Athletics Merit Badge History

Earned through 20201,081,697

Best year194421,104 earned

All-time popularity#42official, as of 2020#42by 2025 (estimate)

Earned by Year

First earned in 1912. Peak year 1944 with 21,104. Hover over or tap a year for its numbers.

19110 earned

191238 earned#15 of 51

191354 earned#30 of 56

1914135 earned#24 of 58

1915246 earned#18 of 58

1916297 earned#18 of 56

1917617 earned#19 of 58

1918741 earned#18 of 58

19191,691 earned#17 of 59

19201,778 earned#16 of 59

19213,081 earned#17 of 61

19224,168 earned#15 of 61

19234,256 earned#16 of 63

19244,731 earned#13 of 64

19255,522 earned#17 of 64

19267,630 earned#18 of 65

19279,432 earned#15 of 68

19289,346 earned#20 of 88

192911,843 earned#17 of 89

193012,726 earned#17 of 92

193115,377 earned#16 of 96

193215,558 earned#15 of 98

193316,935 earned#14 of 101

193415,633 earned#12 of 101

193516,851 earned#13 of 101

193615,451 earned#12 of 101

193716,108 earned#11 of 102

193819,096 earned#12 of 105

193921,001 earned#11 of 106

194019,912 earned#12 of 106

194117,654 earned#13 of 106

194216,872 earned#10 of 110

194318,402 earned#11 of 112

194421,104 earned#13 of 111

194520,628 earned#14 of 111

194617,587 earned#12 of 111

194716,056 earned#13 of 111

194815,141 earned#13 of 111

194916,927 earned#13 of 111

195018,655 earned#14 of 111

195120,182 earned#13 of 111

195220,255 earned#13 of 120

195310,666 earned#25 of 105

195411,410 earned#31 of 103

195511,150 earned#32 of 100

195611,218 earned#31 of 100

195710,564 earned#31 of 100

195811,155 earned#31 of 101

195911,502 earned#31 of 101

196015,816 earned#31 of 100

196116,698 earned#31 of 101

196217,686 earned#30 of 101

196317,513 earned#30 of 102

196416,869 earned#31 of 107

196515,071 earned#30 of 109

196613,502 earned#33 of 110

196714,929 earned#33 of 112

196814,183 earned#36 of 112

196915,298 earned#32 of 113

197015,844 earned#31 of 113

197115,432 earned#30 of 113

197215,623 earned#31 of 124

197315,243 earned#35 of 122

197420,955 earned#37 of 121

197520,300 earned#38 of 128

197618,035 earned#38 of 130

197716,009 earned#38 of 130

197813,063 earned#41 of 131

197910,273 earned#40 of 132

19804,226 earned#52 of 132

19818,979 earned#42 of 134

1982No data available

1983No data available

1984No data available

1985No data available

1986No data available

1987No data available

1988No data available

1989No data available

1990No data available

1991No data available

1992No data available

19933,594 earned#76 of 123

1994No data available

1995No data available

19965,485 earned#63 of 134

1997No data available

1998No data available

1999No data available

20004,099 earned#80 of 128

20014,258 earned#79 of 129

20024,689 earned#80 of 129

20034,412 earned#84 of 130

20044,223 earned#88 of 121

20054,260 earned#84 of 121

20064,308 earned#84 of 121

20075,959 earned#64 of 121

20083,445 earned#93 of 121

20093,779 earned#93 of 122

20103,728 earned#95 of 125

20113,411 earned#97 of 129

20123,465 earned#89 of 132

20133,709 earned#72 of 129

20143,241 earned#109 of 136

20153,604 earned#101 of 138

20163,125 earned#109 of 138

20172,754 earned#112 of 139

20182,808 earned#113 of 139

20192,844 earned#114 of 139

20201,557 earned#124 of 137

2021No data available#123 of 137

2022No data available#125 of 138

2023No data available#127 of 138

2024No data available#124 of 138

2025No data available#131 of 141

Known count No data available

"—" means merit badges were earned that year but the exact number is not currently known. "#131 of 141" means the badge was number 131 of the 141 merit badges earned that year. National counts have not been published since 2020, but the rankings have. The grand total comes from official reports and includes the years without a known count. The 2025 all-time place is an estimate, because the counts for 2021 to 2025 are worked out from each year's official ranking and the total number of merit badges earned that year.

