Basketball more popular than AFL, rugby league

• Basketball is the second most popular participation sport in Australia
• 1.3 million Australians play basketball
• 18.3% of all basketball participants are aged between 15 and 17

Basketball has more adult participants than Australian Rules Football and rugby league combined, Ausplay data has revealed.

Basketball boasts a 7.1% participation rate — more than 1.3 million Australians actively play basketball — compared to Australian Rules Football at 4.1% and rugby league with 1.1%.

Hoops is second to only to soccer in participation.

Swimming remains the most popular individual activity at 14.5% of adults, with broad accessibility to swimming pools, rivers and oceans across ages and regions right across Australia.

Australian Football has strong regional dominance, especially in Victoria, South Australia, and Western Australia, but lower national reach than basketball or swimming.

Rugby League, while iconic, has a smaller playing base concentrated in fewer states, particularly NSW and QLD.

At 7.1%, basketball remains one of the most played structured, team-based sports, particularly among teenagers and young adults.

It benefits from:

• Strong school and club infrastructure
• Increasing gender diversity
• Indoor venue availability — but demand is beginning to outstrip  availability

Participation by Age Group (2022-23)

• 15–17 years: 18.3%
• 18–24 years: 12.1%
• 25–34 years: 7.0%
• 35–44 years: 5.4%
• 45–54 years: 2.6%

"Basketball is not just a game; it’s a community," said General Manager of Members, Participation, and Growth at Basketball Victoria David Huxtable.

"The latest Ausplay data confirms what we’ve known all along — that basketball unites people and provides them with the opportunity to develop skills, friendships, and a love for the sport.

"We’re excited to continue this growth and expand our reach to even more participants.

“The greatest impediment to further growth is lack of facilities.

"Our challenge is to continue to develop infrastructure to support the sport and provide safe and compliant places to play."

Basketball NSW CEO Maria Nordstrom said: “Basketball isn’t just growing; it’s becoming a lifestyle for Australians of all ages.

"We’re thrilled with the growth in NSW, which we see reflected across our 83 affiliated associations statewide. This growth highlights basketball’s unique power to bring people together, fostering both athleticism and community spirit."

BNSW's annual report revealed an 11% increase in registered participants and a 15% growth in "recognised participants".

Similarly to Basketball Victoria's challenge, Nordstrom said: “The sport is booming, and we urgently need more courts to meet demand."