The Most Popular Sports in Finland (Top 20 Ranked)

Soccer leads Finland with 22.5 share of young club sport participants naming the sport as their main sport. Ranking of 20 sports, with sources.

This page ranks the sports of Finland by one number that is collected the same way for all of them: Percentage of Finns aged 9 to 20 who take part in organized sports club activity and name the given sport as their main sport, taken for every sport from one and the same national LIITU survey for 2024, so all rows rest on one identical question, one population and one year. The figures come from Valtion liikuntaneuvosto, Liikkumisen, liikunnan ja urheilun tilasto- ja ennustekatsaus: Liikunnan kansalaistoiminta, page 6, reporting LIITU 2024.

Soccer is on top, followed by Ice hockey and Floorball. The full table below covers 20 sports, and every section further down names the source for the figure it uses.

The Most Popular Sports in Finland

The table counts share of young club sport participants naming the sport as their main sport, not people who say they like a sport. It is the figure that is published the same way for every sport in the list, which is what makes the rows comparable. The reference year is 2024.

#	Sport	Share of young club sport participants naming the sport as their main sport	Governing body
1	Soccer	22.5	Football Association of Finland (Suomen Palloliitto)
2	Ice hockey	7.4	Finnish Ice Hockey Association (Suomen Jääkiekkoliitto)
3	Floorball	6.6	Finnish Floorball Federation (Suomen Salibandyliitto)
4	Equestrian sports	6.6	Equestrian Federation of Finland (Suomen Ratsastajainliitto)
5	Dance and competitive dance	6.5	Finnish DanceSport Federation (Suomen Tanssiurheiluliitto)
6	Gymnastics	6.3	Finnish Gymnastics Federation (Suomen Voimisteluliitto)
7	Cheerleading	3.6	Finnish Cheerleading Association (Suomen Cheerleadingliitto)
8	Basketball	3.5	Finnish Basketball Association (Suomen Koripalloliitto)
9	Athletics	3.1	Finnish Athletics Federation (Suomen Urheiluliitto)
10	Volleyball	3.1	Finnish Volleyball Association (Suomen Lentopalloliitto)
11	Swimming	2.7	Finnish Swimming Association (Suomen Uimaliitto)
12	Pesäpallo	2.2	Finnish Pesäpallo Association (Suomen Pesäpalloliitto)
13	Boxing	1.7	Finnish Boxing Federation (Suomen Nyrkkeilyliitto)
14	Tennis	1.1	Finnish Tennis Association (Suomen Tennisliitto)
15	Figure skating	1.0	Finnish Figure Skating Association (Suomen Taitoluisteluliitto)
16	Orienteering	1.0	Finnish Orienteering Federation (Suomen Suunnistusliitto)
17	Cross-country skiing	1.0	Finnish Ski Association (Suomen Hiihtoliitto)
18	Taekwondo	0.9	Finnish Taekwondo Federation (Suomen Taekwondoliitto)
19	Synchronized skating	0.8	Finnish Figure Skating Association (Suomen Taitoluisteluliitto)
20	Judo	0.8	Finnish Judo Association (Suomen Judoliitto)

One caveat applies to every ranking of this kind: someone who plays two sports is counted twice, once in each federation, and sports people mostly do on their own, such as running or hiking, barely show up at all.

Most Played and Most Watched Are Not the Same Sport

Membership and license numbers tell you what people do. Audience figures tell you what they watch, and the two lists rarely have the same sport on top.

Sport	Figure	What it measures
Ice hockey	2,300,000	The Finnish Liiga drew a record total attendance in the 2024-25 regular season.
Soccer	6,363	HJK Helsinki set a club attendance record in the 2024 Veikkausliiga season.
Pesäpallo	264,047	Men’s Superpesis drew a total regular-season audience in 2024.

Is There a National Sport of Finland?

Finland has no national sport laid down by law or by government decision. No law or government decree establishing an official national sport for Finland was found; searches of Finnish legislation sources and the Ministry of Education and Culture’s public statements turned up no such designation.

• Pesäpallo. Pesäpallo, invented by Lauri Pihkala, is referred to by its own national federation as Finland’s national game.
• Ice hockey. Ice hockey is widely described as Finland’s de facto national sport due to its cultural prominence and international success, though this status is not based on a formal law.

Sports That Were Invented in Finland

• Pesäpallo. Pesäpallo was invented in Finland by Lauri Pihkala, who developed the game over roughly thirteen years before it was formalized in the early 1920s.

