Video Gamer Demographics 2026: Gaming Statistics Worldwide
Author
Reviewed By
Last Updated: 17 December, 2025
Video games are no longer just for teens in dark bedrooms.
Today, gaming is one of the world’s largest and most inclusive forms of entertainment, spanning age, gender, race, and region.
This guide compiles the latest global and U.S. video game statistics to break down who plays, how they play, and why it matters in 2026.
📈 How many gamers are there in 2026?
In 2026, there are over 3.32 billion active video gamers worldwide. That’s nearly 42% of the global population.
The global player base has grown by over 1.3 billion in just nine years, driven by rising mobile access, esports, and more social gaming habits.
Global gamer growth (2015–2024):
U.S. gaming snapshot: 61% of Americans play
In the United States, 61% of Americans play video games weekly. That’s roughly 190.6 million players between the ages of 5 and 90.
Average age of a U.S. gamer: 36 years old
Time spent gaming weekly: 6.76 hours (men), 5.45 hours (women)
Adults who play regularly: 76%
Gamers under 18: 24%
Gamers who play daily: 60% of adults; 85% of teens
The average adult gamer has been playing for 17 years. Over 72% of U.S. parents play video games, and 83% of them play with their children.
👶 Gamer demographics by age
Gaming isn’t just for kids. In fact, 76–80% of U.S. gamers are over 18. Globally, the biggest group of players are aged 18–34.
The ESA also notes that Gen Alpha (ages 5–10) is the most active cohort in the U.S., with 79% playing weekly.
🚻 Gaming by gender: The 50/50 split is real
Gaming used to be seen as a male-dominated activity. Not anymore.
Globally, 48–55% of gamers are male, and 45–48% are female
In the U.S., 46% identify as female, 1% as non-binary or other
41% of PlayStation 4 and 5 owners are women
In Asia, 37% of gamers are female, and the number is growing
Despite this balance, women make up just 24% of game developers and face higher rates of harassment in online play.
Among younger gamers (ages 9–18), 96% of boys and 76% of girls play video games regularly.
🌎 Gamer race and ethnicity in the U.S.
Video game players in the U.S. largely reflect the national population:
Among teens, Black and Hispanic players are more likely than White players to say games help them learn, compete, and socialize.
💆♂️ Why people play games
Globally, the top reasons for gaming are:
Relaxation: 66%
Passing time: 52%
Entertainment: 51%
Alone time: 48%
Mental challenge: 37%
Comfort: 32%
Among U.S. adults:
73% say games help cognitive skills
68% play to relax
64% say games improve teamwork
Across all age groups, the most common reason for playing is relaxation.
Among U.S. adults, 73% believe games improve cognitive skills, and 74% believe they make experiences more accessible to people with disabilities.
🤝 Social gaming is mainstream
Video games are more than entertainment—they help players connect.
55% of players play multiplayer games weekly
89% of teens play with others, in person or online
47% of teen gamers have made friends through video games
39% of U.S. gamers say they’ve met a significant other through games
Among teens:
72% say they play games to socialize
50% say games help them learn problem-solving skills
41% say games hurt their sleep
📱 What devices are people using?
Mobile gaming continues to dominate thanks to accessibility:
Globally, mobile gaming is projected to reach $201 billion by 2025. Women dominate mobile gaming, making up 63% of mobile users.
⏱️ Gamer habits and time spent
Gamers play a lot. On average:
Men play 6+ hours/week
Women play 5+ hours/week
9% of U.S. men and 6% of women play 13–24 hours per week
Among teens, 41% say gaming hurts their sleep
Despite this, 58% of teens say they spend the right amount of time gaming.
💰 Gamer spending and behavior
83% of game purchases are digital
66% say graphics quality matters when buying
36 years is the average age of a game buyer
Men are 3x more likely to buy games than women
70% of parents believe video games have a positive impact on their kids
🧩 Game preferences by genre
Casual and social games continue to top the charts globally:
Among men aged 18–34, 80% prefer shooter games. For Gen Alpha (ages 5–10), arcade, puzzle, and action games are most popular.
🕹️ Console and platform stats
The console market remains strong, with major players continuing to grow:
Xbox Live: 100M+ users
PlayStation Plus: 47.3M+ users
Console market value (2022): $48.95 billion
Expected by 2026: $103.93 billion
Smartphones still lead, but console and PC gaming remain popular, especially for Gen Z and Alpha.
🌍 Gaming trends by country
In the U.S., PlayStation dominates console use, and digital game sales now account for 83% of total purchases.
⚠️ Representation and inequality in gaming
While gaming is more diverse than ever, issues remain:
Only 24% of game developers are women
Women report higher rates of harassment in online games
Black and Hispanic teens are more likely to face bullying in games
80% of teens say harassment in games is a problem
Representation in game content and safer online spaces remain a major industry challenge.
🧠 Final thoughts
Gaming in 2026 is more inclusive, social, and global than ever before. With billions of players and growing representation across gender, age, and race, video games now reflect the world we live in.
But the industry still has work to do, especially when it comes to safety, inclusion, and representation in development teams and game content.
One thing is clear: gaming isn’t slowing down. It’s evolving, expanding, and reshaping culture at a global scale.
FAQs
How many people play video games?
Over 3.32 billion people play video games worldwide as of 2026, accounting for nearly 42% of the global population.
What percentage of men play video games?
Roughly 48% to 55% of global gamers are male, with men aged 18–34 being the most active demographic.
How many console gamers are there?
Around 73% of U.S. gamers play on consoles. With 190.6 million gamers in the U.S., that equates to roughly 139 million console players.
How many adults play video games?
Approximately 76% to 80% of U.S. gamers are adults, meaning over 145 million Americans aged 18 or older play video games regularly.
What age group plays the most video games?
Globally, the 18–34 age group is the largest segment, representing 38% of all gamers, over 1.17 billion people.
How many professional gamers are there?
Globally, there are tens of thousands of professional esports players, with the U.S. alone home to over 3,400 registered pros, more than any other country.
How many xbox players are there?
Xbox Live has over 100 million users worldwide, according to Microsoft’s latest available data.
How many people play video games every day?
60% of U.S. adults and 41% of teens report playing video games daily, totaling over 114 million daily players in the U.S. alone.
What percentage of gamers are female?
Women make up 45% to 48% of gamers globally and 46% in the United States, narrowing the gender gap significantly.
How big is the gaming industry?
The global gaming market is valued at over $522 billion in 2026 and is projected to surpass $691 billion by 2029.
What country plays the most video games?
China has the largest gaming population, with approximately 744 million players, more than any other country in the world.