Skip to content

How Many Gamers Are There in The World in 2023?

It‘s no secret that video games have exploded into the mainstream over the past decade. Once viewed as a niche hobby, gaming today permeates pop culture and daily life around the globe. But just how pervasive is gaming in 2023? How many people actually play video games worldwide? In this deep dive, we‘ll explore the latest statistics on the total addressable market of gamers internationally and key trends shaping where this passionate community is headed next. Grab your favorite controller and let‘s dive in!

Gaming Participation Approaches 3.5 Billion Globally

The most up-to-date reports estimate there were roughly 3.2 billion gamers worldwide in 2022. To put that into perspective, if the global gamer population were a country, it would be larger than the top two most populous countries China and India combined!

Gaming participation has climbed substantially in recent years. Back in 2015, there were "only" around 2 billion gamers according to Newzoo. Fast forward seven years, and the global gaming audience has expanded by a whopping 60 percent and counting.

Looking ahead, the number of gamers worldwide is forecasted to reach 3.5 billion by 2024 based on growth trends. That would mean nearly half of the global population games regularly on some device. While growth rates are slowing a bit, increases between 130-170 million new gamers per year have been the norm since 2015.

Several factors are fueling gaming‘s monumental growth:

  • Mobile gaming has made games more accessible and casual than ever before. Over 90% of Americans have smartphones today compared to just 35% in 2011. Downloading a free-to-play game is just a tap away.

  • Improved internet connectivity worldwide has enabled more people to get online and game through mobile data and WiFi.

  • A new generation of parents who grew up gaming themselves are passing along their love of gaming to their kids.

  • The rise of video game streaming has turned gaming into popular entertainment to watch online if you don‘t play yourself.

Let‘s explore who exactly all these millions of gamers around the world are.

Gamer Demographics Span Age Groups and Geographies

Gaming has undeniably hit the mainstream today, appealing to people across geographies, genders and generations. But some key demographic segments stand out amongst the global gaming population.

Where Gamers Live

Asia boasts the largest regional gamer population at 1.5 billion based on its massive overall populace. China, Japan and South Korea boast some of the highest gaming participation rates globally. Outside Asia, Europe represents the next biggest region with over 700 million gamers, followed by Latin America, North America, Middle East/North Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa respectively.

Zooming in on specific countries, Japan and the United Kingdom demonstrate the highest gaming penetration as a percentage of total population at 58% gaming participation rates. To put that into perspective, over half the population in each country plays games to some degree. The United States ranks outside the top 10 countries for gaming penetration globally.

RegionGamer Population% of Global Total
Asia1.5 billion46%
Europe715 million22%
Latin America420 million13%
North America285 million9%
Middle East/North Africa168 million5%
Sub-Saharan Africa144 million4%
Oceania32 million1%

Age of Gamers

Far from just being a teenage pastime, gaming today spans generations. Looking at the breakdown:

  • 38% of gamers worldwide fall between 18 and 34 years old, representing the leading age bracket.
  • Younger gamers under 18 make up around 20% of the global pie.
  • 12% are ages 45-54 demonstrating gaming‘s mainstream appeal.
  • In fact, roughly 7% are over the age of 65, debunking the myth that gaming is just a young person‘s activity.

The average male gamer age globally is 34, while the average female gamer age is 36. For perspective, back in the 1980s, the average gamer age was closer to 15. Gaming tastes clearly change and evolve with our life stages.

Gender

Today‘s global gamer population skews slightly male but not nearly as severely as in gaming‘s early days. In 2022, Newzoo estimated:

  • 55% of gamers worldwide identify as male
  • 45% identify as female

Compare this to 10 years ago in 2012 when the gaming gender split was much wider at 60% male and 40% female gamers. Gaming has made huge strides in diversity and inclusiveness over the past decade.

In the United States, the gender gap is even narrower. A 2022 study by the Entertainment Software Association found that:

  • 52% of U.S. gamers identify as male today
  • 48% identify as female

The male-female ratio has been closing by 2-3% annually in recent years. At this pace, the U.S. gamer gender split could reach 50/50 parity by 2025. Kudos to the industry for championing diversity!

1.6 Billion Gamers Pay for Live Services

Beyond initial game purchases, publishers today monetize fans through "live service games" with ongoing content updates, season passes, and in-game transactions.

