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Everything about National Sport totally explainedA national sport is a sport or game that's considered to be a popularly intrinsic part of the culture or is the most popular sport of a country or nation. In American English the term national pastime is often used.
Although there are normally no official parameters towards defining what is a national sport, there are some general characteristics that most national sports share:
- The rules and objectives of the sport or game are known in fairly great detail in the country or nation.
- The game or sport is widely played or watched in the country or nation.
- The game or sport has a long history of popularity or extreme current popularity in the country or nation.
In some countries, sport or game can become the official national pastime by mandate of the government, such as in Canada with lacrosse and ice-hockey in 1994. In other countries, where the sport or game has such a long history, such as with baseball in the United States or sumo wrestling in Japan, the sport or game is often considered a de facto "official" national pastime. This article generally goes by the popularity of the sports in all the countries.
List of countries' national sports
A
Afghanistan - Buzkashi is the traditional sport. Although Association Football is popular, cricket has taken over in terms of popularity. Boxing and kung fu are also popular.
Albania - Association Football.
Andorra - Skiing is the national sport, while Rugby Union and Association Football are popular too.
Angola - Association Football and Basketball.
Anguilla - Sailing, Anguilla is unique in this regard as it's the only former British Colony in the West Indies in which the National Sport isn't Cricket, however, Cricket is still very popular and is the most popular team sport.
Antigua and Barbuda - Cricket is the national and most popular sport.
Argentina - Association Football is the national passion. Rugby Union and Basketball are also popular. Pato is the national traditional sport while the nation has had historically the best Polo players and tournaments in the world. Cricket is also growing fast in Argentina (External Link ). This is mainly due to Argentina national cricket team's recent successes in the World Cricket League Division 3 where they were runners up.
Armenia - Football is most popular; competitively wrestling, boxing and chess.
Australia – Australians have a vast range of sporting interests and as such there's no single official national sport. Cricket is often described as the national sport, both because it has significant historical connections to Australian nationhood, and as it draws significant interest nationwide. The popularity of the dominant football codes are segmented by regions. Australian rules football, is the most popular sport in terms of match attendance and is the most popular sport in the states of Victoria, Western Australia, South Australia and Tasmania, whilst Rugby League is the major sport in New South Wales and Queensland.
Austria - Alpine skiing is national and most popular sport followed by Association Football.
Azerbaijan - Chess, Association Football,
B
The Bahamas - Cricket is the national sport.
Bahrain – Association Football.
Bangladesh - Kabaddi is the National Game while Cricket is the most popular sport,. Field Hockey also popular.
Barbados - Cricket is the most popular sport.
Belarus - Biathlon is the most popular sport. Association Football and hockey are also popular.
Belgium - Cycling and Association Football are the most popular sports in Belgium. Motocross is also quite popular.
Bhutan - Archery.
Bolivia - Association Football.
Bosnia and Herzegovina - Football (soccer) and Team Handball is second.
Brazil - Association Football, considered the national sport, is very popular. Futsal, an indoor variant of Football, is the most practiced and Volleyball also has a large number of participants.
Bulgaria - Association Football. Competitively weightlifting and chess.
C
Canada - Lacrosse and ice hockey (although Canadians just refer to the sport as Hockey, dropping the word ice) are the official summer and winter sports respectively, but hockey is by far the sport most closely followed, and most closely linked to national identity. Lacrosse is a national sport for primarily historical reasons: sports like basketball, Canadian football (also American football), soccer, golf, baseball, are all much more popular. However, besides hockey, lacrosse by far has more talented Canadians players than any other sport. Canada also fields one of the major national teams in the sport of curling.
Cambodia - Association Football, Kickboxing is second.
Cameroon - Association Football.
Cayman Islands - Cricket is the national and most followed sport, closely followed by rugby union.
Chile - Association Football and Tennis. Chilean rodeo is the national traditional sport.
People's Republic of China - Table tennis is the most popular sport and Association Football is the most watched sport on television.Basketball is also very popular.
