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In this post, we will check out the top 10 most popular sports in Australia in 2023.

Sports are a significant part of Australian culture and lifestyle, with a wide range of popular sports enjoyed by both amateurs and professionals alike.

From traditional team sports to more niche activities, Australians have a deep passion for sports and the outdoors.

In this article, we will explore the top 10 most popular sports in Australia in 2023, based on participation rates, fan base, and media coverage.

At the top of the list is a sport that has long been an integral part of Australian identity: Australian rules football. This uniquely Australian sport is known for its fast-paced, high-energy gameplay and passionate fanbase.

Following closely behind are other popular team sports such as rugby league, rugby union, cricket, and soccer. These sports have a massive following in Australia, with dedicated fans tuning in to watch their favorite teams and players compete at the highest level.

Aside from team sports, individual sports such as tennis, golf, and swimming are also popular in Australia. These sports have produced many world-class athletes who have represented Australia in international competitions.

Additionally, niche sports such as surfing, netball, and basketball continue to gain popularity in Australia, with a growing number of participants and fans each year. So, let’s take a closer look at the top 10 most popular sports in Australia in 2023.

Top 10 Most Popular Sports in Australia 2023

10. Car Racing

Car Racing is a sport in which cars compete in races. The races are run on purpose-built tracks or on closed public roads.

They may be for a few laps only (as in sprints), or they may cover many miles, as is common in long-distance events such as rallies, although promos are usually organized around the course of a single day.

Car racing was one of the most popular spectator sports in Australia during the 20th century. It is still at its peak and still remains one of Australia’s favorite pastimes and is practiced by tons of professionals every year at home and abroad.

Australia hosts many international series, which include the FIA Rally Australia, Formula One World Championship, MotoGP Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix, and a part of the FIA World Rally Championship.

Among them, the most famous motorsport event in Australia is the Australian Grand Prix. Car racing is number 10 in our list of top 10 most popular sports in Australia.

9. Netball

Netball is a fast-paced, high-contact sport where two teams of seven players compete for points. Netball is often called Women’s basketball in Australia.

The Australian national netball team is the most thriving team at the international level. The team won the 1st world championships in 1963 and 9 Netball World Championships out of 12.

They are the current world champions and the INF World Ranking is Number 1. According to the sport’s international governing body, World Netball, the sport is played by more than 20 million people in more than 80 countries.

Games are played on a rectangular court with augmented goal rings at each end. Each team tries to score goals by enacting a ball down the court and shooting it through its goal ring.

Players are designated specific positions, which describe their roles within the team and limit their movement to specific areas of the court. Netball is number 9 in our list of top 10 most popular sports in Australia.

8. Basketball

Basketball is a popular sport in Australia, the US, Canada, and the UK. They play with a ball on a court that has lines going all around it like a net would but it’s not as thick as a rope so you can see through it.

The objective of the game is to throw the ball into your opponent’s basket while preventing them from doing so.

In order to score points, you must throw the ball into their basket after dribbling it through any number of defenders who are trying to stop you from doing this.

Basketball has more than a million players. Australian Basketball plays its own domestic matches and playing top-level international matches.

There are more than 750 basketball clubs in Australia, out of which 400 clubs are just for men, and the remaining belong to women. Basketball is number 8 in our list of top 10 most popular sports in Australia.

7. Rugby

Rugby is a popular sport played in Australia, and it’s one of the top 10 most popular sports in this country. It’s also a contact sport that is played in many countries all over the world!

Rugby is played during winter and summer, depending on where you live. Australia’s Rugby team is one of the finest top 10 teams in the world currently.

In Australia, Rugby sport has played at domestic and international levels both at men’s and women’s levels, whereas there are about 770 clubs.

Rugby is also among the most watched sport in Australia. Rugby is number 7 in our list of top 10 most popular sports in Australia.

6. Swimming

Swimming, despite being a sport that can be done by people of all ages and abilities, is one of the most popular sports in Australia.

As the weather is often warm and pleasant, swimming is a great way to spend time outdoors without having to worry about catching a chill.

From childhood, Australians are instructed to choose swimming sport. There are well-known Australian swimmers which include Frederick Lane, and Ian Thorpe, who has participated at national and international levels.

5. Horse-Racing

Horse racing is an equestrian sport that involves two or more jockeys riding competing horses over a set distance for prize money.

Horses are trained to compete in events at speeds of up to 60km/h, and many are bred specifically for racing. It is the world’s most popular sport.

There are 3 forms of horse racing that are held out in Australia, i.e.Thoroughbred racing, Harness Racing, and Steeplechase racing.

Out of the 3 shapes of the horse race, Thoroughbred racing is a bit prominent. Horse Racing is the 3rd most attended sport in Australia after football and rugby matches.

There are more than 850 clubs that use various statistical data to train athletes. There are numerous horse riders in Australia who earned huge vogue in a really short time, which includes Bill Roycroft, Andrew Hoy, and John Fahey.

4. Tennis

Tennis is a popular sport in Australia, and it’s played throughout the world. It’s played by people of all genders.

Tennis is played on a court—a rectangular grass or clay surface and involves two players: one serving as the server, and one receiving serves.

Players use rackets to hit a ball back and forth over the net until one of them misses it three times or the ball bounces twice outside of their court without being hit.

Tennis’ dominance has been at its peak in recent years due to grand slam tournaments such as the Australian Open, which brings the finest tennis players to Australian soil.

Many Australian players participate in international tennis events which include the Olympics, Davis Cup, Fed Cup, and others.

Margaret Court, Rod Laver, and Ken Rosewall are believed the finest tennis players for the Australian side.

There are more than 165 venues and 1000 tennis courts, which is a lot more than any other country. Tennis is number 4 in our list of top 10 most popular sports in Australia.

3. Football/Soccer

Soccer is the most watched outdoor sport in Australia. The Australian Soccer team had qualified for the FIFA WC finals 5 times.

Our study showed that soccer is the number one sport in Australia with a considerable number of viewers. It was seen that more than 3 million people watched the FIFA World Cup and 3.8 million people watched the World Cup.

Australia has also some of the greatest soccer players of all time, which includes Harry Kewell, Tim Cahill, and Mark Schwarzer.

More than a century ago, soccer was presented in Australia and since then the sport has seen an upsurge in viewers and participants.

2. Australian rules Football

Aussie rules football is a contact sport that’s played on a rectangular field. The field is divided into two halves, with 18 players per team.

The game is played with an oval ball, which can be kicked or hit by hand, but not held.

The ball must pass between these behind posts to count as 6 points for your team if you’re kicking it through them; otherwise, it’s only worth 1 point for your team (called a “behind”).

The sport also has the highest spectators and viewership of all the sports in Australia. The rage of the sport has expanded beyond Australia’s borders to other countries such as China.

1. Cricket

Cricket is a sport played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the center of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch with a target at each end called the wicket.

Each phase of play is called an innings during which one team bats trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields trying to dismiss each player.

Cricket, is played by more than a million Australians. Australia has been recorded as the most prosperous team in Cricket WC by winning 5 times.

Another explanation for the popularity of cricket is the fact that it is the national sport of Australia. There are a number of the greatest cricketers who are recognized worldwide, which also includes the great Sir Donald Bradman.