FIBA World Cup victory boost: Basketball membership jumps 13.07% in 2024 in Germany
The aftermath of Germany's FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 victory: membership jumps 13.07% in 2023. Numbers up 31.47% in two years. Basketball still ranked 16th most popular in country.
Many in Germany wondered how much impact Dennis Schröder and co. shocking the globe by winning the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 crown would have on the sport in the country. Well, basketball membership in Germany jumped 13.07% ending January. If the previous year is included, the jump has been 31.47% - that coming after Germany hosted FIBA EuroBasket 2022 and took third place. Still, despite the massive increases, basketball remains the 16th most popular sport in terms of members.
The figures were released by the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) with the final date being January 1, 2024. German basketball membership grew to an all-time high of 242,344 member.
German basketball membership was at 215,609 in 2022 - for a two-year increase in 31.47%.
“Once again, I am delighted with the new numbers for our membership, which are once again a record high. I had expected an increase, but the fact that it is so overwhelming at 13 percent is fantastic,” German Basketball Federation president Ingo Weiss said in the DBB’s release about the DOSB figures.
“ The interest in basketball remains enormous - especially among children - and that naturally makes us happy and proud. But we have also stressed several times that this also comes with a lot of responsibility and work. In any case, the new numbers are a huge motivation to continue working with full commitment for our beautiful sport. I would like to thank all of my colleagues who have contributed to these great numbers.”
Basketball’s rise in popularity definitely can make Weiss and the DBB happy, but as he said, the sport has work to do to push it higher up the list of membership in the country. Basketball ranks 16th with about 160,000 fewer members than the German Volleyball Federation.
The top 15 are Football, Gymnastics, Tennis, German Alpine Club, Shooting and Archery, Athletics, Handball, Golf, Equestrian, German Life Saving Association, Swimming, Table Tennis, National Paralympic Committee and Ski Association
The numbers for 2022 also saw an increase of 3.44% but that came after a descrease of 4.31% for 2020 - most likely because of the Covid pandemic. Otherwise, Germany have registered an increase in membership each year since 2014-15.
Basketball made the jump from 17th most popular to 16th most popular in 2018. The sport ranked 18th in Germany in 2015; 19th from 2005 to 2014; 20th from 2003 to 2005; and 21st the first two years of the DOSB’s numbers in 2001 and 2002.
Looking back 10 years, the DOSB announced that Germany had 192,164 members - an increase of 42.60% over 2014. The latest number is only 37.68% higher than 20 years ago in 2004.
Here is a breakdown of Germany’s basketball figures dating back to 2000-01
As made available by the DOSB.
2023-24 - 16th (Ranking among German disciplines)
242,344 to 274,025
Increase of 13.07%
2022-23 - 16th
215,609 to 242,344
Increase of 12.40%
2021-22 - 16th
208,433 to 215,609
Increase of 3.44%
2020-21 - 16th
217,829 To 208,433
Decrease of 4.31%
2019-20 - 16th
212,093 To 217,829
Increase of 2.70%
2018-19 - 16th
208,438 To 212,093
Increase of 1.75%
2017-18 - 17th
203,028 to 208,438
Increase of 2.66%
2016-17 - 17th
195,453 to 203,028
Increase of 3.88%
2015-16 - 17th
191,882 to 195,453
Increase of 1.86%
2014-15 - 18th
192,164 to 191,882
Decrease of 0.15%
2013-14 - 19th
192,012 to 192,164
Increase of 0.08%
2012-13 - 19th
192,551 to 192,012
Decrease of 0.28%
2011-12 - 19th
191,156 to 192,551
Increase of 0.73%
2010-11 - 19th
190,152 to 191,156
Increase of 0.53%
2009-10 - 19th
190,882 to 190,152
Decrease of 0.38%
2008-09 - 19th
190,744 to 190,882
Increase of 0.07%
2007-08 - 19th
191,958 to 190,744
Decrease of 0.63%
2006-07 - 19th
197,681 to 191,958
Decrease of 2.90%
2005-06 - 19th
202,935 to 197,681
Decrease of 2.59%
2004-05 - 20th
199,026 to 202,935
Increase of 1.96%
2003-04 - 20th
197,417 to 199,026
Increase of 0.82%
2002-03 - 21st
195,369 to 197,417
Increase of 1.05%
2001-02 - 21st
193,788 to 195,369
Increase of 0.82%
2000-01 - 21st
201,813 to 193,788
Decrease of 3.98%
If you enjoyed this content, please subscribe to Taking The Charge. Just click on the button above and you won’t miss a post.