Colombia - Tejo is the traditional sport, as is bullfighting, but Association Football is the main attraction, followed by baseball and basketball.
Costa Rica - Association Football.
Côte d'Ivoire - Association Football and rugby union.
Croatia - Association Football. Handball, water polo and basketball are also widely popular.
Cuba - Baseball. followed by Association Football and boxing. Cricket is also one of the most popular sports.
Czech Republic - Association football and Ice hockey are the most popular sports.
D
Denmark - Association Football.
Dominican Republic - Baseball.
E
Ecuador - Association Footballis considered the national sport and Ecuavolley
Egypt - Association Football. squash, and tennis are also very popular.
Ethiopia – Athletics.
Estonia - Cross-country skiing is the most popular sport, while Basketball is the most popular team sport, followed by Association Football. A variant of cricket called Ice cricket is also popular.
F
Fiji - Rugby union particularly Sevens and Cricket are the most popular.
Finland - Pesäpallo (or Finnish baseball) is the de-facto national sport, but ice hockey is most followed. Formula 1 and ski jump are watched and floorball is played widely.
France - Association football is the most popular sport. Rugby union, Tennis, Basketball, Judo and Cycling are popular too. Jeu de paume was ancient national and most popular sport in the 17th century and 18th century.
G
Gambia - Wrestling. Association Football is also very popular.
Georgia - Georgian wrestling is the most widely followed. Association Football, Rugby Union and Judo are popular.
Germany - Association Football is the most popular sport. Historically, "Turnen" (gymnastics) has been the German national sport, as it was closely linked with the patriotic movement for a united Germany in the 19th century. Since 1945 its popularity has faded. Like gymnastics, handball was invented in Germany and is the second most popular team sport alongside ice hockey and followed by basketball which is popular with mainly young people. Field hockey is also popular in Germany and Germany is one of the strongest team in field hockey.
Greece - Association Football is the national sport, closely followed by basketball and volleyball.
Grenada - Cricket is the most popular sport.
Guyana - Cricket the national and most popular sport.
Ghana - Association Football
H
Haiti - Association Football.
Honduras - Association Football.
Hungary - Association Football and water polo, although water polo has historically been the most successful sport.
I
Iceland - Glima, but Association Football is the most popular.
India - Hockey is the national game. Cricket is the most popular sport.
Indonesia - Association Football is the most followed sport.
Iran - Freestyle Wrestling is the traditional national sport, all kinds of combat sports and martial arts are popular such as: Greco-Roman wrestling, taekwondo, karate and kung fu. but Association Football is by far the most popular. Futsal and Volleyball are also widely practised, as is competitive weightlifting.
Iraq – Association Football.
Ireland - The traditional national sport is hurling, which was recorded being played in Ireland as long ago as 1272 BC . Gaelic football is the most popular sport; Association Football and rugby union are widely popular as are horse racing and golf. With the exception of Association Football and the Commonwealth games most sports have continued to be played on an all Ireland basis since the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland were formed in 1922.
Israel - Association Football is the most popular sport and Basketball is second.
Italy - Association Football is the most popular sport. Car racing (Maserati, Ferrari, De Tomaso, Lamborghini, Osella, Dallara), motorcycle racing (Benelli, MV Agusta, Mondial, Ducati, Aprilia, Beta) and cycling (Giro d'Italia) are part of the national identity, too. Rugby, basketball, volleyball, alpine skiing and tennis are popular in various places throughout Italy. Tamburello and bocce in form of simple pastime are popular too. Pallone col bracciale was ancient national and most popular sport in the 18th century and 19th century.
J
Jamaica - Cricket is the most popular and national sport
Japan - Sumo wrestling, Judo, Kendo and karate are traditionally viewed as Japan's national sports; while nowadays, baseball is more popular. Association Football, and American football are rapidly increasing in popularity.
K
Kazakhstan - Boxing, Ice Hockey, rugby union, Association Football are popular as well.
