World's biggest sports - facts, statistics and answers to frequently asked questions

What are the biggest sports in the world?

When asking what the biggest sports in the world are, it is important to define what 'biggest' means. It could be the number of players, the number of fans or the global reach. According to the latest estimates from several sources, including Sportlobby and Wikipedia, volleyball tops the list with around 800 million active practitioners, followed by basketball with around 450 million and table tennis with around 300 million.

Football, despite its huge global popularity, has around 265 million active players, placing it as the world's fourth largest sport in terms of number of practitioners. However, football is the sport that engages the most fans and has the greatest commercial impact globally.

Top 5 largest sports in the world by number of active practitioners:

Volleyball: ~800 million

Basketball: ~450 million

Table tennis: ~300 million

Football: ~265 million

Badminton: ~220 million

What sports are there?

There are thousands of sports around the world, but most people are familiar with the major global sports such as football, basketball, tennis, golf, cricket, ice hockey and athletics. Each sport has its own culture, rules and popularity in different parts of the world. For example, cricket is very popular in India and the United Kingdom, while American football dominates in the United States.

The diversity of sports also reflects different climates, traditions and social structures: in Sweden, for example, football, ice hockey and floorball are the most popular sports, while other parts of the world have completely different favourites.

What are the 100 biggest sports in the world?

Listing the 100 biggest sports in the world is a challenge, but there are compilations that include everything from the most practised to the most watched sports. In addition to the major sports mentioned above, sports such as rugby, baseball, tennis, golf, martial arts, swimming and motorsport also have millions of practitioners and fans.

This wide-ranging list shows how the world of sport is multifaceted and how different sports can dominate in different regions. It also provides an insight into how globalisation affects the spread and popularity of sport.

Fun facts about football - the world's biggest sport in Sweden and globally

Football is undoubtedly the world's most loved sport, both in Sweden and globally. With over 265 million active players worldwide and billions of fans, football is a global movement that unites people across borders and cultures. In Sweden, football is the most widely played sport, with hundreds of thousands of players of all ages and levels.

One interesting detail is that football has a unique ability to create community and commitment. From small grassroots clubs in Swedish suburbs to the big stadiums of Europe, football is a sport for everyone. Sweden's biggest football club, AIK, for example, has over 100 000 members and a passionate fan base.

Globally, the commercial power of football is huge. The biggest clubs like FC Barcelona and Real Madrid turn over billions of euros every year and their matches are watched by hundreds of millions of viewers. The World Cup is the biggest single sporting event in the world, with over a billion people watching the final.

The global language of football is universal - no matter where you come from, you can understand the rules of the game and enjoy its beauty.

It is a sport that is not only about performance on the pitch, but also about culture, identity and passion.