19110none earned

191238#15 of 51

191354#30 of 56

1914135#24 of 58

1915246#18 of 58

1916297#18 of 56

1917617#19 of 58

1918741#18 of 58

19191,691#17 of 59

19201,778#16 of 59

19213,081#17 of 61

19224,168#15 of 61

19234,256#16 of 63

19244,731#13 of 64

19255,522#17 of 64

19267,630#18 of 65

19279,432#15 of 68

19289,346#20 of 88

192911,843#17 of 89

193012,726#17 of 92

193115,377#16 of 96

193215,558#15 of 98

193316,935#14 of 101

193415,633#12 of 101

193516,851#13 of 101

193615,451#12 of 101

193716,108#11 of 102

193819,096#12 of 105

193921,001#11 of 106

194019,912#12 of 106

194117,654#13 of 106

194216,872#10 of 110

194318,402#11 of 112

194421,104#13 of 111

194520,628#14 of 111

194617,587#12 of 111

194716,056#13 of 111

194815,141#13 of 111

194916,927#13 of 111

195018,655#14 of 111

195120,182#13 of 111

195220,255#13 of 120

195310,666#25 of 105

195411,410#31 of 103

195511,150#32 of 100

195611,218#31 of 100

195710,564#31 of 100

195811,155#31 of 101

195911,502#31 of 101

196015,816#31 of 100

196116,698#31 of 101

196217,686#30 of 101

196317,513#30 of 102

196416,869#31 of 107

196515,071#30 of 109

196613,502#33 of 110

196714,929#33 of 112

196814,183#36 of 112

196915,298#32 of 113

197015,844#31 of 113

197115,432#30 of 113

197215,623#31 of 124

197315,243#35 of 122

197420,955#37 of 121

197520,300#38 of 128

197618,035#38 of 130

197716,009#38 of 130

197813,063#41 of 131

197910,273#40 of 132

19804,226#52 of 132

19818,979#42 of 134

1982—

1983—

1984—

1985—

1986—

1987—

1988—

1989—

1990—

1991—

1992—

19933,594#76 of 123

1994—

1995—

19965,485#63 of 134

1997—

1998—

1999—

20004,099#80 of 128

20014,258#79 of 129

20024,689#80 of 129

20034,412#84 of 130

20044,223#88 of 121

20054,260#84 of 121

20064,308#84 of 121

20075,959#64 of 121

20083,445#93 of 121

20093,779#93 of 122

20103,728#95 of 125

20113,411#97 of 129

20123,465#89 of 132

20133,709#72 of 129

20143,241#109 of 136

20153,604#101 of 138

20163,125#109 of 138

20172,754#112 of 139

20182,808#113 of 139

20192,844#114 of 139

20201,557#124 of 137

2021—#123 of 137

2022—#125 of 138

2023—#127 of 138

2024—#124 of 138

2025—#131 of 141

Grand total through 2020:

This page keeps growing. More of this badge's history, including its patches and pamphlets, is being checked and will be added once it is confirmed.