Kenya - Association Football is the most popular sport. Cricket is rapidly gaining in popularity being the second popular sport especially after the 2003 Cricket World Cup in which they upset several Test teams to be the first Associate Nation to make it to a Semi-Final. Kenya also won the inaugural World Cricket League featuring the top Associate nations and therefore qualified for the T20 World Cup.
Korea, South - Tae kwon do is the traditional national sport, but Association Football is the most popular sport.
L
Latvia - Basketball and Novuss are the national sports while Ice Hockey is considered the most popular sport followed by Association Football.
Lebanon - Association Football.
Libya - Association Football.
Liechtenstein - Skiing is the most popular and widely followed sport.
Lithuania - Basketball is most closely linked to national identity, with Association Football also widely followed.
M
Republic of Macedonia - Association Football, handball and basketball are the national sports.
Madagascar - Ping Pong has recently suffered a huge blow to its popularity due to a severe ping-pong ball shortage brought on by a feud with China. An international tournament is scheduled to "settle the score." Rugby Union and Association Football are the most popular spectator sports. Rugby Union has vast numbers turning up to watch the national team play. However Association Football has a larger player base.
Malaysia - Silat, gasing, and wau are traditional sports, but Association Football followed a close second by badminton as the most popular sports today.
Maldives - Cricket
Mauritius - Cricket, rugby union and Association Football.
Mexico - Charrería and bullfighting are traditional sports, but Association Football is most popular by far. Lucha libre is the second most watched sport. Baseball and American football are also widely played and followed.
Moldova - Rugby union and Association Football are the most widely followed sport.
Mongolia - Wrestling and archery.
Montenegro - Association Football and basketball.
Morocco - Association Football, athletics, basketball, rugby union, Handball
Mozambique - Association Football.
Myanmar/Burma - Association Football. Cricket is growing rapidly (External Link)
N
Namibia - Cricket, and rugby union are the most popular sports.
Nauru - Australian rules football and weightlifting.
Nepal - Cricket is the most popular with Association Football being the second most popular sport.
Netherlands - Association Football has the largest following; field hockey and volleyball are the second and third most popular team sports. Tennis is the most practiced individual sport. Cycling and speed skating are also seen as traditional sports.
New Caledonia - Cricket is the national and most popular sport. (External Link)
New Zealand - Rugby union is the most widely followed and most closely linked to national pride, while Cricket is the national and most popular summer sport. Netball is one of the most popular sports among girls and young women, and men have organised some teams of their own.
Nicaragua - Baseball.
Nigeria - Association Football is most popular.
Norway - Biathlon. According to a 2008 National Survey about the most popular sport, Biathlon received over 50 % of the votes. Skiing - both Nordic and Alpine, and Association Football are also popular sports. (External Link)
P
Pakistan - Field hockey is the official national sport while Cricket is the most popular,. Polo is the official secondary national sport on a state-level. Pakistan also has had a long history in the game of squash.
Panama - Baseball is the national and most practiced sport. They're also successful at boxing and basketball. Association Football although isn't so successful, it's growing in popularity.
Papua New Guinea - Rugby league is viewed as the de facto national sport. Cricket followed by rugby union are also popular.
Paraguay - Association Football
Peru - Association Football is the national sport.
Philippines - Basketball is the de facto national pastime since the 1950s, attracting large crowds.(External Link) Boxing, Billiards and Bowling are the other sports with the largest number of participants. Sipa and Eskrima are the main traditional sports, with the former being the official national sport. Baseball is increasingly becoming popular.
Poland - Volleyball, association Football, motorcycle speedway, motorcycle racing.
Portugal - Association Football. Rink hockey and cycling are very popular and have a great tradition.
Puerto Rico - Basketball, baseball and boxing.
R
Romania - Oina (very similar but unrelated to baseball) is the traditional sport, but Association Football is much more popular nowadays. Handball also has a strong following. Rugby Union is widely followed but financial issues have cost the sport dearly in Romania.
Russia - Association Football and Ice Hockey followed by Tennis and basketball. Chess is considered a national pastime.
S
Saint Kitts and Nevis - Cricket is the national sport, with intense inter-island rivalry.
