Darts is one of the most popular sports in the UK and is widely played both at home and often in pubs across the country. This article explores the levels of participation as well as the viewership statistics in the UK. Additionally, we have explored who the most popular player in the country is.
Darts Statistics UK 2021: The Short Version
We have summed up our key findings from our research here. More in depth analysis and research can be found further on in the article.
- Darts is the 9th most popular sport in the UK with 84,000 searches on average per month.
- The World Darts Championship final had 1.25 million live viewers at its peak in the UK in 2021.
- The “Iceman”, Gerwyn Price is the most popular darts player in the UK in terms of search volume, with an average of 34,200 searches per month.
How Popular is Darts in the UK in 2021?
We conducted a keyword analysis using KWFinder to discover the popularity of darts in the UK and compared that to the popularity of other sports. We found that when compared to other sports, Darts is the 9th most popular in the UK, just ahead of Tennis and just behind Basketball.
Average number of monthly searches for the 10 most popular sports in the UK. Analysis conducted with the keyword tool KWFinder.
What was once just a pub game, darts is now one of the most popular sports in the UK, generating an average of 84,000 searches online per month in the UK alone. Furthermore, in 2021, the World Darts Championship final had a peak of 1.25 million live viewers in the UK. Comparing this popularity over time, we analysed the Google Trends tool to analyse when and how the popularity of Darts has developed over the past 5 years.
As we can see, popularity of the term “Darts” peaks annually around December and January, coinciding with the World Darts Championships every year. However, other than these peaks, the interest in the sport has remained relatively constant and been unaffected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The scale of the global popularity is understood when looking at the number of monthly searches on a global scale, equalling an average of 785,000 per month.
How Many People Play Darts in the UK in 2021?
Once again we conducted a keyword analysis using KWFinder to discover the search volumes for terms which indicated specific intent to play Darts. These terms included “dartboard”, “dartboard distance”, “dart scorer” and “darts rules” . The search volumes are listed in the table below.
Search Term | Average Monthly Searches (UK) |
Dart Scorer | 70,900 |
Dartboard | 27,500 |
Dartboard Distance | 4,600 |
Darts Rules | 1,400 |
The term “Dart Scorer” is the most popular term that we analysed, generating 70,900 searches per month on average in the UK alone. This term indicates the intent of somebody already playing a game of darts and seeking a way to keep track of their scores in the game. This therefore, is the most accurate representation of the number of active players in the UK. However, this does not take into account those players who score their games without the use of technology or those who can score in their head or in their notes.
Following this, the keyword “Dartboard” is the second most searched keyword that we analysed. This term implies an individual purchasing a dartboard to play either at home or an owner of an establishment purchasing one for their customers. “Dartboard” amasses 27,500 searches per month in the UK on average indicating the number of people getting a dartboard for their setups. However, it could also imply a Darts fan replacing their old dartboard as they are likely to need replacing after 1-3 years for a home dartboard or every 12 months in a bar as they are used more frequently.
The search term, “Dartboard Distance” generates 4,600 searches per month in the UK and indicates a player confirming the rules of the game. Therefore this may indicate somebody setting up their darts board or somebody learning the game so it can be played correctly. Alongside the term “Darts Rules” which gains 1,400 searches per month on average, these keywords both indicate players who are actively learning the sport which will be predominantly new players.
Who is the Most Popular Darts Player in the UK in 2021?
We have conducted a keyword analysis on the PDC top 150 Darts players in the world to discover which is the most popular in the UK in 2021. Players are in the top 150 based on their total earned prize money over the most recent 2 year period. Beneath this text we have displayed the top 10 most popular in the UK based on search volumes.
Darts Player | PDC World Ranking | Average Monthly Searches in the UK |
Gerwyn Price | 1 | 34,200 |
Gary Anderson | 6 | 18,400 |
Peter Wright | 2 | 16,900 |
Michael Van Gerwen | 3 | 13,700 |
James Wade | 4 | 9,700 |
Adrian Lewis | 31 | 7,900 |
Dave Chisnall | 7 | 7,000 |
Glen Durrant | 13 | 7,000 |
Stephen Bunting | 18 | 6,300 |
Raymond Van Barneveld | 86 | 6,100 |
The player ranked number 1 in the world, Gerwyn Price, also generates the most monthly searches, with 34,200 on average each month. The Welshman has won over £1.2 million in prize money in the past 2 years placing him firmly at the top of the list in terms of number of searches and prize money. Price only turned professional 7 years ago in 2014 and prior to that he was a professional Rugby player which could potentially increase his profile and popularity.
The tenth highest searched player, Raymond Van Barneveld (“Barney”) is only ranked 86th in the world in terms of prize money. However, this is understandable due to his history with 5 world titles, 21 major titles and 27 television titles.
Summary: Darts Statistics UK 2021 Roundup
To conclude, Darts remains one of the most popular sports in the UK, with large scale viewership and participation. The highest ranked player in the world, Gerwyn Price, is also the most popular in terms of search volumes which is understandable due to his character and presence.
We hope this article has been informative and helped you understand the popularity of the sport in the UK.