Paintball is most popular in the US, the UK, France and Russia. All 8 countries ranked by players, federations and results.
Paintball was invented in the United States in 1981 and is still biggest there, with about 2.67 million participants in 2023. The United Kingdom, France and Russia follow, and France hosted the largest international tournament in 2025, with 21 countries and 60 teams.
Below you will find the full ranking, a table with the key numbers, a profile of every country and a separate list of the nations that win the most at the top level.
Countries where paintball is most popular:
Paintball Popularity by Country at a Glance
| Rank | Country | Golds at 2025 World Championship | Best known for |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | United States | 3 | Birthplace of paintball, Dynasty |
| #2 | United Kingdom | 0 | Large recreational market |
| #3 | France | 2 | Host of the 2025 World Championship |
| #4 | Russia | 0 | Russian Legion, Art Chaos |
| #5 | Canada | 0 | Edmonton Impact |
| #6 | Poland | 0 | Growing tournament nation |
| #7 | Norway | 0 | Women’s and youth medals |
| #8 | Belgium | 0 | Veterans finalist |
How We Ranked the Countries
Paintball has no worldwide participation count and most national federations do not publish figures, so we combined what is available: participation estimates from the Outdoor Foundation, safety bodies and federations, the number of countries and teams that compete, and tournament results from the UPBF World Championship, the NXL and the Millennium Series.
Participation figures differ in year and method and are not directly comparable. The comparable column in the table counts the five gold medals decided at the 2025 UPBF World Championship in Dreux, France.
#1 United States
- 🎯 Players: about 2.67 million participants in 2023 (Outdoor Foundation)
- 🏆 World Championship 2025: 3 golds: women, U19 and U16
- 📅 First game: 27 June 1981 in Henniker, New Hampshire
- ⭐ Top teams: San Diego Dynasty, Houston Heat
The first paintball game was played on 27 June 1981 in Henniker, New Hampshire. Hayes Noel, a stock trader, and Charles Gaines, a writer, devised it, and twelve players took part. Forester Ritchie White won by capturing all four flags, using markers made to mark cattle.
The Outdoor Foundation counted about 2.67 million American paintball participants in 2023, up from 2.56 million in 2021. American teams are strong in the pro game, and the San Diego Dynasty is one of the best-known NXL teams.
#2 United Kingdom
- 🎯 Players: about one million participants (ROSPA estimate, undated)
- 📍 Sites: Delta Force alone reports 50+ UK sites and over 500,000 players a year
- 🏛️ Federation: UKPSF, the UK Paintball Sports Federation
Paintball is a mainstream leisure activity in Britain. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents estimates about one million participants, although the figure is undated.
The largest operator, Delta Force, says it welcomes more than 500,000 players a year at over 50 sites. The sport is represented by the UK Paintball Sports Federation, which is not a legally accredited governing body.
#3 France
- 🏆 World Championship 2025: 2 golds in Dreux: men and veterans
- 🏛️ Federation: Federation Francaise de Paintball
- 📅 Big events: Paris World Cup of the Millennium Series
- ⭐ Top team: Toulouse Tontons
France has been central to the competitive sport in Europe. The Federation Francaise de Paintball runs the national competition, and the Millennium Series has held a Paris World Cup there.
At the 2025 UPBF World Championship in Dreux, 21 countries and 60 teams competed. France beat the United States 4 to 2 in the men’s final and Belgium 4 to 3 in the veterans’ final, and lost the women’s final to the United States 4 to 1. Toulouse Tontons won the 2013 Millennium Series and reached the NXL World Cup final in 2022.
#4 Russia
- 🎯 Players: about 7,000 (Kommersant, undated)
- 📅 First fields: 1991
- 🏆 Pro titles: Art Chaos Moscow won the 2012 Millennium Series
- ⭐ Top teams: Russian Legion, Art Chaos Moscow
Paintball reached Russia in 1991, when the first fields opened. Kommersant has reported about 7,000 players, although the figure is old and undated.
Russian teams have been strong at the top level. Art Chaos Moscow won the 2012 Millennium Series and beat Houston Heat in overtime at the 2014 Paris World Cup, and Russian Legion is another well-known Russian team.