#1 Soccer

• Share of young club sport participants naming the sport as their main sport: 22.5 (Football Association of Finland (Suomen Palloliitto), 2024)
• Top national league: Veikkausliiga
• Best known athlete: Jari Litmanen. Litmanen won the UEFA Champions League with Ajax in 1995, was Champions League top scorer with nine goals in 1995-96, and finished third in the 1995 Ballon d’Or voting

Soccer is organized nationally by Suomen Palloliitto, the Football Association of Finland. In the national LIITU survey for 2024, 22.5 percent of Finns aged 9 to 20 who train in a sports club named soccer as their main sport, the largest share of any sport.

The top domestic league is Veikkausliiga. Finland’s best known player internationally is Jari Litmanen, who won the UEFA Champions League with Ajax in 1995 and finished third in that year’s Ballon d’Or voting.

#2 Ice hockey

• Share of young club sport participants naming the sport as their main sport: 7.4 (Finnish Ice Hockey Association (Suomen Jääkiekkoliitto), 2024)
• Top national league: Liiga
• Best known athlete: Teemu Selänne. Olympedia records Selanne as the all time leading scorer in Olympic ice hockey through 2010, with Olympic bronze medals in 1998 and 2010 and a silver medal in 2006

Ice hockey is organized by Suomen Jääkiekkoliitto, the Finnish Ice Hockey Association. In the 2024 survey it was named as the main club sport by 7.4 percent of Finns aged 9 to 20, the second largest share after soccer.

The top domestic league is Liiga. Teemu Selänne is the country’s most decorated player, listed as the all time leading scorer in Olympic ice hockey, with Olympic bronze in 1998 and 2010 and silver in 2006.

#3 Floorball

• Share of young club sport participants naming the sport as their main sport: 6.6 (Finnish Floorball Federation (Suomen Salibandyliitto), 2024)
• Top national league: F-liiga
• Best known athlete: Mika Kohonen. Kohonen played 11 World Floorball Championships for Finland, winning 4 gold, 5 silver and 2 bronze medals, with All Star Team selections in 1998, 2000, 2004, 2006 and 2010 and the MVP award in 2010

Floorball is organized by Suomen Salibandyliitto, the Finnish Floorball Federation. In the 2024 survey it was named as the main club sport by 6.6 percent of Finns aged 9 to 20.

The top domestic league is F-liiga. Mika Kohonen played 11 World Floorball Championships for Finland, winning 4 gold, 5 silver and 2 bronze medals and taking the MVP award in 2010.

#4 Equestrian sports

• Share of young club sport participants naming the sport as their main sport: 6.6 (Equestrian Federation of Finland (Suomen Ratsastajainliitto), 2024)
• Best known athlete: Kyra Kyrklund. Kyrklund rode at six Olympic Games between 1980 and 2008 and placed fifth in the individual dressage competition in 1980, 1988 and 1992

Equestrian sports are organized by Suomen Ratsastajainliitto, the Equestrian Federation of Finland. In the 2024 survey the sport was named as the main club sport by 6.6 percent of Finns aged 9 to 20.

The survey records equestrian sports as chosen almost entirely by girls and young women, at 12.4 percent among them against 0.2 percent among boys and young men. Finland’s best known rider is Kyra Kyrklund, who competed at six Olympic Games between 1980 and 2008.

#5 Dance and competitive dance

• Share of young club sport participants naming the sport as their main sport: 6.5 (Finnish DanceSport Federation (Suomen Tanssiurheiluliitto), 2024)

Competitive dance is organized by Suomen Tanssiurheiluliitto, the Finnish DanceSport Federation. In the 2024 survey dance and competitive dance together were named as the main club sport by 6.5 percent of Finns aged 9 to 20.

The survey records the sport as chosen almost entirely by girls and young women, at 12.1 percent among them against 0.2 percent among boys and young men.

#6 Gymnastics

• Share of young club sport participants naming the sport as their main sport: 6.3 (Finnish Gymnastics Federation (Suomen Voimisteluliitto), 2024)
• Best known athlete: Heikki Savolainen. Savolainen won Olympic gold with Finland in the men’s team gymnastics competition at the 1948 Games, part of a career that spanned the Olympic Games from 1928 to 1952

Gymnastics is organized by Suomen Voimisteluliitto, the Finnish Gymnastics Federation. In the 2024 survey it was named as the main club sport by 6.3 percent of Finns aged 9 to 20.

