Which Country Has the Most Esports Players?
In the world of esports, the numbers of participants and enthusiasts have been consistently rising over the past few years. Esports has become a phenomenon that has crossed geographical borders, with people from different parts of the world showing their passion and skills in various online and offline games. In this article, we will explore the topic of which country has the most esports players.
Who is leading the esports industry?
When it comes to esports, two countries that dominate the scene are South Korea and the United States. According to a report by Statista, in 2022, South Korea accounted for more than 11,400 professional eSports players, which was about 15% of the global eSports market. The US, on the other hand, had an estimated 6,350 professional eSports players, making it the second country with the largest eSports player pool.
Countries with the most Esports Players: A Breakdown
| Here’s a list of the top five countries with the most professional eSports players: | Rank | Country | Total eSports players |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | South Korea | 11,414 | |
| 2. | United States | 6,350 | |
| 3. | China | 5,330 | |
| 4. | United Kingdom | 1,320 | |
| 5. | France | 945 |
China’s Role in the eSports Landscape
China’s significance in the eSports scene is undeniable, with many notable teams like Invictus Gaming (IG), PSG Esport, and FaZe Clan achieving great success. While China currently ranks third, it’s anticipated that the country’s passion for gaming, with over 550 million internet users as of 2021 (Source: Statista), will boost its growth as an eSports nation.
Emerging Trends: Asian Dominance
The global eSports market saw a remarkable 15.1% growth from 2019 to 2020, reaching approximately $1.28 billion (Source: Statista). This rise, together with the enthusiasm for online gaming in Asia, drives the idea of future growth among countries with less established eSports scenes, like those in Central and Eastern Europe or Latin America, to focus their efforts to participate in the Asian dominance.
Which Country Will Continue to Dominate?
Taking into consideration the current and past numbers, it would be unrealistic not to emphasize South Korea as a leader in this region. The growth seen in regions like the United Kingdom (20.9%) and Australia (37.5%) within the last decade showcases the potential of regions underrepresented initially. Other than these notable countries, an essential factor supporting the growth in gaming and other countries that show a trend of growth may soon become involved in the Esports scene like Indonesia, as it was previously mentioned among the top-growing market in the South East Asian country.
New Horizons
The Asian region in 2020 gained massive popularity; the increase observed in participants and revenue signifies the vast potential, so it was only reasonable for the region Asia Pacific (AP) to make headlines. Although the China National Games Act aims at regulating electronic sports as competitive sports; the International Olympiad’s approval; and regional competitions to recognize the growth we can continue, the journey of the sports arena will be as exciting to be a global phenomenon with potential for rapid growth as China’s journey.
Esports has become increasingly popular around the globe, with regions like Latin America gradually gaining interest as well, and an Asian dominance predicted. The market witnessed a record-breaking rise within the last calendar year.
South Korea as the leader is predicted to continue pushing the bounds due to several factors that it has cultivated over the years: accessibility, dedication, and understanding how to integrate the gaming sector alongside the existing economies. For nations with existing eSports platforms such as Latin America or newly emerging teams, the main lesson is to seize the opportunity.
These numbers paint a more clear picture of an industry predicted to show a global average growth of 24% throughout the estimated period of the upcoming period.