Padel isn’t just booming, it’s exploding. Once a Spanish side-hustle to tennis, padel has become a global racket sport with millions of players, thousands of new courts, and an ever-expanding presence in countries like the UK. As we step into 2026, the growth statistics are impossible to ignore.
What makes padel so attractive? It’s fast-paced but approachable. It rewards reflexes, positioning, and teamwork more than brute strength. And it’s designed to be social, often played in doubles, on enclosed courts with walls that keep the action going. Add to that a low barrier to entry, and you’ve got a sport that’s not just catching on – it’s taking over.
Padel Statistics: The Quick Version
Here are the key facts and figures about padel tennis:
- There are now more than 35 million padel players around the world.
- Spain is the undisputed capital of padel, with over 6 million players and more than 17,300 padel courts.
- Padel in the UK is booming with over 400,000 players and more than 1,000 padel courts across the country.
- In the US, over 500,000 people play the sport but the lack of facilities (only 770 courts) cannot meet the demand.
- According to Google Trends data, Padel is most popular in Spain (as expected), with Sweden the second most interested country.
Global Padel Participation: 35+ Million Players and Climbing
In just a few short years, global padel participation has rocketed past 35 million players according to the International Padel Federation (FIP). That’s up from an estimated 25–30 million in 2023, and double what it was in 2017. Driven by its accessibility and fun-first, doubles-friendly format, padel now has an active player base in over 150 countries – with particularly strong scenes in Spain, Italy, France, Argentina, and Sweden.
- 40% of players are female, making it one of the most inclusive racket sports.
- 14,300+ new courts were built in 2025 alone.
- 550+ international tournaments were staged in 2025 under the merged Premier Padel/World Padel Tour structure.
What’s remarkable is that this growth is not just happening in traditional racket sport strongholds. Countries like the United States, UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Japan have seen significant spikes in player numbers and court construction. From local leisure clubs to city rooftops and shopping malls, padel is becoming a lifestyle as much as a sport.
Court Boom: Where Are All the Courts Coming From?
Behind every padel boom is a wave of concrete and glass. Globally, there are now 77,300+ padel courts – more than triple the number a decade ago. These are spread across 24,600+ clubs, with Europe hosting the lion’s share (approx. 65% of total). Spain alone has over 17,300 courts and over 6 million players, making it the sport’s undisputed capital.
In Europe, the three major countries showing the most growth are France, Great Britain and Germany. France in particular has seen an impressive +55% growth in padel courts in the last 18 months, adding 1,850 courts and pushing its total to over 4,000. The UK’s facilities have grown at an even faster rate, surpassing the 1,000 padel court landmark back in July 2025, which represents an average annual growth rate of +130% since 2023. In Germany, the sport is growing at a slightly slower rate but facilities still grew by +50 this year, taking Germany’s court count to +875.
In the US, Florida has emerged as a real hotspot for padel and is home to about 41% of all padel courts in the US (followed by Texas with 18%, California with 10% and New York with 4.7%).
The pace of construction has been relentless. In 2025 alone, more than 14,000 new courts were built worldwide. This kind of expansion isn’t just about satisfying demand – it’s about meeting it before waiting lists form. From converted squash courts to standalone multi-court facilities, the architecture of sport is changing.
Padel In the US: High Demand, Low Supply
Padel’s growth in the United States is following a different trajectory – full of momentum, but slowed by infrastructure challenges. In 2023, there were fewer than 100,000 padel players across the U.S. By the end of 2025, that number had surged to around 500,000. Yet despite the boom in interest, there are still only about 770 padel courts nationwide – fewer than in the UK.
One major obstacle? Space and sound. While padel courts are smaller than tennis courts, they require planning approval that can be tricky to obtain, particularly due to concerns about the noise from ball strikes on glass walls. Many U.S. developers initially expected to open clubs in 6 to 12 months, but have encountered delays stretching to 24 to 36 months. As of 2026, dozens of projects are in the pipeline across major cities, but widespread accessibility is still a year or two away.