Athletics: workbook data

Printings (107)

Have	Year	Month	Cover	Back	Run	©	BSA #	UPC	HC	Notes
c	1919		1A-2				3324			20th Edition reference
	1920	not made
	1921	not made
x	1922		2				3324			15c Radio
c	1923		2				3324			15c Radio
c	1924		2				3324			20c Radio
c	1925		2				3324			20c Radio
x	1925		3A	back-3			3324
x	1925		3A	back-3			3324			with pasted 1926 Requirements
	1926		3A	back-3			3324
x	1926		3A	back-3			3324			with pasted 1927 Requirements
	1927	not made
c	1928		3A	back-3			3324		HCA	has additional requirements pasted on bottom part of front inside page.
x	1928		3B	back-3			3324
x	1929		3B	back-3			3324
x	1929	September	3B	back-3			3324
x	1929	October	3B	back-3			3324
x	1929	December	3B	back-3			3324
x	1930	January	3B	back-3			3324
x	1930	July	3B	back-3			3324
x	1930	December	3B	back-3			3324
x	1931	July	3B	back-3			3324
c	1932	January	3B	back-3			3324
c	1932	April	3B	back-3	1M		3324
	1932	October	3B	back-3			3324
x	1932		3B	back-3			3324			with 1931 pasted requirements
x	1933	August	3B	back-3	2M		3324
	1934	February	3B	back-3			3324
x	1934	May	3B	back-3	2M		3324
x	1935	February	3B	back-3	2M		3324
x	1935	September	3B	back-3	3M		3324
x	1936	October	3C	back-3	4M		3324
	1937	not made
x	1938	March	3C	back-3	3M		3324
x	1939	January	3D	back-3	3M		3324			yellow title
x	1939	January	3D	back-3	3M		3324			orange title
x	1939	September	3C	back-3	4M		3324
x	1939	September	3D	back-3	4M		3324
x	1939	September	4	back-4	4M		3324
	1940	not made
x	1941	January	4	back-4	4M		3324
x	1942	March	4	back-4	4M		3324		HCB
x	1943	January	4	back-4	4M	1943	3324
x	1944	March	4	back-4	10M	1943	3324
x	1944	March	5A	back-5a	10M	1943	3324
x	1945	January	5B-1	blank	10M	1943	3324
x	1946	January	5B-2	blank	7M	1943	3324
x	1946	March	5B-2	blank	9M	1943	3324
	1947	not made
x	1948	August	5B-2	blank	5M	1943	3324
x	1949	April	5B-2	blank	6M	1943	3324
x	1950	March	5B-2	blank	7M	1943	3324
x	1951	April	5B-2	back-6a	6M	1943	3324
x	1951	August	5B-2	back-6a	10M	1943	3324
x	1952	May	5B-2	back-6b-1-athletics	6M	1943	3324		HCI
x	1953	June	6A	back-6b-1-athletics	10M	1943	3324		HCI
x	1954	September	6A	back-6b-2-athletics	5M	1943	3324
x	1955	March	6A	back-6b-2-athletics	10M	1943	3324		HCJV1
x	1956	February	6A	back-6b-2-athletics	12M	1943	3324
x	1957	January	6A	back-6b-2-athletics	12M	1943	3324
x	1958	March	6A	back-6c-athletics	12M	1943	3324
x	1959	May	6A	back-6c-athletics	11M	1943	3324
x	1960	May	6A	back-6d	10M	1943	3324
x	1960	November	6A	back-6d	12M	1943	3324
x	1961	December	6A	back-6e	12M	1943	3324		HCJ
x	1962	November	6A	back-6f	12M	1943	3324
	1963	not made
x	1964	January	6B	back-6g	15M	1943	3324
x	1964	November	6B	back-6h	15M	1943	3324		HCK, HCP
x	1965	October	6B	back-6I	15M	1943	3324		HCK, HCL
	1966	not made
x	1967	April	7A-1	back-7	13M	1943	3324		HCL
x	1968	March	7A-1	back-7	14M	1943	3324		HCL
x	1969	January	7A-1	back-7	15M	1943	3324
x	1970	January	7A-2	back-7	15.5M	1943	3324		HCL
x	1971	February	7A-2	back-7	14M	1943	3324		HCM
x	1972	April	7A-2	back-7	10M	1943	3324		HCM
x	1973	February	8	back-8a	10M	1943	3324		HCSV1
x	1973	October	8	back-8a	20M	1943	3324
	1974	not made
x	1975	January	8	back-8b	17M	1943	3324
x	1976	June	8	back-8c-1	10M	1943	3324
	1977	not made
x	1978	March	8	back-8d	7M	1943	3324
x	1979	May	8	back-8d	6M	1943	3324
x	1980	October	9A	back-9a	5M	1943	3324
x	1981	June	9A	back-9a	6M	1943	3324
x	1982	June	9A	back-9a	5.5M	1943	3324
x	1983	June	9A	back-9a	5.5M	1943	3324
x	1984	August	9A	back-9a	6M	1943	3324
	1985	not made
x	1986	January	9A	back-9b-2	5.5M	1943	3324
x	1987	January	9A	back-9b-2	5M	1943	3324
x	1987	November	9A	back-9b-2	5M	1943	3324
	1988	August	9A	back-9b-2	5M		3324
x	1989	August	9A	back-9b-2	6.5M		3324
	1990	not made
x	1991	June	9A	back-9c-1	5M		3324
	1992	not made
x	1993	June	9A	back-9c-2	4M		33324	730176333243
x	1994	January	9A	back-9d	4M		33324	730176333243
x	1995	January	9A	back-9d	4M		33324	730176333243
x	1995	November	9A	back-9d	4.5M		33324	730176333243
	1996	not made
x	1997	September	9A	back-9d			33324	730176333243		front has Revised 1992 with 10 9 8 7 6 5
	1998	not made
x	1999		9A	back-9f			33324	730176333243
x	2000		9A	back-9f			33324	730176333243
	2001	not made
	2002	not made
	2003	not made
x	2004		9A	back-9g			33324	730176333243
	2005	not made
x	2006		9B-1	back-9g			33324A	730176324487
x	2007		9B-2	back-9h-1			33324A	730176324487
x	2007		9B-2	back-9h-2			33324A	730176324487		2nd printing
x	2008		10A	back-1008b1			35860	730176358604
x	2009		10B	back-1009b1			35860	730176358130
x	2010		10C-1A	back-1010b1			35860	730176358130
	2011	not made
x	2012		10C-1A	back-1010b1			35860	730176358130
x	2013		10C-1B	back-1013b1			35860	730176358130		01268-AL
	2014	not made
	2015	not made
x	2016		10D	back-1016b1			621971	730176357805		01268-PSF
x	2016		10D	back-1016b1			621971	730176357805		01042-AL
	2017	not made
	2018	not made
x	2019		10D	back-1019b1			649737	730176350189		358
x	2020		10D	back-1019b1			655702	730176351889		358
	2021	not made
	2022	not made
x	2023		10D	back-1019b1			655702	730176351889		358
	2024	not made
	2025	not made

