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They have been doing this survey since the 1960's.It's worked out on Attendance, Tv+Radio ratings and player participation. The world's largest sporting event the Olympic Games is not included.A decade ago Cricket just scraped into the Global top 10.

10...Golf played everywhere....450 million followers..
9.Rugby...British+Commonwealth,Ireland+France+Au-Nz-RSA-Argentina...475 million followers.
8..Baseball-Nth American-Carribean-Japan-Korea...500 million followers..
7.Basketball-Played everywhere... 825 million followers..
6-Table Tennis-Played everywhere.. 875 million..
5.-Volleyball-Played everywhere-Boom sport this century.. 900 million...
4.-Tennis -Played everywhere... 1 billion followers..
3.-Field Hockey-Everywhere apart from the Americas-Surprised me...2 billion followers.
2.Cricket-British+Commonwealth..Must be T20 the last 5 years...2.5 billion followers.
1.Soccer-Played everywhere.. 25 years ago was 5 times larger than the second biggest sport...4 Billion followers..

gtr: good one: I have actually had this debate with people whom doubted the strength of cricket; people forget about the population of the old 'British Raj' and how devoted the sub-continent is to the game. They are a credit to themselves and the sport.

I guess you have to take into account the 3 largest populations in the world being China, India and the US. China has always played table tennis so no surprises there and now soccer is huge. India is crickets largest supporter and has been strong on field hockey for years. The US has developed its soccer following over the last 10 or so years, has a huge tennis support base and the other old chestnuts like baseball and basketball are no brainers...so for mine...no surprises here.