The Most Important Gaming Statistics You Should Know

Gaming is no longer a dying hobby or niche market in any single country but an entertainment industry worldwide today. The most recent figures put the worldwide gaming market at USD 282 billion and are set to continue to expand with a worldwide market value of USD 363 billion in 2027.

It’s obvious that gaming has genuinely become popular based on these startling statistics. Nowadays, millions of people worldwide identify as passionate gamers. But how many players are there exactly? Let’s examine some of the most intriguing and significant gaming data in detail:

3.32 Billion Gamers Worldwide by 2024

The new projections project there will be 3.32 billion global active gamers by 2024. That is over 40% of the world! This meteoric rise has occurred in just 8 years’ time with over 1 billion new gamers.

Gaming is catching up with folks from various generations, genders, and regions. While the stereotypical image of gaming being populated with teenage boys is still present, the data clearly demonstrates otherwise. In reality, 80% of gamers are more than 18 years old with the biggest groups being 38% 18-34 and 14% 35-44.

Asia Leads the Way with 1.5 Billion Gamers

Asia boasts of having the biggest gaming market on the planet with 1.48 billion players. Which is more than Europe, Latin America, and North America. The sector is now being pushed up and up by Asian gaming giants like South Korea, Japan, and China.

Interestingly enough, as of 2022, Japan and the UK had the highest worldwide penetration rates for video games (58%). The UK is set to become the top gaming nation with 70% of video game fans by 2027, according to projections.

The Gender Gaming Gap is Closing

Gone are the days when gaming was a strictly male industry. Although the gender gap still is present with over or even less 1.7 billion male gamers globally as opposed to 1.39 billion female gamers, it is closing quickly. Especially in the US online gamers represent 55% male and 45% female.

This movement towards more female participation in gaming has been developing for years. In the US as recently as 2006 62% of gamers have been men and 38% women. By 2014 that gap had almost closed at 52% male and 48% female before settling into the current 55/45 split.

Esports Is a Billion Dollar Industry

Professional esports is not a stranger to the explosion in popularity of the gaming market. More than 3,500 active professional esports competition players in the US alone–more than China, Brazil, and South Korea!

This emerging esports community is already a billion-dollar industry. Now the top pro gamers can make millions from tournament wins, sponsorships, and streaming revenue. It’s launching a whole new world of job opportunities in gaming.