Basketball is the most popular sport in the world. But how many countries play basketball, and how many countries that play basketball can we count? Well, if you’re looking for a definitive answer to those questions then you’ve come to the right place. There are over 195 countries that play basketball
If you have ever joined a basketball court, or even watched a game on television, you have probably wondered how many countries play basketball. Now, if this question has crossed your mind then please read on as you won’t believe the answer!
In this article, I’m going to show you how many countries play basketball. I’ll provide some quotes from the source material and give you some interesting facts about each country and their level of basketball play.
Table of Contents
History of Basketball
Basketball is one of the most popular sports in the world, but what many people don’t know is that it hasn’t always been this way.
Basketball is played in more countries than any other team sport. The game was invented by James Naismith, who was born in Canada in 1861. He taught physical education at Springfield College (his alma mater), which was located near Springfield, Massachusetts.
Since then, it has become one of the most popular sports around the globe with over 300 million players worldwide!
While some countries have teams representing them at major international events such as the Olympics or World Cup tournaments, others haven’t gotten around to forming official national teams yet. With that said, here are some interesting facts about basketball from around the world:
Number Of Countries That Play Basketball
The number of countries that play basketball is over 195.
The game is played by over 300 million people (including the United States, Canada, the Philippines, and more) and it’s estimated that around 450 million people play basketball recreationally on a yearly basis. There are also many different competitions in which they can compete; these include:
- National Championships – These are held every year in each country where basketball is played. Each ‘national’ team has its own coach and players who come together to represent their country at these events.
- World Championships – These are held every four years and feature national teams from all over the world competing against one another for medals and prizes.
- In addition to these two major competitions, there are also other smaller ones including regional ones like European or Asian championships which only take place once per decade but still attract huge crowds nonetheless!
There Are Currently 195 Sovereign Nations
In the United States, basketball is played by about 450 million people. That’s more than the population of all but two countries in the world: China and India.
In other words, if you’re reading this article from anywhere else on earth besides those two countries, chances are that basketball is played in your country!
There are currently 195 sovereign nations on earth; basketball is played in most of them—including every country in Europe except for Albania. It’s also popular in Africa, Asia and Oceania (the Pacific region).
Some Of The Top International Participants In The Sport
Basketball is one of the most popular sports in the world, and these five countries are among its top participants. The United States leads the way with over half of all NBA players being born there, while France has earned more FIBA EuroBasket medals than any other team.
The Philippines ranks first on that list after winning silver at both the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship and 2016 Rio Olympics. Australia rounds out this group as having won more Olympic gold medals than any other country besides USA (three to two).
Some Places Where Basketball Isn’t Quite As Popular
Many countries have embraced basketball with open arms. In fact, the sport is so popular in some places that it’s hard to imagine a time when playing it wasn’t an option for people who lived there. When you think about it though, this makes perfect sense because basketball is such a great way to spend your free time!
The United States, Canada, Australia, and France are some of the more well-known places where basketball is played frequently by both professionals and amateurs alike. On the other hand, several countries in Asia and South America aren’t quite as familiar with this sport just yet (although there have been recent efforts made by organizations like NBA China).
Basketball Leagues Around The World Where The Game Continues To Grow In Popularity
It’s also notable that there are many basketball leagues around the world where the game continues to grow in popularity. Many of these leagues aren’t affiliated with any national governing body such as FIBA, so they don’t qualify as official participants.
While this list includes some of the most popular countries for basketball, there are others that could be added to it. The sport is growing in popularity across Africa and parts of Asia while also growing in popularity among other immigrant groups like Hispanics who live in America.
Basketball Is Extremely Popular Internationally
While every country in the world doesn’t have a national team yet, basketball is extremely popular internationally. This sport is played in 195 countries around the globe and there are fairly evenly distributed between Europe, Asia, and North America.
The second most popular region for basketball in South America with notable countries including Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, and Cuba. Basketball also has a strong following in some African countries like Egypt and Angola while Oceania boasts Australia as one of its strongest teams.
Finally, there are some Middle Eastern nations that play this sport such as Iran or Lebanon
Frequently Asked Question (How Many Countries Play Basketball)
How many basketball players are in the world?
Basketball is a popular sport, played by more than 450 million people worldwide. It is the second most popular sport in the world, behind soccer. Basketball is most popular in North America and Europe and has grown rapidly in Africa and South America in recent years.
How popular is basketball globally?
As the second most popular sport in the world, basketball has an estimated 2.2 billion fans globally. In fact, it is the most popular sport in four countries: USA (USA), Canada (Canada), Australia (Australia) and China (China).
This popularity is aided by the fact that basketball is easy to learn and play anywhere with just a ball and hoop, making it possible for people of all ages and abilities to enjoy this great game together.
This can be seen at any park in your neighborhood where a group of adults might get together on weekends to play pick-up games while you’re out walking your dog or pushing your kids around in their strollers–or even if your son’s basketball team has practice after school every day after school!
Conclusion
Basketball is a sport that has grown in popularity around the world. It’s easy to understand why this is, as it’s a relatively simple game with only five players on each team. Anyone can learn how to play basketball if they want to do so.
There are also many different types of leagues that cater to people at all levels of skill—from beginners all the way up to experts who want something more challenging than other sports provide!