Which are the fastest growing pickleball countries?
The fastest growing pickleball countries, measured by new DUPR player registrations over the last 12 months, are all in Asia. The Philippines leads, followed by Indonesia, China, India, Japan, Thailand, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia and Vietnam — with growth across the ten ranging from roughly 110% to about 1,200%. Below: what the numbers show, the one caveat worth knowing, and what a global boom actually changes for those of us waiting on a court in New England.
The 30-second version
- All ten of the fastest-growing pickleball nations by DUPR signups are in Asia. The Philippines is #1.
- Growth spans roughly 110% to 1,200% over 12 months.
- The caveat: this tracks new DUPR registrations, not total players — a small base grows fast.
- The U.S. is still climbing: 24.3 million players in 2025, up 22.8% year over year and 171.8% in three years (SFIA).
- Core players (8+ sessions a year) hit 7.48 million, up 20.4% — and core players are the ones filling New England’s courts and leagues.
You already know pickleball is big here. You have circled the lot at an open play, stacked your paddle behind six others, watched a tennis court get striped for four pickleball courts. What is easy to miss from a Tuesday night in Central Mass is that the same thing is happening on the other side of the planet — faster. New data shared by DUPR, and reported by The Dink, ranks the fastest growing pickleball countries by new player registrations over the past 12 months. Every single one is in Asia.
What does the DUPR data actually show?
DUPR is the rating system most competitive players use to track their level, and signing up for one is a decent proxy for “I intend to play this seriously.” Ranked from first to tenth, here is where new DUPR participation grew fastest over the last year:
- Philippines
- Indonesia
- China
- India
- Japan
- Thailand
- South Korea
- Singapore
- Malaysia
- Vietnam
Growth across those ten ranges from about 110% at the low end to roughly 1,200% at the top — meaning even the slowest country here more than doubled its new DUPR signups in a year.
Does this mean Asia has more players than the U.S.?
No — and this is the part worth holding onto before anyone turns a chart into a headline. Three honest caveats:
- It measures growth, not size. A country going from 500 new signups to 6,000 posts a bigger percentage than one going from 400,000 to 480,000. Both matter; they do not mean the same thing.
- It measures DUPR, not pickleball. Plenty of people play weekly and have never registered a rating. In markets where DUPR arrived recently, signups can spike simply because the platform showed up.
What the list does tell you is real and interesting on its own: the sport’s next wave of committed, rating-tracking, tournament-curious players is being built across Asia right now.
How fast is pickleball still growing in the United States?
Still very fast, which surprises people who assume the boom already peaked. According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association’s 2026 Topline Participation Report, cited in the same reporting:
- 24.3 million Americans played pickleball in 2025 — a 22.8% jump year over year.
- Participation is up 171.8% over three years, which SFIA called the dominant multi-year growth story across every sport it tracks.
- Casual participation (1 to 7 times a year) reached 16.8 million, up 23.9%.
- Core participation (8 or more sessions a year) reached 7.48 million, up 20.4% from 2024.
That casual-versus-core split is the number I actually care about. Casual players are curiosity; core players are demand. They are the ones who join leagues, book courts at 7 a.m., and show up in January.
What does global growth mean for New England players?
Three practical things, from someone who plays and teaches here:
- Court pressure is not easing. Nearly 4.5 million new American players in a single year has to land somewhere, and around here it lands on a finite number of striped surfaces. Our New England court directory now tracks more than 80 places to play across all six states, and the fastest-growing category by far is dedicated indoor clubs.
- Ratings are becoming the common language. As DUPR spreads globally it spreads locally too — clubs like Bousquet Sport in Pittsfield now run as DUPR-rated venues, which means your number follows you from open play to a league night. If you have never sorted out what your level means, start with our guide to pickleball ratings.
- Winter is the real constraint here. Growth in a year-round climate builds outdoor courts. Growth in New England builds waitlists from November to March, which is exactly why the indoor scene keeps expanding faster than anything else.
Frequently asked questions
Which country is growing fastest in pickleball?
The Philippines topped DUPR’s 12-month growth list, ahead of Indonesia and China.
Are the fastest growing pickleball countries really all in Asia?
In this dataset, yes — all ten of the top-growth countries by new DUPR registrations over the past year are Asian markets.
How many Americans play pickleball?
SFIA’s 2026 report estimates 24.3 million played in 2025, up 22.8% from the prior year.
What is DUPR?
DUPR (Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating) is a global rating system that assigns players a number based on match results, used by clubs and leagues to build even games.
Will global growth make it harder to get a court in New England?
Not directly — overseas growth does not compete for our courts. Domestic growth does, and with core U.S. participation up 20.4% in a year, expect open play to stay busy and indoor winter slots to keep selling out early.
Where to play while the world catches up
The best response to a growing sport is a plan for Tuesday night. Find a spot in our New England court directory, and if you want to turn your rating into something that actually moves, I run lessons and clinics here in Central Mass.
Source: DUPR participation data reported by The Dink Pickleball, plus the Sports & Fitness Industry Association’s 2026 Topline Participation Report. Ratings platform: DUPR.