The survey records gymnastics as chosen mainly by girls and young women, at 11.4 percent among them against 0.7 percent among boys and young men. The country’s most decorated gymnast is Heikki Savolainen, who won Olympic team gold in 1948.

#7 Cheerleading

• Share of young club sport participants naming the sport as their main sport: 3.6 (Finnish Cheerleading Association (Suomen Cheerleadingliitto), 2024)

Cheerleading is organized by Suomen Cheerleadingliitto, the Finnish Cheerleading Association. In the 2024 survey it was named as the main club sport by 3.6 percent of Finns aged 9 to 20.

The survey records cheerleading as chosen almost entirely by girls and young women, at 6.7 percent among them against 0.1 percent among boys and young men.

#8 Basketball

• Share of young club sport participants naming the sport as their main sport: 3.5 (Finnish Basketball Association (Suomen Koripalloliitto), 2024)
• Top national league: Korisliiga
• Best known athlete: Lauri Markkanen. FIBA reported that Markkanen scored 43 points against Croatia at EuroBasket 2022 and matched that total at EuroBasket 2025

Basketball is organized by Suomen Koripalloliitto, the Finnish Basketball Association. In the 2024 survey it was named as the main club sport by 3.5 percent of Finns aged 9 to 20.

The top domestic league is Korisliiga. Finland’s leading player is Lauri Markkanen, who scored 43 points against Croatia at EuroBasket 2022 and matched that total at EuroBasket 2025.

#9 Athletics

• Share of young club sport participants naming the sport as their main sport: 3.1 (Finnish Athletics Federation (Suomen Urheiluliitto), 2024)
• Best known athlete: Lasse Virén. Viren is a four time Olympic champion, winning both the 5000m and 10000m at the 1972 Munich and 1976 Montreal Olympic Games

Athletics is organized by Suomen Urheiluliitto, the Finnish Athletics Federation. In the 2024 survey it was named as the main club sport by 3.1 percent of Finns aged 9 to 20.

Finland’s most decorated athlete in the sport is Lasse Virén, a four time Olympic champion who won both the 5000m and 10,000m at the 1972 and 1976 Olympic Games.

#10 Volleyball

• Share of young club sport participants naming the sport as their main sport: 3.1 (Finnish Volleyball Association (Suomen Lentopalloliitto), 2024)
• Top national league: Mestaruusliiga
• Best known athlete: Joonas Jokela. Jokela was named Most Valuable Player of the 2025 CEV Volleyball European Golden League, which Finland’s men’s team won

Volleyball is organized by Suomen Lentopalloliitto, the Finnish Volleyball Association. In the 2024 survey it was named as the main club sport by 3.1 percent of Finns aged 9 to 20.

The top domestic league is Mestaruusliiga. Joonas Jokela was named Most Valuable Player of the 2025 CEV Volleyball European Golden League, won by Finland’s men’s team.

#11 Swimming

• Share of young club sport participants naming the sport as their main sport: 2.7 (Finnish Swimming Association (Suomen Uimaliitto), 2024)
• Best known athlete: Jani Sievinen. Sievinen won the 200m medley world title in 1994 in a world record time of 1:58.16 and took Olympic silver in the 200m individual medley in 1996

Swimming is organized by Suomen Uimaliitto, the Finnish Swimming Association. In the 2024 survey it was named as the main club sport by 2.7 percent of Finns aged 9 to 20.

The country’s most successful swimmer is Jani Sievinen, who won the 200m medley world title in 1994 in a world record time of 1:58.16 and took Olympic silver in the 200m individual medley in 1996.

#12 Pesäpallo

• Share of young club sport participants naming the sport as their main sport: 2.2 (Finnish Pesäpallo Association (Suomen Pesäpalloliitto), 2024)
• Top national league: Superpesis

Pesäpallo, the Finnish bat and ball game, is organized by Suomen Pesäpalloliitto. In the 2024 survey it was named as the main club sport by 2.2 percent of Finns aged 9 to 20.

The top domestic league is Superpesis, played as separate men’s and women’s series. The survey records the sport as chosen by 1.8 percent of boys and young men and 2.6 percent of girls and young women.