According to 2022 research by Verizon, 52% of gamers worldwide pay for at least one such subscription to unlock additional content and features. Typically, these services cost $5-15 per month for enhanced access.

With 3.2 billion total gamers, over 1.6 billion now pay for premium gaming subscriptions globally. This represents a lucrative and steadily growing revenue stream as gamers desire more value from their favorite franchises.

By platform, console gamers are more likely than PC gamers to pay up:

  • 74% of console gamers subscribe to premium services like Xbox Live, PlayStation Plus or Nintendo Switch Online versus…
  • 66% of PC gamers subscribing to live service games.

In raw figures, around 2.3 billion console gamers and 2 billion PC gamers are now perpetually invested in expanding on-disc and downloadable games with additional content updates and unlocks.

Popular subscription services like Xbox Live have exceeded 100 million subscribers. And PlayStation Plus recently hit 47.3 million subscribers as of mid-2022. These massive recurring audience bases demonstrate the power of keeping gamers engaged and entertained long after their initial purchase.

Consoles, PC and Mobile: Gamers Play Across Platforms

Gamers enjoy playing across a multifaceted spectrum of platforms and devices these days depending on context.

Console Gaming

Dedicated home and portable consoles like PlayStation, Nintendo Switch and Xbox remain the most popular gaming devices globally. According to Newzoo, over 42% of gamers worldwide identify consoles as their primary platform. Console gaming delivers immersive, big screen gaming experiences in living rooms or on the go.

Historically console gaming grew up in the living room, with early systems like Atari 2600 and Nintendo Entertainment System ushering in modern home gaming. Today the Nintendo Switch carries on this heritage as both a living room console and portable system.

Computer Gaming

Over 37% of gamers gravitate to gaming on computer platforms, whether PC or Mac. Computer gaming delivers unmatched versatility in where, when and how to play games. At a desk or on the couch, PC gaming spans casual social games to hyperrealistic triple-A experiences.

Computer gaming trace its roots to early mainframes in the 1960s and arcade machines in the 70s before home computers like the Commodore 64 brought PC gaming into homes. Today, computer gaming has evolved via digital distribution on platforms like Steam.

Mobile Gaming

Over 35% of gamers in 2022 play games on their smartphones. Since the debut of the iPhone in 2007, mobile gaming has exploded in popularity thanks to always having a capable gaming device in our pockets. From "Candy Crush" to "PUBG Mobile," mobile gaming offers immense variety perfect for killing time or gaming on the go.

While console, PC and mobile gaming cater to different needs, gamers actively cross over between platforms depending on context. A 2022 profile shows how multifaceted today‘s gamers are:

"By day, I‘m gaming on my iPhone on the commute into work. In the evening, I fire up my PlayStation 5 for rich story-driven games on the big 4K TV. And on weekends, I turn to my custom-built gaming PC for immersive experiences and connecting with friends online."

Gamers play across these varied devices to satisfy different gaming occasions, contexts and motivations.

Why Do So Many People Love Gaming?

What exactly draws legions of fans to play video games day after day? Gamers are motivated by an array of psychological drivers:

Escapism

64% of gamers cite sheer entertainment, enjoyment and escapism into fictional worlds as a prime motivator according to a Motivations of Video Game Players survey. We all need to mentally check out from stresses of work and life at times. Losing oneself in engrossing narrative gameplay delivers this release.

As shared by one long-time gamer:

"I‘ve always turned to games for pure escapism ever since I was a kid. After a long day of work and life stresses, it‘s relaxing to focus my mind on completing quests, exploring new worlds and empathizing with compelling characters."

Social Connection

48% enjoy using multiplayer games to stay in touch with friends and family remotely through shared play according to the same Motivations study. Parents use gaming to bond with kids living elsewhere. And friends maintain ties through online play from afar.

"During COVID lockdowns, my college friends and I kept our friendship alive by squadding up in ‘Call of Duty‘ a few nights a week to decompress and laugh together."

Mental Exercise

37% cite engaging their brain through strategy, problem solving and hand-eye coordination as a prime reason for gaming. In moderation, gameplay provides proven cognitive benefits from processing complex inputs.

"I really enjoy how certain games exercise my critical thinking skills. Strategizing the best moves in ‘Civilization 6‘ or deducing among imposters in ‘Among Us‘ keeps my mind sharp."

