📊Statistics

Introduction

Gaming has rapidly evolved from a niche pastime to a major force in the entertainment sector. Currently, the gaming industry is valued at approximately $282 billion, and this figure is expected to rise significantly in the coming years. Projections indicate that by 2027, the industry could reach a valuation exceeding $363 billion. In this analysis, we will explore the most recent statistics on the growing number of individuals identifying as gamers.

How many gamers are there?

• In 2024, there are approximately 3.32 billion gamers worldwide.

• The US has over 3,000 esports players.

• Asia is home to almost 1.5 billion gamers.

• 53% of males are gamers.

• 52% of gamers subscribe to at least one gaming service.

Recent data represents an increase of over 1 billion gamers in just the past eight years.

Breakdown of global active gamers over time

Esport players play a pivotal role in the industry's current $282 billion valuation.

According to recent data, the United States boasts more than three times the number of active esports competitors compared to any other country.

This is likely due to the significant size of the US video games market, which is estimated at $106.82 billion.

In fact, the US has nearly as many active esports players (3,728) as the combined total of the second and third-ranking countries (3,471).

Active esports competition players by country

Sources: VentureBeat, Juniper Research, IBISWorld, eSportsEarnings

Gamers By Region

Asia boasts over twice as many gamers as any other region, with a total of 1.48 billion. This figure surpasses the combined number of active gamers in Europe, Latin America, and North America, which totals 1.42 billion.

Detailed Regional Breakdown

Japan and the UK currently share the highest video game user penetration rate at 58%.

By 2027, the UK is projected to lead with 70% of its population engaged in video gaming.

Here’s an overview of the top five countries with the highest gaming user penetration rates:

Sources: DFC Intelligence, Statista

Gamer Demographics

The majority of gamers in the US are male (55%).

In terms of sheer numbers, there are roughly 1.7 billion male gamers and 1.39 billion female gamers around the world.

How the distribution of gamers by gender has varied in the US each year since 2006

Recent data reveals that 80% of gamers, or 2.47 billion individuals, are over 18 years old, while there are 618 million gamers under the age of 18. Here’s a closer look at the age distribution of gamers in the US:

Sources: Theesa, Statista

Gamer Subscriptions

US gaming statistics show that 52% of gamers subscribe to at least one gaming service, which represents approximately 1.61 billion gamers worldwide.

In the US, console gamers (74%) are more likely to subscribe to a gaming service compared to PC gamers (66%).

Extrapolating from this data, approximately 2.29 billion console gamers and 2.04 billion PC gamers are expected to subscribe to a gaming service.

Regarding subscription services, recent data indicates that there are about 100 million Xbox Live users globally, a significant increase from 39 million at the start of 2016.

Meanwhile, Sony’s PlayStation Plus has nearly 50 million subscribers (47.3 million) as of June 2022, more than doubling from 20.8 million in 2016.

Sources: Morning Consult, Microsoft, Sony

Gamer Preferences

In the US, two-thirds of gamers (66%) cite relaxation as their primary reason for playing video games. This translates to approximately 2.04 billion people worldwide using video games as a means to unwind.

Top six reasons given for playing video games since February 2021

In the US, casual games are the most popular, with 63% of gamers playing them regularly. Action and shooter games follow closely, each enjoyed by 39% of players.

Here’s how these figures translate to gamers on a global scale

Source: Ipsos

Conclusion

The number of active gamers continues to increase annually. Gaming has evolved into a multi-billion dollar market that appeals to virtually every type of gamer. The industry shows no signs of slowing down with blockchain technology being at the forefront of the next generation.