participants-us/




 
 
 

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