League of Legends Player Count and Statistics 2024
By Roger on Sep 14th, 2024, 05:23
League of Legends, or LoL as most of us fondly call it, has been a major player in the gaming world for what feels like forever. Since Riot Games launched it in 2009, this game has turned into so much more than just another MOBA (multiplayer online battle arena). It's a staple of Esports, a hub for millions of players, and a pop cultural phenomenon that keeps pulling people in, year after year. Let's see what's going on with League in 2024: who plays the game and why it's still one of the biggest games.
Quick reassurance: League of Legends is thriving. It has a total of 150 million registered players. As of 2024, LoL consistently sees between 140 and 160 million active players logging in each month. This number doesn't include people who sign up and forget about it; this is active, engaged play.
League first smashed through the 100 million monthly players mark in 2016, and while it had some minor dips in 2017 and 2018, it rebounded beautifully. By 2022, it was back in full swing, hitting over 150 million users.
This year, things have slowed a bit early on, but the game is still expected to average between 140 and 150 million monthly users by the end of 2024. And if you think that's impressive, consider the daily stats: 25 to 35 million players are diving into the Rift every day. The game consistently reaches around 8 million daily concurrent players worldwide. Even on a "slow" day, League is still packing its servers, and in March 2024, we saw a peak of 35 million daily players in just one day. Clearly, LoL still has its hooks in the gaming community.
| Year | Average Monthly Active Players | % Growth |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 132 million | -12.6% |
| 2023 | 151 million | -0.7% |
| 2022 | 152 million | 2.0% |
| 2021 | 149 million | 8.8% |
| 2020 | 137 million | 17.1% |
| 2019 | 117 million | 56.0% |
| 2018 | 75 million | -25.0% |
| 2017 | 100 million | 53.8% |
| 2014 | 65 million | 103.1% |
| 2012 | 32 million | 113.3% |
| 2011 | 15 million | - |
League of Legends is a global game, and its strong player base is spread out across some distinct regions.
China is the clear frontrunner, with its Super Server attracting over 70 million LoL players monthly. Gaming is massive in China, and League is no exception. The Super Server is also known for its high skill levels and intense competition.
Europe West (EUW) is the most prominent server outside China, with a solid player base from countries like France, Germany, and the UK. EUW is known for its competitive solo queue, and it's a key part of the European Esports scene.
South Korea punches way above its weight in terms of population versus number of players. Despite having a much smaller population than China, nearly 20 million South Koreans play League regularly, and the country's players are famous for their skill and dedication. As many of you may already know, the top 3 earning League of Legends Esports players are all from South Korea. As of January 2024, Faker (Lee Sang-Hyeok) from South Korea is the highest-earning League of Legends player, with over $1.57 million in career earnings.
North America rounds out the top four regions, with about 15 million monthly players from the US, Canada, and surrounding countries. NA has a long-standing rivalry with Europe, and that competitive spirit keeps the game exciting on the global stage.
We're also seeing growth in regions like Southeast Asia and Brazil, where LoL's presence is expanding fast.
League of Legends has a diverse ranking system that reflects the varying skill levels of its massive player base. The majority of players are clustered in the middle ranks, with Gold (20%) and Silver (19%) making up the bulk of the community. Newer ranks like Emerald, which accounts for 11% of players, have helped balance the distribution further.
Let's talk money. League of Legends is a big business. While its highest revenue year was 2017 with $2.1 billion, it's still bringing in solid numbers. In 2023, it pulled in $1.5 billion, which shows it's still a leading player in the gaming industry.
Besides the game itself, League dominates on streaming platforms, too. It's the most-watched game on Twitch, with League streams racking up 112 million hours of viewing time in February 2023 alone. The 2022 LoL World Championship Finals set a record with over 5 million concurrent viewers, proving the game's Esports scene is as vibrant as ever.
| Year | Revenue (In Billion) |
|---|---|
| 2023 | $1.50 |
| 2022 | $1.80 |
| 2021 | $1.63 |
| 2020 | $1.75 |
| 2019 | $1.50 |
| 2018 | $1.40 |
| 2017 | $2.10 |
| 2016 | $1.63 |
| 2015 | $1.63 |
The League community is diverse, but it's still predominantly male. As of 2024, about 87% of players identify as male, 12% as female, and 1% as non-binary. Riot is always looking for ways to make the game more inclusive, and the community has been growing more diverse over time.
Let's put this one to rest: League of Legends is far from dying. Sure, it's seen some dips in monthly numbers, but that's normal for any game this size. Even on a "bad" month, LoL still has over 100 million monthly active users. It's holding its own against other gaming giants like Minecraft, Fortnite, and Counter-Strike, and its daily engagement is on the rise. With big events like the LoL World Championship and new content releases, the game keeps pulling players back in.
League of Legends global community shows no signs of slowing down. Whether you're new to the Rift or a seasoned veteran, there's always something new to explore, a rank to climb, and a game to win.
Please see the image below for the monthly player count analysis of League of Legends:
