Padel in 2025: The World’s Fastest-Growing Sport?

A. 📌 Executive Snapshot

Padel – the high-energy racket sport mixing elements of tennis and squash – has exploded worldwide. As of 2025, it boasts over 30 million players in 130+ countries, with surging growth in the UK and US. Once a niche European hobby, it’s now a global movement on the cusp of Olympic inclusion.

B. 📊 Key Numbers at a Glance

Scope	Metric	Latest Figure
Global	Players worldwide	30 million
Global	Countries with players	130+
Global	Courts installed	63,000
Global	Rackets sold/year	4.5 million
UK	Active participants	400,000
UK	Courts	893 (across 300+ venues)
US	Active players	100,000
US	Courts	454

C. 🔍 At a Glance Insights

👥 Participation & Demographics

Player base doubled globally from ~15M in 2017 to 30M in 2024
UK explosion: from 15,000 to 400,000 players since 2019
US surge coming: forecast to hit 10 million players by 2030
~40% women: one of the highest female shares among racket sports
Core audience: adults aged 26–50, but youth and seniors love it too

💰 Market & Spend

Global padel equipment market worth £426 million (2024)
Racket sales top 4.5 million annually
UK average booking fee: £7/person/hour
8 million+ UK adults say they’re interested in trying padel
US market still early stage but growing rapidly, backed by celebrity hype

🏗️ Infrastructure

63,000 courts worldwide, growing at 26% YoY
UK: 893 courts (up from 50 in 2019); LTA aims for 1,000+ by 2026
US: 454 courts total; room for massive expansion
Spain now has more padel courts than tennis courts
Trend: indoor, all-weather courts, domes, and multi-use centres

❤️🔥 Health & Performance

Burns 500–700 calories/hour
Great cardio with low joint impact
Doubles format encourages lifelong participation & mental wellbeing
50% of players report some injury yearly (most minor: elbow, knees)
Injury prevention: warm-ups, cushioned floors, proper footwear

🚀 Emerging Trends

IOC-recognised sport – Olympic inclusion possible by LA 2028 or Brisbane 2032
Tech leaders like Playtomic driving app-based bookings and community
High-profile backing (Messi, Beckham) lifting visibility
Global spread into Asia, MENA, and US suburbs, gyms & hotels
New business models: padel + café + social clubs growing in the UK

D. 🔬 Deeper Dive: What’s Powering Padel’s Rise?

🇬🇧 UK: From Obscure to Mainstream

The UK’s padel scene has exploded. From just 50 courts in 2019, there are now 893 courts across 300+ venues. Yet demand still outweighs supply. Many regions have waitlists, and venues average 426 players per court.

Explore UK venues & book online with Playtomic.

With the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) investing £6 million+ and aiming to reach 1,000 courts by 2026, padel is now firmly embedded in Britain’s sports future.

🇺🇸 US: The Sleeping Giant

With just 454 courts and 100,000 players, the US has barely scratched the surface. Compare this to Spain’s 335 courts per million residents, and it’s clear: the American padel boom is coming.

Projections show up to 10 million US players by 2030. Many tennis courts lie underused and could easily be converted. Plus, with US gym chains and real estate developers jumping in, court builds are likely to skyrocket.

🎽 Fitness & Wellbeing Benefits

Burns more calories than tennis per hour due to longer point rallies
Less impact on knees and hips than singles tennis
Excellent for building agility, coordination, and cardio endurance
Social doubles format = better consistency and community bonding
Over 70% of padel players are 25+, and many continue playing into their 60s+

Padel is increasingly being used for community wellness programmes, thanks to its low barrier to entry and fun factor.

🧠 Injury Awareness

While most injuries are minor, 50–80% of players report one annually. Most common:

Elbow tendinopathy (≈20%)
Ankle strains, knee stress, and shoulder tightness
Often due to lack of warm-up or inadequate footwear

Tip: Invest in proper padel shoes and warm up thoroughly before each session.

Shop essential padel footwear and kit at Decathlon UK.

🌐 What’s Next for Padel?

🏅 Olympic Status?

Already IOC-recognised, padel is being considered for Los Angeles 2028 and Brisbane 2032. If included, expect an explosion in youth programmes, sponsorships, and media attention.

📲 Tech-Enhanced Play

Playtomic app connects over 1M players worldwide
Matchmaking, coaching, and league organisation now digital
Streaming platforms and social content (e.g. WPT on YouTube) driving fan growth
Smart rackets and automated tracking tools are coming soon

🌍 Global Reach & New Markets

Padel is growing in:

Middle East (e.g. UAE clubs with AC indoor courts)
India (pop-up courts in malls and gyms)
South America via youth development programmes

And as padel becomes part of hotel chains, office parks, and luxury gyms, we’ll likely see it merge into mainstream fitness and lifestyle spaces globally.

🧾 Final Takeaway

Padel isn’t a fad – it’s a full-fledged global movement, fusing fitness, fun, and social connection. With 30 million players and counting, it's time to get involved.

Whether you're after a new cardio hobby, a social fix, or a low-impact way to stay active – padel delivers.