#5 Canada
- 🏆 World Championship 2025: bronze in the men’s event
- 📍 Facilities: indoor fields in the larger cities
- ⭐ Top team: Edmonton Impact
Canada has an established indoor paintball scene in its larger cities.
Edmonton Impact reached the Pro 3v3 final at the 2025 NXL World Cup. Canada took bronze in the men’s event at the 2025 UPBF World Championship.
#6 Poland
- 📅 Event: 2025 UPBF World Championship in Dreux, France
- 🎯 Field: 21 countries and 60 teams
- 🏆 World Championship 2025: silver in the U19 event
Poland was one of the 21 countries at the 2025 UPBF World Championship in Dreux, and its U19 team reached the final.
The United States won that final, one of three American titles in Dreux, so Poland went home with silver.
#7 Norway
- 📅 Event: 2025 UPBF World Championship in Dreux, France
- 🎯 Divisions medalled: 2
- 🏆 World Championship 2025: bronze in the women’s event, silver in U16
Norway is a small paintball country that medalled in two divisions in 2025. At the 2025 UPBF World Championship it finished third in the women’s event.
Its U16 team reached the final and lost to the United States, which also won the women’s and U19 titles.
#8 Belgium
- 📅 Event: 2025 UPBF World Championship in Dreux, France
- 🎯 Final: Lost 4 to 3 to France
- 🏆 World Championship 2025: silver in the veterans’ event
Belgium’s veterans team reached the final of the 2025 UPBF World Championship in Dreux.
France won the final 4 to 3, and the United States took third place in the same division.
Which Countries Are Best at Paintball?
Popularity and success are not the same thing. Paintball has no single world medal table, so this table uses the five finals decided at the 2025 UPBF World Championship in Dreux plus the recent pro titles named in the sources.
| Country | 2025 Worlds golds | Other 2025 Worlds medals reported | Recent pro titles |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 3 | Men’s silver, veterans’ bronze | Millennium Series 2015 (Houston Heat) |
| France | 2 | Women’s silver | 2013 Millennium Series (Toulouse Tontons) |
| Russia | 0 | None reported | Millennium Series 2012 and Paris World Cup 2014 (Art Chaos) |
| Canada | 0 | Men’s bronze | None reported |
| Norway | 0 | Women’s bronze, U16 silver | None reported |
| Poland | 0 | U19 silver | None reported |
| Belgium | 0 | Veterans’ silver | None reported |
Other Countries Where Paintball Is Growing
These countries just missed the ranking but have an established paintball scene.
| Country | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Germany | Has an industry association, the BPBI, listed in the Bundestag lobby register. |
| Denmark | Has around 25 paintball fields according to Wikipedia. |
| South Africa | Reported more than 500 league members in 2014. |
| Australia | Operators run fields in several states, and markers are classed as firearms in Queensland. |
More About Paintball
FAQ
Which country is paintball most popular in?
Paintball is most popular in the United States, where about 2.67 million people took part in 2023 according to the Outdoor Foundation. The United Kingdom, France and Russia follow.
Where was paintball invented?
Paintball was invented in the United States. The first game was played on 27 June 1981 in Henniker, New Hampshire, with twelve players and markers originally made to mark cattle.
Which country is best at paintball?
The United States is the strongest nation overall, winning three of the five finals at the 2025 UPBF World Championship. France and Russia have also won major titles.
Who invented paintball?
Hayes Noel, a stock trader, and Charles Gaines, a writer, devised the first game in 1981 with a group of friends.
How many people play paintball in the United States?
About 2.67 million Americans played in 2023, up from 2.56 million in 2021, according to the Outdoor Foundation.
Is paintball popular in Europe?
Yes. France has a national federation and a busy tournament calendar, the United Kingdom has large commercial operators with hundreds of thousands of players a year, and the 2025 World Championship in Dreux drew 21 countries and 60 teams.
Is paintball popular in Russia?
Paintball arrived in Russia in 1991. Russian teams such as Art Chaos Moscow have won major European titles.