Saint Lucia - Cricket is the most popular.
Samoa - Kilikiti and Rugby union.
San Marino - Motorcycle racing, Baseball, Shooting
Saudi Arabia - Falconry and horse racing are traditional, but Association Football draws the largest number of spectators.. Basketball is also popular.
Senegal - Association Football.
Serbia - Basketball is most popular sport and Association Football is second not far behind. Water polo and volleyball are also popular.
Singapore - Cricket, swimming, Association Football, badminton and table tennis.
Slovakia - Ice hockey is most popular sport. Association Football is very popular as well..
Slovenia - Basketball is most popular sport and alpine skiing is second. Association Football is very popular as well.
South Africa - Association Football and cricket are most popular sports among all race groups, and then rugby. Cricket is the second most popular and the only sport to feature in the top two sports amongst all the race groups.
Spain - Association Football is very popular in Spain, followed by auto racing, tennis, basketball and motorcycle racing. Bullfighting is traditional spectacle and sport; Basque pelota and Valencian pilota are traditional sports too.
Sri Lanka - Cricket is the most popular and seen as the national sport, while Volleyball is the national sport.
Sudan - Association Football.
Switzerland - Schwingen, stone throwing and Hornussen, all traditional games, are popular in rural Switzerland, although ice hockey is most popular overall, Association Football and Alpine skiing are rising in popularity.
Sweden - Association Football and Ice hockey are the two dominant sports.
Syria - Association Football.
T
Taiwan (Republic of China) - baseball.
Tanzania - football is the most popular however cricket has rapidly grown in popularity and is the second most popular sport.
Thailand - Muay Thai is the traditional national sport, however Association Football is the most popular.
Tonga - Rugby union and Cricket.
Trinidad and Tobago- Cricket is the most popular sport.
Tunisia - Association Football and rugby union.
Turkey - Association Football, followed by basketball and volleyball. But wrestling and weightlifting are historically popular.
Turkmenistan - Horse racing and kurash are traditional. Association Football is popular.
Tuvalu - Kilikiti.
U
Uganda - Football and cricket are the most popular sports, while Rugby union is growing in popularity thanks to the national team's recent successes.Cricket has become more popular since Uganda won the World Cricket League Division 3.
Ukraine - Association Football.
United Arab Emirates - Camel racing is traditional, but Cricket is the most popular in the UAE, particularly amongst expats, and the UAE participated in the 1996 World Cup. UAE will host the 2009 World Cup Qualifiers.. Soccer is also very popular being the 2nd most popular in the country. The Dubai ruling family, the Al Maktoums, have put a lot of money into horse racing, with a top class facility at Nad Al Sheba hosting a number of the world's richest races, including the Dubai World Cup.
United Kingdom
- England - Cricket is the de facto national sport but Association Football is more popular. Both rugby union and rugby league are popular, with the latter drawing most of its support from the north of England.
- Northern Ireland - Among Catholics, Gaelic football and hurling is popular while in Protestant communities cricket and field hockey are popular sports. Golf and Association Football are also popular in both communities.
- Scotland - The native sport is shinty, but Association Football is more popular. Scotland was also the birthplace of golf and curling. Cricket and Rugby union are also popular.
- Wales - Rugby union is the national sport, while Association football is widely played and is also a popular spectator sport. Cricket is the most popular summer sport. Wales plays test cricket as part of England., and Glamorgan play in the County Championship with 17 English counties. Wales is set to host the first Test of the 2009 Ashes.
- Overseas territories and crown dependencies of the United Kingdom traditionally played cricket.
- United States - American football is the most popular nationwide, but baseball—both amateur and professional—is considered America's "national pastime" and an aspect of American culture. Basketball, along with Ice hockey and Association football are also popular, especially in certain regions. Car racing, motorcycle racing, golf, tennis, wrestling, boxing, Arena football or Indoor football, lacrosse, box lacrosse and inline hockey have significant followings.
- Uruguay - Football is by far the most popular, followed by basketball and rugby union. The traditional national sports are pato and bocce.