#13 Boxing

• Share of young club sport participants naming the sport as their main sport: 1.7 (Finnish Boxing Federation (Suomen Nyrkkeilyliitto), 2024)
• Best known athlete: Pihla Kaivo-oja. Per the federation’s own 2024 annual report, Kaivo-oja finished fifth at the 2024 Paris Olympics, one bout win from a medal, the federation’s main sporting goal for the year

Boxing is organized by Suomen Nyrkkeilyliitto, the Finnish Boxing Federation. In the 2024 survey it was named as the main club sport by 1.7 percent of Finns aged 9 to 20, and the survey recorded the share among girls and young women at 0.0 percent.

The federation’s main competitive goal for 2024 was the Paris Olympics, where Pihla Kaivo-oja finished fifth, one bout win from a medal.

#14 Tennis

• Share of young club sport participants naming the sport as their main sport: 1.1 (Finnish Tennis Association (Suomen Tennisliitto), 2024)
• Best known athlete: Emil Ruusuvuori. Ruusuvuori reached a career high ATP singles ranking of world number 37 in April 2023

Tennis is organized by Suomen Tennisliitto, the Finnish Tennis Association. In the 2024 survey it was named as the main club sport by 1.1 percent of Finns aged 9 to 20, one of the few sports in the survey with almost identical shares among both genders.

The country’s leading player is Emil Ruusuvuori, who reached a career high ATP singles ranking of world number 37 in April 2023.

#15 Figure skating

• Share of young club sport participants naming the sport as their main sport: 1.0 (Finnish Figure Skating Association (Suomen Taitoluisteluliitto), 2024)
• Best known athlete: Laura Lepistö. Lepisto won the European title in ladies singles in Helsinki in 2009 and took World Championship bronze in Turin in 2010

Figure skating is organized by Suomen Taitoluisteluliitto, the Finnish Figure Skating Association. In the 2024 survey it was named as the main club sport by 1.0 percent of Finns aged 9 to 20.

The survey records the sport as chosen almost entirely by girls and young women, at 1.9 percent among them against 0.1 percent among boys and young men. Finland’s most successful singles skater is Laura Lepistö, European champion in 2009 and World Championship bronze medalist in 2010.

#16 Orienteering

• Share of young club sport participants naming the sport as their main sport: 1.0 (Finnish Orienteering Federation (Suomen Suunnistusliitto), 2024)
• Best known athlete: Minna Kauppi. Kauppi won nine gold medals at the World Orienteering Championships between 2006 and 2012, including relay, middle distance, and long distance titles

Orienteering is organized by Suomen Suunnistusliitto, the Finnish Orienteering Federation. In the 2024 survey it was named as the main club sport by 1.0 percent of Finns aged 9 to 20.

The most successful Finnish orienteer is Minna Kauppi, who won nine gold medals at the World Orienteering Championships between 2006 and 2012.

#17 Cross-country skiing

• Share of young club sport participants naming the sport as their main sport: 1.0 (Finnish Ski Association (Suomen Hiihtoliitto), 2024)
• Best known athlete: Marja-Liisa Kirvesniemi. Kirvesniemi won the 5, 10 and 20 km races at the 1984 Sarajevo Winter Games, becoming the first woman to win three gold medals in Nordic skiing at one Winter Games

Cross-country skiing is organized by Suomen Hiihtoliitto, the Finnish Ski Association. In the 2024 survey it was named as the main club sport by 1.0 percent of Finns aged 9 to 20.

The country’s most decorated skier is Marja-Liisa Kirvesniemi, who won the 5, 10 and 20 km races at the 1984 Winter Games and became the first woman to take three Nordic skiing golds at a single Winter Games.

#18 Taekwondo

• Share of young club sport participants naming the sport as their main sport: 0.9 (Finnish Taekwondo Federation (Suomen Taekwondoliitto), 2024)

Taekwondo is organized by Suomen Taekwondoliitto, the Finnish Taekwondo Federation. In the 2024 survey it was named as the main club sport by 0.9 percent of Finns aged 9 to 20.

The survey records the sport as taken up in similar shares by both genders, at 0.8 percent among boys and young men and 1.0 percent among girls and young women.

#19 Synchronized skating

• Share of young club sport participants naming the sport as their main sport: 0.8 (Finnish Figure Skating Association (Suomen Taitoluisteluliitto), 2024)

Synchronized skating is organized by Suomen Taitoluisteluliitto, the same federation that governs figure skating. In the 2024 survey it was named as the main club sport by 0.8 percent of Finns aged 9 to 20.

