The Top 9 Most Ski-Obsessed Countries in the World, Ranked by Participation Rate

Which country comes to mind when you think of skiing or snowboarding? Everyone has their own mental image of the quintessential ski nation, but numbers are immune to emotions. To find the world’s most ski-obsessed countries, SnowBrains calculated the percentage of each country’s population that skis or snowboards.

Using data from Laurent Vanat’s 2026 International Report on Snow & Mountain Tourism alongside the latest national population figures, we calculated the share of residents who ski at least once per season based on Vanat’s “National Skiers” data.

• Related: Austria Overtakes USA in 2025-16 Skier Visits — But the Real Story is Infrastructure, Not Snow

Some of the results are exactly what you’d expect. Others might surprise you. Here’s our countdown of the world’s nine most ski-obsessed countries, ranked by participation rate.

#9 Germany — 17.3%

Despite not being thought of as a major ski nation, Germany has one of Europe’s strongest skiing cultures. Approximately 14.6 million Germans ski, representing 17.3% of the country’s population. While Germany’s domestic ski areas are relatively modest, Germans are the world’s most prolific ski travelers, filling resorts across Austria, Italy, Switzerland, and France every winter.

#8 Slovakia — 17.9%

Slovakia punches well above its weight. In this country of only 5 million people, nearly one in five ski. With almost one million national skiers and the country’s long skiing tradition centered around the High Tatras, skiing remains deeply embedded in Slovak winter culture.

#7 Andorra — 20.1%

Tiny Andorra may have fewer than 80,000 residents, but 20% of the population skis. That’s hardly surprising considering nearly 100% of the country is covered in mountains, making skiing one of the country’s biggest industries. Andorra is home to world-class resorts including Grandvalira and Pal Arinsal.

#6 Czech Republic — 20.5%

The Czech Republic is one of Europe’s most underrated ski nations. More than 2.2 million Czechs ski, accounting for over 20% of the population. While many locals head to Austria or Slovakia, domestic resorts in the Krkonoše Mountains continue to nurture a remarkably strong skiing culture.

#5 Norway — 22.5%

Norwegians joke that they are ‘born with skis on their feet.’ While the country is probably best known for its cross-country skiing prowess, alpine skiing is equally popular, with more than one in five Norwegians hitting the slopes each winter. Winter sports aren’t simply recreation in Norway — they’re part of everyday life and a mode of transport.

• Related: Let Kids be Kids: New Norwegian Study Shows Why Early Athlete Selection Fails Youth Athletes

#4 Finland — 22.9%

Despite lacking towering alpine peaks, Finland has built one of the world’s strongest ski cultures. An impressive 22.8% of Finns ski, thanks to hundreds of small local ski hills, excellent youth participation, and a culture that embraces outdoor winter activities from an early age.

#3 Switzerland — 33.2%

Switzerland is synonymous with skiing. Nearly 3 million Swiss ski, equal to 33.2% of the population. From Verbier and Zermatt to St. Moritz and Laax, skiing has become part of the national identity, supported by world-class infrastructure, excellent public transport, and easy mountain access.

#2 Austria — 33.3%

Austria narrowly edges Switzerland. More than 3 million Austrians ski, representing 33.3% of the small nation’s population. It’s remarkable considering Austria is also one of the world’s premier international ski destinations, attracting two-thirds of its annual skier visits from foreign visitors each season.

#1 Liechtenstein — 36.1%

The world’s most ski-obsessed country is also one of its smallest. Just under 36% of Liechtenstein’s population skis, giving the Alpine principality the highest participation rate anywhere on Earth. With only around 39,000 residents, the absolute numbers are small, but nowhere else does skiing touch such a large proportion of the population.

Honorable Mentions

While these countries don’t crack the top nine by participation rate, several countries deserve recognition for producing enormous numbers of skiers. China overtook the United States in terms of having the world’s largest skiing population, counting now 36 million national skiers compared to USA’s 25 million national skiers. However, due to both nations’ massive population, that equates to a participation rate of around 2.5% and 7.4% respectively. France (8.6 million skiers), Italy (7.1 million), and Japan (11.3 million), also rank among the world’s largest ski populations by total numbers, but it is not always total size that matters.