What Percent of the Population Has Run an Ultramarathon?

Key Points

Research suggests approximately 0.007% of the global population has run an ultramarathon, based on estimates of unique finishers.
This translates to about 7 out of every million people, highlighting the niche nature of the sport.
The evidence leans toward this figure due to data on race finishes and participation trends, though exact numbers are hard to pin down globally.

Understanding Ultramarathons

An ultramarathon is any footrace longer than the standard marathon distance of 26.2 miles (42.195 km), with common distances starting at 50 km (31 miles) and extending to hundreds of miles. These races can vary in terrain and format, making them a significant challenge compared to marathons.

Estimating Participation

Estimates suggest around 533,000 unique ultramarathon finishers globally, based on detailed race result analyses from 1996 to 2018, scaled to account for global participation. With a world population of about 8 billion in 2025, this results in approximately 0.007% participation. This figure aligns with some studies suggesting a similar percentage, though regional variations exist, with North America showing significant activity.

Unexpected Detail: Niche but Growing

While ultramarathons are a small fraction of the population, participation has grown dramatically, increasing by 345% in the last decade, showing a rising interest in extreme endurance sports, especially among dedicated runners seeking bigger challenges.

Survey Note: Detailed Analysis of Ultramarathon Participation

This note provides a comprehensive examination of the percentage of the global population that has run an ultramarathon, based on available data and analytical methods. The analysis considers definitions, participation statistics, and methodological challenges to arrive at an estimate, acknowledging the complexity and uncertainty in global figures.

Defining Ultramarathons

An ultramarathon is defined as any footrace exceeding the traditional marathon distance of 26.2 miles (42.195 km). According to Ultramarathon – Wikipedia, common distances include 50 km, 50 miles, 100 km, and 100 miles, with some races extending to 3,100 miles. The sport, also known as ultra running, encompasses various formats, such as point-to-point, loop courses, and time-limited races, often held on roads, trails, or tracks. This definition is consistent across sources like Definition of ULTRAMARATHON – Merriam-Webster and What is Ultra Running? – Ultra Running Magazine, which note the shortest standard distance as 50 km.

Data Sources and Participation Trends

To estimate the percentage, we analyzed data from multiple sources, focusing on the total number of unique ultramarathon finishers globally. A key source is the “State of Ultra Running 2020” report by RunRepeat in collaboration with the International Association of Ultrarunners (IAU), which examined 5,010,730 race results from 15,451 races from 1996 to 2018, representing roughly 80% of global ultras during that period (The State of Ultra Running 2020 | RunRepeat). Another source, North American Ultrarunning Participation, provided data for North America, showing 442,576 unique runners with 5,202,532 total finishes from 2000 to 2025, offering a regional benchmark.

Participation has seen significant growth, with the report noting a 345% increase in finishers from 137,234 in 2009 to 611,098 in 2018, surpassing growth in marathons and 5Ks. Wikipedia also states that over 600,000 people complete ultramarathons annually (Ultramarathon – Wikipedia), highlighting the sport’s expanding reach.

Estimating Unique Finishers Globally

The challenge lies in determining the total number of unique individuals who have ever finished an ultramarathon, as opposed to total finishes, which count multiple races by the same person. For North America, the average number of finishes per unique runner is approximately 11.75 (5,202,532 total finishes / 442,576 unique runners). Applying this ratio globally, and scaling the RunRepeat data to 100% coverage (total race results estimated at 6,263,412 from 1996 to 2018), the total unique runners are calculated as 6,263,412 / 11.75 ≈ 533,296.

This estimate is supported by an article suggesting 0.007% of the global population have run an ultramarathon (Why Don’t Women Run Ultra Marathons? — Bethan Taylor-Swaine), which, at a world population of 8 billion, implies 560,000 unique runners, close to our calculation.

Methodological Considerations

The estimation assumes the average number of finishes per unique runner is consistent globally, which may not hold due to regional differences. For instance, events like the Comrades Marathon in South Africa, with over 12,000 finishers annually, may skew participation patterns. Additionally, the proportion of first-timers (estimated at 20% in some years, based on State of the Sport: Ultrarunning by the Numbers – Jason Koop) was considered, but cumulative unique runners were better estimated via total finishes and average participation rates.

A study on 100-km ultramarathons from 1960 to 2019 reported 439,637 competitors (An Analysis of Participation and Performance of 2067 100-km Ultra-Marathons Worldwide – PMC), but this is for a specific distance and includes multiple finishes, not unique runners, complicating direct comparison.

Calculating the Percentage

Using a world population of 8.1 billion in 2025 (projected by the United Nations), the percentage is (533,296 / 8,100,000,000) * 100 ≈ 0.00658%, rounding to 0.007% for simplicity, aligning with the cited figure. This translates to approximately 7 per million people, underscoring the niche nature of ultramarathons.

Regional and Demographic Insights

North American data shows significant participation, with unique runners increasing from 8,403 in 2000 to 97,733 in 2024 (North American Ultrarunning Participation). Globally, female participation is around 20-25%, with studies noting lower percentages in longer ultras (Physiology and Pathophysiology in Ultra-Marathon Running – PMC), reflecting demographic trends.

Unexpected Growth Trend

While the percentage is small, the unexpected detail is the rapid growth, with a 345% increase in participation over the last decade, driven by dedicated runners seeking extreme challenges, as noted in The (Growing) State of Ultra Running | Running Insight. This growth contrasts with leveling off in marathons and 5Ks, highlighting ultrarunning’s appeal to a niche but expanding community.

Table: Key Statistics on Ultramarathon Participation

Metric	Value
Estimated Global Unique Runners	~533,296 (1996-2018)
Total Global Race Results	~6,263,412 (1996-2018)
North American Unique Runners	442,576 (2000-2025)
Average Finishes per Runner	~11.75 (North America)
World Population (2025)	8.1 billion
Estimated Percentage	~0.007%

Conclusion

Based on available data, approximately 0.007% of the global population has run an ultramarathon, reflecting its niche status but growing popularity. This estimate, while uncertain due to data limitations, aligns with trends and provides a reasonable figure for understanding participation.

Key Citations

what percent of the population has run an ultramarathon