- Uzbekistan - Kurash (traditional) and Association Football.
V
Venezuela - Baseball is by far the most popular sport in Venezuela, Basketball and Association Football are played as well by a great part of the population.
Vietnam - Association Football is the dominant sport, followed by a number of sports including tennis, badminton, volleyball, table tennis and martial arts.
Z
Zimbabwe - Cricket is the most popular and association football is second.
Zambia - Cricket, rugby union and association football are popular sport.
Countries by most popular sport
Countries grouped by their most popular sport.
Total number of countries where given sport is most popular is shown in brackets
American Football (2)
Archery (1)
| Country / Territory |
Population |
| Bhutan |
2,185,569 |
Association Football (76)
| Country / Territory |
Population |
| Indonesia |
222,781,000 |
| Brazil |
187,104,851 |
| Nigeria |
131,530,000 |
| México |
107,029,000 |
| Vietnam |
84,238,000 |
| Germany |
82,689,000 |
| Egypt |
74,033,000 |
| Turkey |
73,193,000 |
| Iran |
69,515,000 |
| Thailand |
62,828,706 |
| France |
60,496,000 |
| Italy |
58,093,000 |
| Democratic Republic of the Congo |
57,549,000 |
| Myanmar |
50,519,000 |
| Ukraine |
46,481,000 |
| Spain |
43,064,000 |
| Colombia |
41,600,000 |
| Argentina |
38,747,000 |
| Poland |
38,530,000 |
| Tanzania |
38,329,000 |
| Sudan |
36,233,000 |
| Algeria |
32,854,000 |
| Morocco |
31,478,000 |
| Iraq |
28,807,000 |
| Peru |
27,968,000 |
| Uzbekistan |
26,593,000 |
| Malaysia |
25,347,000 |
| Saudi Arabia |
24,573,000 |
| North Korea |
22,488,000 |
| Ghana |
22,113,000 |
| Romania |
21,711,000 |
| Yemen |
20,975,000 |
| Mozambique |
19,792,000 |
| Syria |
19,043,000 |
| Côte d'Ivoire(Ivory Coast) |
18,154,000 |
| Netherlands |
16,337,000 |
| Cameroon |
16,322,000 |
| Chile |
16,295,000 |
| Cambodia |
13,971,000 |
| Ecuador |
13,228,000 |
| Guatemala |
12,599,000 |
| Senegal |
11,658,000 |
| Greece |
11,120,000 |
| Portugal |
10,569,592 |
| Tunisia |
10,102,000 |
| Hungary |
10,098,000 |
| Guinea |
9,402,000 |
| Bolivia |
9,182,000 |
| Haiti |
8,528,000 |
| Benin |
8,439,000 |
| Somalia |
8,228,000 |
| Bulgaria |
7,726,000 |
| Honduras |
7,205,000 |
| Israel |
7,026,000 |
| El Salvador |
6,881,000 |
| Paraguay |
6,158,000 |
| Libya |
5,853,000 |
| Jordan |
5,703,000 |
| Denmark |
5,431,000 |
| Scotland |
5,094,800 |
| Turkmenistan |
4,833,000 |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina |
4,552,198 |
| Croatia |
4,551,000 |
| Costa Rica |
4,327,000 |
| Lebanon |
3,577,000 |
| Uruguay |
3,463,000 |
| Liberia |
3,283,000 |
| Albania |
3,130,000 |
| Armenia |
3,016,000 |
| Kuwait |
2,687,000 |
| Oman |
2,567,000 |
| Bahrain |
698,585 |
| Montenegro |
630,000 |
| Iceland |
305,309 |
Athletics (1)
| Country / Territory |
Population |
| Ethiopia |
75,067,000 |
Australian rules football (1)
| Country / Territory |
Population |
| Nauru |
25,000 |
Baseball (9)
| Country / Territory |
Population |
| Japan |
127,433,494 |
| South Korea |
49,024,737 |
| Venezuela |
26,749,000 |
| Republic of China (Taiwan) |
22,894,384 |
| Cuba |
11,269,000 |
