Pickleball reference
Reliable numbers on player growth, age groups, and the ongoing scramble for court space. Built for anyone who needs a clear picture of where the game is headed.
Last updated September 22, 2026. Participation figures below cover 2023. Court and facility figures cover 2024.
The short version
Participation is rising across generations and regions, while facilities are trying to catch up. These figures come from the 2024 State of Pickleball report from the Sports & Fitness Industry Association and Pickleheads. Each stat links straight to the source, because “trust me” is not a citation.
Participation grew 51.8% from 2022 to 2023, making pickleball the fastest-growing sport in America for the third year in a row.
SFIA and Pickleheads, 2024 State of Pickleball reportParticipation data: calendar year 2023
Pickleball participation rose 223.5% over the three-year period reported by SFIA, with growth across every age group.
SFIA and Pickleheads, 2024 State of Pickleball reportParticipation data: calendar year 2023
Adults ages 25 to 34 were the largest player group, a useful reminder that the game is not only a retirement-community pastime.
SFIA and Pickleheads, 2024 State of Pickleball reportParticipation data: calendar year 2023
More than one million children under 18 joined the player base from 2022 to 2023.
SFIA and Pickleheads, 2024 State of Pickleball reportParticipation data: calendar year 2023
The South Atlantic led all U.S. regions with 2.8 million players, up 50% from the previous year.
SFIA and Pickleheads, 2024 State of Pickleball reportParticipation data: calendar year 2023
Dedicated pickleball facilities grew 55% year over year, although court supply still trails the pace of participation in many places.
SFIA and Pickleheads, 2024 State of Pickleball reportFacility data: calendar year 2024
The report estimated $855 million would be needed to build courts over the next five to seven years to help meet demand.
SFIA and Pickleheads, 2024 State of Pickleball reportFacility estimate: published November 14, 2024
New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago averaged 92% below the national dedicated-court density, despite each city doubling its dedicated courts per 10,000 people.
SFIA and Pickleheads, 2024 State of Pickleball reportFacility data: calendar year 2024
What the numbers say
Pickleball’s story is bigger than participation alone. The largest reported age group was 25 to 34, more children joined in a single year, and every U.S. region added players. That is why the court shortage is not simply a seasonal nuisance. It is a practical challenge for parks, clubs, neighborhoods, and the people trying to fit one more game into an already full evening.
For the pickleball community, that growth also explains the familiar scene: more group chats, more league nights, more friends who claim they are “only trying it once,” then somehow own three paddles by Friday.
Methodology and sources
This page summarizes publicly available figures from the 2024 State of Pickleball: Participation & Infrastructure Report announcement, published by SFIA and Pickleheads on November 14, 2024. SFIA notes that its participation data is for calendar year 2023, while Pickleheads facility and court data is for calendar year 2024.
For a citation, use: “PickleTee, Pickleball Statistics: Participation, Players, and Courts, updated September 22, 2026, https://pickletee.shop/pickleball-statistics.” When quoting a number, please cite the linked source too.
Numbers are refreshed when a source publishes a newer report. This keeps the page useful without moving the anchors people may link to.
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