The survey records the sport as chosen only by girls and young women, at 1.6 percent among them against 0.0 percent among boys and young men.

#20 Judo

• Share of young club sport participants naming the sport as their main sport: 0.8 (Finnish Judo Association (Suomen Judoliitto), 2024)
• Best known athlete: Martti Puumalainen. The International Judo Federation reported that Puumalainen won the 2023 World Judo Masters in the over 100 kg category and became European champion in the same year

Judo is organized by Suomen Judoliitto, the Finnish Judo Association. In the 2024 survey it was named as the main club sport by 0.8 percent of Finns aged 9 to 20.

The country’s leading judoka is Martti Puumalainen, who won the 2023 World Judo Masters in the over 100 kg category and became European champion in the same year.

Sources

• Valtion liikuntaneuvosto, Liikkumisen, liikunnan ja urheilun tilasto- ja ennustekatsaus: Liikunnan kansalaistoiminta, page 6, reporting LIITU 2024
• pallomeri.net, citing Liiga statistics
• HJK Helsinki
• Supervuoro.com, citing Superpesis attendance statistics
• Own research, no statutory designation located
• Suomen Pesäpalloliitto
• Itä-Suomen yliopisto (University of Eastern Finland)
• Valtion liikuntaneuvosto, Liikkumisen, liikunnan ja urheilun tilasto- ja ennustekatsaus: Liikunnan kansalaistoiminta, page 6, reporting LIITU 2024
• Valtion liikuntaneuvosto, Liikkumisen, liikunnan ja urheilun tilasto- ja ennustekatsaus: Liikunnan kansalaistoiminta, page 6, reporting LIITU 2024
• Valtion liikuntaneuvosto, Liikkumisen, liikunnan ja urheilun tilasto- ja ennustekatsaus: Liikunnan kansalaistoiminta, page 6, reporting LIITU 2024
• Valtion liikuntaneuvosto, Liikkumisen, liikunnan ja urheilun tilasto- ja ennustekatsaus: Liikunnan kansalaistoiminta, page 6, reporting LIITU 2024
• Valtion liikuntaneuvosto, Liikkumisen, liikunnan ja urheilun tilasto- ja ennustekatsaus: Liikunnan kansalaistoiminta, page 6, reporting LIITU 2024
• Valtion liikuntaneuvosto, Liikkumisen, liikunnan ja urheilun tilasto- ja ennustekatsaus: Liikunnan kansalaistoiminta, page 6, reporting LIITU 2024
• Valtion liikuntaneuvosto, Liikkumisen, liikunnan ja urheilun tilasto- ja ennustekatsaus: Liikunnan kansalaistoiminta, page 6, reporting LIITU 2024
• Valtion liikuntaneuvosto, Liikkumisen, liikunnan ja urheilun tilasto- ja ennustekatsaus: Liikunnan kansalaistoiminta, page 6, reporting LIITU 2024
• Valtion liikuntaneuvosto, Liikkumisen, liikunnan ja urheilun tilasto- ja ennustekatsaus: Liikunnan kansalaistoiminta, page 6, reporting LIITU 2024
• Valtion liikuntaneuvosto, Liikkumisen, liikunnan ja urheilun tilasto- ja ennustekatsaus: Liikunnan kansalaistoiminta, page 6, reporting LIITU 2024
• Valtion liikuntaneuvosto, Liikkumisen, liikunnan ja urheilun tilasto- ja ennustekatsaus: Liikunnan kansalaistoiminta, page 6, reporting LIITU 2024
• Valtion liikuntaneuvosto, Liikkumisen, liikunnan ja urheilun tilasto- ja ennustekatsaus: Liikunnan kansalaistoiminta, page 6, reporting LIITU 2024
• Valtion liikuntaneuvosto, Liikkumisen, liikunnan ja urheilun tilasto- ja ennustekatsaus: Liikunnan kansalaistoiminta, page 6, reporting LIITU 2024
• Valtion liikuntaneuvosto, Liikkumisen, liikunnan ja urheilun tilasto- ja ennustekatsaus: Liikunnan kansalaistoiminta, page 6, reporting LIITU 2024
• Valtion liikuntaneuvosto, Liikkumisen, liikunnan ja urheilun tilasto- ja ennustekatsaus: Liikunnan kansalaistoiminta, page 6, reporting LIITU 2024

Figures on this page come from national federations and statistics offices and are only as current as their latest published report. Last reviewed: August 2026.

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