| Dominican Republic |
8,895,000 |
| Nicaragua |
5,487,000 |
| Puerto Rico |
3,912,054 |
| Panama |
3,232,000 |
Basketball (5)
| Country / Territory |
Population |
| Philippines |
83,054,000 |
| Serbia |
10,350,265 |
| Lithuania |
3,431,000 |
| Slovenia |
1,967,000 |
| Estonia |
1,330,000 |
Biathlon (2)
| Country / Territory |
Population |
| Belarus |
9,724,723 |
| Norway |
4,721,600 |
Cricket (30)
| Country / Territory |
Population |
| India |
1,169,016,000 |
| Pakistan |
161,488,000 |
| Bangladesh |
150,448,340 |
| Afghanistan |
31,500,000 |
| Uganda |
27,616,000 |
| Nepal |
27,133,000 |
| Australia |
21,290,000 |
| Sri Lanka |
20,743,000 |
| Zimbabwe |
13,010,000 |
| Zambia |
11,668,000 |
| United Arab Emirates |
4,496,000 |
| Jamaica |
2,651,000 |
| Namibia |
2,031,000 |
| Trinidad and Tobago |
1,305,000 |
| Mauritius |
1,219,220 |
| Guyana |
751,000 |
| Maldives |
359,008 |
| The Bahamas |
323,000 |
| Barbados |
279,254 |
| New Caledonia |
202,000 |
| Saint Lucia |
160,765 |
| Grenada |
103,000 |
| Jersey |
89,300 |
| Antigua and Barbuda |
82,786 |
| Isle of Man |
80,058 |
| Bermuda |
65,773 |
| Guernsey |
65,573 |
| Cayman Islands |
45,017 |
| Saint Kitts and Nevis |
42,696 |
| Gibraltar |
28,875 |
Kilikiti (cricket) (1)
| Country / Territory |
Population |
| Tuvalu |
11,992 |
Horse Racing (1)
| Country / Territory |
Population |
| Hong Kong |
7,041,000 |
Hurling (1)
| Country / Territory |
Population |
| Ireland |
5,950,148 |
Ice Hockey (5)
| Country / Territory |
Population |
| Canada |
32,668,000 |
| Switzerland |
7,252,000 |
| Slovakia |
5,401,000 |
| Finland |
5,276,571 |
| Latvia |
2,307,000 |
Kick Boxing (1)
| Country / Territory |
Population |
| Laos |
5,924,000 |
Rugby Union (1)
Sailing (1)
| Country / Territory |
Population |
| Anguilla |
13,477 |
Skiing (3)
Wrestling (2)
Countries with two most popular sports
| Country / Territory |
Population |
| People's Republic of China |
1,321,852,000 |
Association football and table tennis |
| Russia |
142,400,000 |
Association football and ice hockey |
| England |
50,714,000 |
Cricket and Association football |
| South Africa |
47,900,000 |
Cricket and Association football |
| Kenya |
34,256,000 |
Cricket and Association football |
| Madagascar |
18,606,000 |
Association football and rugby union |
| Belgium |
10,584,534 |
Association football and Cycling |
| Czech Republic |
10,349,37 |
Association football and Ice Hockey |
| Sweden |
9,041,000 |
Association football and ice hockey |
| Azerbaijan |
8,411,000 |
Association football and chess |
| Papua New Guinea |
5,887,000 |
Rugby league and Cricket |
| New Zealand |
4,239,300 |
Cricket and rugby union |
| Moldova |
4,148,000 |
Association football and rugby union |
| Wales |
2,958,600 |
Cricket and rugby union |
| Republic of Macedonia |
2,034,000 |
Association football and basketball |
| Fiji |
905,000 |
Cricket and rugby union |
| Samoa |
185,000 |
Kilikiti (cricket) and rugby union |
| Tonga |
102,000 |
Rugby Union and Cricket |
Countries with three most popular sports
Further Information
Get more info on 'National Sport'.
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