Ultimate Frisbee Participation Data

A recent article by Robert "Nob" Rauch, President of the World Flying disc Federation, provides data that 4.5 million Americans played ultimate in 2014. "Core participants"- defined as those playing 13 or more times per year - were estimated at 1.1 million.

As indicated per the data source (USA Ultimate Magazine, winter 2015 issue) participation levels in ultimate are similar to "two leading Summer Olympics sports" — gymnastics with 4.6 million total participants and 1.7 million core participants plus track and field (4.1 million/2.3 million). Worldwide, ultimate and flying disc sports are played by 7.5 million participants with 2.2 million playing at least 12 times per year, according to estimates by WFDF.

screengrabs of USAU mag article, winter 2015 issue

Compared to 2012 data, U.S. participation has declined in all three of these sports. Specifically,  participation in ultimate from 2012 to 2014 decreased by 12% (playing at least once) and decreased by 26% for core participants of ultimate. Meanwhile, youth participation in ultimate is increasing.