Despite these setbacks, padel in the U.S. is buzzing with energy. The Pro Padel League (PPL) is working to professionalise the sport with an eye toward broadcast appeal and commercial growth. Backed by investors, the PPL is seeking more funding to establish itself as a serious player in the U.S. sports scene, but the competition is fierce.
Tennis boasts 25.7 million participants and over 270,000 courts in the U.S., while pickleball surged to nearly 20 million participants in 2024. But what padel has is a unique niche – a sport that blends tennis, squash, and social gameplay into one. And with more tennis players trying padel and falling in love with it, the shift is already underway. If courts can catch up to demand, the U.S. could become a powerhouse in global padel. For now, it remains a market full of promise – and a sport with its best days still ahead.
Padel is Booming in the UK: From Obscure to Mainstream in 5 Years
Padel’s rise in Britain has been nothing short of staggering. Back in 2019, there were just 15,000 players and under 70 courts. Fast forward to 2026:
- Over 400,000 Brits played padel in 2024, according to the LTA. That’s more than triple of the 129,000 Brits that played in 2023.
- 1,000+ courts now exist across 325 venues nationwide (as of July 2025), up from 763 at the end of 2024.
- Monthly padel participation at David Lloyd Clubs jumped from 3,300 players in April 2023 to 18,100 by April 2025.
- 51,000 adults in England now play padel at least twice a month – more than double the previous year’s total.
The Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) has played a central role in accelerating this growth. As the national governing body for padel in Britain, it has channeled more than £6 million into padel infrastructure, including a £4.5 million investment to build 80 new courts at tennis venues across the country. This includes a mix of indoor and covered outdoor facilities, making the sport more playable year-round.
According to the LTA, padel courts are now available in every region of Great Britain, with hotspots in London and the South East, which together host nearly 300 courts. More than half of padel courts in the UK are covered or indoor, helping mitigate the unpredictable British weather and supporting year-round play.
| Region | Padel Courts |
| London & South East | 297 |
| North & West Midlands | 179 |
| South & South West | 172 |
| North & East Midlands | 153 |
| Central & East | 124 |
| Scotland | 45 |
| Wales | 34 |
What’s driving the growth? Accessibility, fun, and community. The LTA reports that 43% of UK adults are now aware of padel, up from just 23% in 2023. Even more telling: 8 million Brits say they’re interested in trying the sport, signaling a pipeline of new players ready to step on court.
Padel’s popularity cuts across age and ability, attracting complete beginners, tennis converts, and former footballers alike. As the sport builds momentum, the LTA is focusing not just on building courts but also on growing the ecosystem around them – including coach development, competitive structures, and pathways for talented players.
With more facilities, better access, and a growing community, padel in the UK is no longer a fringe pursuit – it’s becoming a mainstream sport. And the signs point to continued expansion well into 2026 and beyond.
Where Padel is Most Popular - According to Google
It will come as no surprise that, according to Google Trends data, Spain shows the most interest in padel. However, it is interesting to see that the second country on that list is Sweden which is already home to 4,220 padel courts (4th most in the world behind Spain, Italy and Argentina). According to the FIP’s data from Feb 2024, over 600,000 people play padel in Sweden, making it even more popular than in the UK. Here are the top 10 countries where padel is most popular according to search data:
Country | Search Demand for Padel (Google Trends) |
Spain | 100 |
Sweden | 39 |
Portugal | 35 |
Paraguay | 32 |
Argentina | 32 |
Denmark | 31 |
Belgium | 24 |
Italy | 20 |
Chile | 19 |
Netherlands | 17 |
Another clear sign of growth is in the demand for padel equipment…
Using Mangool’s Keyword Finder tool, we’ve analysed the amount of monthly searches for “padel rackets” around the world and found that search demand has increased by 61% this year.