Stress Relief

66% play games specifically for relaxation, escapism and stress relief according to a 2022 Ipsos survey. Fast-paced shooters or thoughtful builders alike can calm the mind similar to meditation.

"After a stressful day at the office, coming home and getting absorbed in a few hours of ‘The Sims‘ lets all that tension melt away."

Whatever your motivation, gaming offers something for everyone across 3+ billion players worldwide.

Action, Shooters and Casual Games Lead in Popularity

With so many different gaming motivations, which specific video game genres are most popular worldwide right now?

According to a 2022 global gaming survey by Ipsos, top genres included:

  • Action Games (39%): Fast-paced, adrenaline-fueled experiences like fighting, racing and sports games that test reflexes and hand-eye coordination. Longtime favorites here include FIFA, Call of Duty, Mario Kart and Street Fighter.

  • Shooter Games (39%): From realistic military shooters to cartoon-style offerings, shooter games letting players defeat targets with guns and weapons remain popular across demographics and regions. Top franchises include Gears of War, Halo, Overwatch, Fortnite, and Splatoon.

  • Casual Games (35%): Easygoing, bite-sized games perfect for passing time on mobiles. Match-3 puzzles, solitaire variants, board game adaptations, trivia apps and more drive this category. Top casual game makers include Playtika, Big Fish Games, Zynga and King Digital.

  • Adventure Games (31%): Story-driven games focused on exploration, puzzle solving and narratives. Top franchises here include Assassin‘s Creed, Legend of Zelda, Tomb Raider, Mass Effect and Psychonauts.

While shooter and action games cater heavily to younger players, casual games have brought gaming into the mainstream across demographics. Solitaire on our phones is technically gaming just as much as competitive eSports on PCs!

Gen Z is Shaping the Future of Gaming

As millennials that grew up gaming come into greater disposable income and influence, and as younger generations like Gen Z grow up immersed in gaming culture, where does the industry go from here?

Gen Z in particular, encompassing teens through young adults, is a generation that has never known a world without mobile gaming, streaming and eSports. Having grown up on YouTube, Twitch and always-online experiences, Gen Z gamers crave:

  • Flexible Gaming. Gen Z toggles seamlessly between platforms depending on context and time. Gaming on console, PC and mobile each serves different needs from short bursts on phones to competitive sessions online.

  • Social Gaming. Multiplayer and collaboration is central to Gen Z. They appreciate gaming that enables bonding with friends online and status within gaming communities.

  • Personalized Experiences. As digital natives, Gen Z expects gaming experiences tailored to their individual tastes and playstyles powered by data and AI.

  • Interactive Streaming. Watching gaming video content online is huge for Gen Z. They demand interactive, community-driven spectating via platforms like Twitch.

  • Inclusive Communities. Gen Z values diversity and seeks gaming spaces welcoming to all versus hostile behavior. They are the future stewards of healthy, constructive gaming communities.

In serving these next-generation gamer needs, studios are building cutting-edge cloud-streamed titles accessible across devices, adding social and community functionality, personalizing game AI, and doubling down on eSports/streaming integration. By appealing to what matters most to young gamers today, the industry ensures passionate fans for decades ahead.

Conclusion: Gaming Connects Our Shared Humanity

Given gaming‘s unprecedented mainstream adoption today, it‘s no hyperbole to describe gaming as the preeminent pop culture phenomena of our times. At nearly 3.5 billion strong worldwide, today‘s gamers demonstrate the true diversity of our shared human experience. Across cultures, genders, locations and generations, play connects us across perceived differences.

While motivations for play may vary, every gamer understands the innate joy of defeating that next boss battle, solving a strategic puzzle, competing against friends, or being transported into fantastical worlds rich with lore. At its core, gaming taps into our common humanity through inspiring peak human experiences, emotions and connections.

What an exciting time to be a gamer! Next time you boot up your favorite gaming platform or Live service, appreciate you‘re participating in the vibrant, passionate global gaming community. Because games don‘t discriminate – everyone is welcome. Together through play, over 3 billion of us around the world are creating gaming culture, competition and community.

nv-author-image

Michael

Michael Reddy is a tech enthusiast, entertainment buff, and avid traveler who loves exploring Linux and sharing unique insights with readers.