A stable podium, a shifting hierarchy behind
According to the FIP World Padel Report 2025, based on the National Federation Survey 2025, Spain remains the best-equipped country, with 17,300 courts. It is ahead of Italy (10,220) and Argentina (7,000). The top 5 is completed by Sweden (x4,220) and France (x4,000). FIP presents its 2025 report here.
Ranking by population: a different view of the market
Gross volume remains essential for measuring the size of a market. But the number of courts per inhabitant can be used to refine the reading. And here, the hierarchy changes: among these benchmark countries, Sweden boasts the highest density, ahead of Spain. Belgium also stands out, with a density higher than that of Italy and Argentina, even though its total housing stock remains more modest. France, despite its strong acceleration, still has a significant margin in terms of equipment per capita.
| Country | Number of courts | Population | Courts / 1 million inhabitants | Inhabitants / court |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sweden | 4 220 | 10 569 709 | 399 | 2 505 |
| Spain | 17 300 | 48 848 840 | 354 | 2 824 |
| Belgium | 2 150 | 11 858 610 | 181 | 5 516 |
| Italy | 10 220 | 58 952 704 | 173 | 5 768 |
| Argentina | 7 000 | 45 696 159 | 153 | 6 528 |
| France | 4 000 | 68 551 653 | 58 | 17 138 |
- What this changes: in terms of volume, Spain remains the world benchmark. But in terms of equipment density, the picture becomes more nuanced.
- The panel’s upset: Belgium boasts a higher density of courts per capita than Italy and Argentina, despite a much smaller total population.
- The French case: with 4,000 courts, France has clearly changed scale, but its per capita ratio shows that the potential for development is still very great.
- The right reading: volume measures a market’s power; the ratio per inhabitant measures its real depth.
NB: Calculations based on the number of courts listed in the World Padel Report 2025 and the World Bank’s 2024 population data, in order to compare countries on a homogeneous basis.
Sustained leadership, accelerating dynamics
This leadership is nothing new. In its 2024 report, the FIP already placed Spain at 16,000 courts, ahead of Italy (9,050), Argentina (7,000) and Sweden (4,200). In other words, the global hierarchy was already well established, with Spain well ahead and European markets in full consolidation. The FIP’s 2024 document remains a useful basis for measuring this progression.
The most striking development was in the countries that followed. France, which had just 2,150 courts at the time, has now reached 4,000 and is clearly changing dimension. Italy, too, confirms its change of scale, while Argentina retains its status as a historic pillar of world padel. Behind the stability of the podium, it’s the speed with which markets are structuring that is the focus of attention.
Why this ranking counts for more than just volume
The number of courts is not just an indicator of popularity. It also reflects the depth of an ecosystem: available slots, club density, capacity to support training, amateur tournaments, academies and, eventually, events on the international calendar. At the start of 2024, Europe was already home to over 42,600 of the world’s 60,000 courts, some 70% of the total.
Spain dominates because padel has been around for a long time, with an exceptional network of clubs and facilities. Italy has changed scale in just a few years. Argentina remains a historic pillar of the game. Behind them, the picture is interesting: Sweden retains a very dense installed base despite a more mature market, while France confirms that it is no longer just a country with potential, but one that is building fast.
The signal is therefore clear, and it’s more an inference than a slogan: in padel, the countries that are getting ahead of the game are those that open courts even before demand reaches its ceiling. In fact, Playtomic and PwC forecast a global market of 70,000 courts by 2026, proving that the battle is still being waged first and foremost on infrastructure. The Global Padel Report 2025 takes a similar view.