Based purely on historical YoY search demand, and assuming no external demand shocks, search volume is projected to reach ~1.4M by 2030 under a base-case continuation of recent growth, with a plausible range between ~1.1M and ~2.7M.
Professional Padel Statistics: What the Top 100 Tells Us
A quick look at the International Padel Federation Top 100 rankings shows just how geographically concentrated elite padel still is – while also hinting at where the sport is starting to grow.
On the men’s side, only nine countries are represented inside the Top 100. Spain and Argentina dominate the rankings, accounting for over 80% of all players combined. Spain alone supplies 58 of the Top 100 players, underlining its role as the global hub of professional padel. That said, it’s a big change from the 73 Spanish players inside the Top 100 we found back in 2022, suggesting padel is becoming a more “global” sport. Italy is the only other nation with a meaningful presence, while countries like Brazil, Portugal, Sweden, and Chile appear in much smaller numbers.
The women’s rankings paint a slightly broader picture. The Top 100 includes players from 13 different countries, showing a more international spread than the men’s game. However, the hierarchy remains the same. Spain is even more dominant here, making up 72% of the Top 100, with Argentina and Italy trailing behind. Nations such as France, the Netherlands, Great Britain, and Portugal also feature, highlighting the steady expansion of women’s padel across Europe.
Overall, the data confirms that padel is still heavily centred around Spain and Argentina, particularly at the elite level. But the wider range of countries in the women’s Top 100 and the decline in Spanish dominance in the men’s Top 100 suggests that the sport is becoming more global. As padel continues to grow internationally, this gap between dominance and diversity is likely to narrow, much like tennis did over time.
Big Money Moves: The Brands Investing in Padel
It’s not just players getting in on the action. Investors, brands, and broadcasters have all taken notice – and they’re betting big.
- The global padel market is forecast to hit $6 billion by 2028.
- Premier Padel and World Padel Tour merged into a single global tour in 2024, backed by Qatar Sports Investments.
- Sponsors like CUPRA and Adidas are pouring funds into events, clubs, and players.
- Big tennis brands like Wilson, Head and Babolat are also big players in the world of padel.
- In the UK, Pro-Am events featuring celebrities and pros have helped padel hit mainstream media.
In the US, the Pro Padel League (PPL) is leading the charge. Though still small, it aims to become a major player in the U.S. spectator sports market. Its $4 million season prize pool pales in comparison to tennis Grand Slams, but investors aren’t discouraged. PPL is actively seeking more funding and pushing for long-term sustainability – not as a passion project, but as a full-scale commercial property. Former tennis stars like Juan Martin del Potro and Rafa Nadal are already involved, with the latter integrating padel into his tennis academy in Mallorca.
Sponsorship is growing too. Automotive brand CUPRA now supports over 20 international padel tournaments, while Adidas and Bullpadel are establishing themselves as the Nike and Wilson of the padel world. These partnerships are not just about branding – they’re shaping how the sport looks, feels, and grows.
In Britain, the commercial ecosystem is still developing, but the foundations are in place. LTA partnerships, club-level investment, and growing fan interest are converging. Expect to see more televised events, branded courts, and local leagues as commercial momentum builds.
Padel in 2026 and Beyond
So where does padel go from here? If current trends continue, the sport could surpass 50 million global players by 2027. With national federations investing, professional tours unifying, and grassroots interest growing fast, the foundation is set for long-term expansion.
The UK is especially well positioned. With over 1,000 courts, a supportive governing body, and a highly engaged early adopter audience, Britain could soon be Europe’s next padel powerhouse. The infrastructure is there, the demand is rising, and the sport is finally getting the attention it deserves.
In the United States, it’s a story of potential. Despite infrastructure challenges, padel participation has multiplied in just one year. With hundreds of club projects in development, major investors lining up, and the PPL pushing for broadcast visibility and commercial viability, America could soon become padel’s next frontier.
As more players discover padel’s mix of action, accessibility, and fun, one thing’s clear: this is more than a fad. Padel is here to stay – and it’s still just getting started.
