Study: average age of gamers worldwide reaches 41, half of them women

According to the Power of Play: 2025 Global Video Games Report from the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), women make up 48% of all gamers worldwide, while men make up 51%.

This data comes from a global survey conducted by AudienceNet, which surveyed 24,216 respondents from 21 countries across six continents. In addition to the gender breakdown of gamers, the ESA also provides other interesting statistics, including the average age of gamers, which is 41 years old.

The section on the reasons why people choose to play games was no less interesting. The three most common reasons are for entertainment, relaxation, and brain training. The ESA also provides statistics by device: 55% of gamers play on smartphones, 21% on PCs or laptops, another 21% on consoles, 2% use VR headsets, and 1% prefer other options.

At the same time, smartphones are more popular among women — 64% versus 46% among men. If we take the age category, older people, aged 55 and over, also prefer smartphones — 61% versus 50% under 35.

The report also highlights the positive aspects of gaming, including mental stimulation, stress reduction, and accessibility for people with disabilities. In addition, games contribute to feelings of happiness, help make new friends, help get through difficult times, and have other beneficial effects.