Sports have always played an essential role in shaping cultures and uniting communities worldwide. They transcend borders and languages, providing entertainment, fostering rivalries, and creating moments of national pride. Every country has its favourite sport, deeply rooted in its traditions and societal values. The diversity in sporting preferences worldwide showcases not only regional tastes but also historical and cultural influences.
List of Most Popular Sports by Country 2024
In 2024, the landscape of sports remains as dynamic as ever. Soccer continues to dominate in most parts of the world, but unique national sports like cricket in South Asia, ice hockey in Canada, and rugby in New Zealand demonstrate the global variety in athletic passion. Here is the complete list:
| Country | Most Popular Sport | Olympic Medals |
| Afghanistan | Cricket | 3 |
| Albania | Soccer | 0 |
| Algeria | Soccer | 22 |
| Andorra | Soccer | 1 |
| Angola | Soccer | 0 |
| Anguilla | Boat racing | 0 |
| Antigua and Barbuda | Cricket | 0 |
| Argentina | Soccer | 115 |
| Armenia | Soccer | 32 |
| Australia | Rugby | 636 |
| Austria | Soccer | 412 |
| Azerbaijan | Soccer | 75 |
| Bahrain | Soccer | 6 |
| Bangladesh | Cricket | 0 |
| Barbados | Cricket | 1 |
| Belarus | Soccer | 126 |
| Belgium | Soccer | 202 |
| Belize | Soccer | 0 |
| Benin | Soccer | 0 |
| Bhutan | Archery | 0 |
| Bolivia | Soccer | 1 |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | Soccer | 2 |
| Botswana | Soccer | 4 |
| Brazil | Soccer | 182 |
| Brunei | Soccer | 0 |
| Bulgaria | Soccer | 246 |
| Burkina Faso | Soccer | 1 |
| Burundi | Soccer | 4 |
| Cambodia | Soccer | 1 |
| Cameroon | Soccer | 6 |
| Canada | Ice Hockey | 604 |
| Central African Republic | Soccer | 0 |
| Chad | Soccer | 0 |
| Chile | Soccer | 14 |
| Colombia | Soccer | 53 |
| Comoros | Soccer | 0 |
| Costa Rica | Soccer | 4 |
| Croatia | Soccer | 63 |
| Cuba | Baseball | 259 |
| Cyprus | Soccer | 3 |
| Czech Republic | Soccer | 135 |
| Congo | Soccer | 0 |
| Denmark | Soccer | 232 |
| Djibouti | Soccer | 2 |
| Dominican Republic | Baseball | 17 |
| East Timor | Soccer | 0 |
| Ecuador | Soccer | 11 |
| Egypt | Soccer | 62 |
| El Salvador | Soccer | 1 |
| Equatorial Guinea | Soccer | 1 |
| Eritrea | Soccer | 4 |
| Estonia | Basketball | 48 |
| Eswatini | Soccer | 0 |
| Ethiopia | Soccer | 79 |
| Micronesia | Soccer | 0 |
| Fiji | Rugby | 4 |
| Finland | Ice Hockey | 507 |
| France | Soccer | 1,039 |
| Gabon | Soccer | 1 |
| Georgia | Soccer | 51 |
| Germany | Soccer | 1,972 |
| Ghana | Soccer | 6 |
| Greece | Soccer | 169 |
| Grenada | Soccer | 4 |
| Guatemala | Soccer | 2 |
| Guinea | Soccer | 0 |
| Guinea-Bissau | Soccer | 0 |
| Guyana | Cricket | 1 |
| Haiti | Soccer | 3 |
| Honduras | Soccer | 1 |
| Hungary | Soccer | 601 |
| Iceland | Soccer | 6 |
| India | Cricket | 58 |
| Indonesia | Soccer | 40 |
| Iran | Soccer | 101 |
| Iraq | Soccer | 2 |
| Ireland | Gaelic games | 45 |
| Israel | Soccer | 23 |
| Italy | Soccer | 885 |
| Jamaica | Cricket | 94 |
| Japan | Baseball | 690 |
| Jordan | Soccer | 6 |
| Kazakhstan | Soccer | 108 |
| Kenya | Soccer | 128 |
| Kosovo | Soccer | 4 |
| Kuwait | Soccer | 4 |
| Kyrgyzstan | Soccer | 14 |
| Laos | Soccer | 0 |
| Latvia | Ice Hockey | 43 |
| Lebanon | Soccer | 5 |
| Lesotho | Soccer | 0 |
| Liberia | Soccer | 0 |
| Libya | Soccer | 0 |
| Liechtenstein | Soccer | 11 |
| Lithuania | Basketball | 40 |
| Luxembourg | Soccer | 8 |
| Madagascar | Soccer | 0 |
| Malawi | Soccer | 0 |
| Malaysia | Soccer | 19 |
| Maldives | Soccer | 0 |
| Mali | Soccer | 0 |
| Malta | Soccer | 0 |
| Marshall Islands | Basketball | 0 |
| Mauritania | Soccer | 0 |
| Mauritius | Soccer | 2 |
| Mexico | Soccer | 101 |
| Moldova | Soccer | 13 |
| Monaco | Soccer | 2 |
| Mongolia | Wrestling | 36 |
| Montenegro | Soccer | 1 |
| Morocco | Soccer | 34 |
| Mozambique | Soccer | 2 |
| Myanmar | Soccer | 0 |
| Namibia | Soccer | 5 |
| Nauru | Rugby | 1 |
| Nepal | Cricket | 0 |
| Netherlands | Soccer | 512 |
| New Caledonia | Rugby | 0 |
| New Zealand | Rugby | 160 |
| Nicaragua | Baseball | 0 |
| Niger | Soccer | 3 |
| Nigeria | Soccer | 35 |
| North Korea | Soccer | 67 |
| Norway | Soccer | 617 |
| Oman | Soccer | 0 |
| Pakistan | Cricket | 12 |
| Palau | Baseball | 0 |
| Palestine | Soccer | 0 |
| Panama | Baseball | 3 |
| Papua New Guinea | Rugby | 0 |
| Paraguay | Soccer | 1 |
| People's Republic of China | Basketball | 898 |
| Peru | Soccer | 7 |
| Philippines | Basketball | 15 |
| Poland | Soccer | 346 |
| Portugal | Soccer | 35 |
| Puerto Rico | Baseball | 14 |
| Qatar | Soccer | 11 |
| Republic of Macedonia | Soccer | 13 |
| Republic of the Congo | Soccer | 0 |
| Romania | Soccer | 332 |
| Russia | Soccer | 1,984 |
| Rwanda | Soccer | 0 |
| Saint Kitts and Nevis | Soccer | 0 |
| Saint Lucia | Soccer | 1 |
| St. Vincent and the Grenadines | Cricket | 0 |
| San Marino | Soccer | 3 |
| Saudi Arabia | Soccer | 8 |
| Senegal | Soccer | 1 |
| Serbia | Soccer | 33 |
| Seychelles | Soccer | 0 |
| Sierra Leone | Soccer | 0 |
| Singapore | Soccer | 14 |
| Slovakia | Soccer | 57 |
| Slovenia | Soccer | 85 |
| Solomon Islands | Soccer | 0 |
| Somalia | Soccer | 0 |
| South Africa | Soccer | 106 |
| South Korea | Soccer | 447 |
| South Sudan | Soccer | 0 |
| Spain | Soccer | 208 |
| Sri Lanka | Cricket | 3 |
| Sudan | Soccer | 1 |
| Suriname | Soccer | 3 |
| Sweden | Soccer | 740 |
| Switzerland | Soccer | 441 |
| Syria | Soccer | 4 |
| São Tomé and Príncipe | Soccer | 0 |
| Taiwan | Baseball | 0 |
| Tajikistan | Soccer | 6 |
| Tanzania | Soccer | 2 |
| Thailand | Soccer | 61 |
| The Bahamas | Basketball | 19 |
| The Gambia | Soccer | 0 |
| Togo | Soccer | 1 |
| Trinidad and Tobago | Cricket | 22 |
| Tunisia | Soccer | 20 |
| Turkey | Soccer | 134 |
| Turkmenistan | Soccer | 2 |
| Uganda | Soccer | 15 |
| Ukraine | Soccer | 225 |
| United Arab Emirates | Soccer | 3 |
| United Kingdom | Soccer | 1,036 |
| United States of America | American Football | 3,105 |
| Uruguay | Soccer | 11 |
| Uzbekistan | Soccer | 66 |
| Vanuatu | Soccer | 0 |
| Venezuela | Baseball | 34 |
| Vietnam | Soccer | 14 |
| Yemen | Soccer | 0 |
| Zambia | Soccer | 5 |
| Zimbabwe | Soccer | 8 |
Note: The list has been compiled using multiple sources online and will be updated annually. All data is up to date as of October 2024. All data is provisional and subject to change.
While the most popular sports reflect national pride, success in international competitions like the Olympics often highlights different sports. For instance, Germany may have soccer as its most popular sport, but its prowess in a range of Olympic disciplines is unparalleled with nearly 2,000 medals to its name.
From the unyielding popularity of soccer in Europe and Latin America to the cultural significance of cricket in South Asia, sports offer a lens into the heart of every country. As the world of sports evolves, it will be fascinating to watch how these global trends shift, especially with the rise of new athletic stars and growing international leagues.
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