Earned and rank by year

Year	Earned	Rank	Of
1911	0
1912	38	15	51
1913	54	30	56
1914	135	24	58
1915	246	18	58
1916	297	18	56
1917	617	19	58
1918	741	18	58
1919	1,691	17	59
1920	1,778	16	59
1921	3,081	17	61
1922	4,168	15	61
1923	4,256	16	63
1924	4,731	13	64
1925	5,522	17	64
1926	7,630	18	65
1927	9,432	15	68
1928	9,346	20	88
1929	11,843	17	89
1930	12,726	17	92
1931	15,377	16	96
1932	15,558	15	98
1933	16,935	14	101
1934	15,633	12	101
1935	16,851	13	101
1936	15,451	12	101
1937	16,108	11	102
1938	19,096	12	105
1939	21,001	11	106
1940	19,912	12	106
1941	17,654	13	106
1942	16,872	10	110
1943	18,402	11	112
1944	21,104	13	111
1945	20,628	14	111
1946	17,587	12	111
1947	16,056	13	111
1948	15,141	13	111
1949	16,927	13	111
1950	18,655	14	111
1951	20,182	13	111
1952	20,255	13	120
1953	10,666	25	105
1954	11,410	31	103
1955	11,150	32	100
1956	11,218	31	100
1957	10,564	31	100
1958	11,155	31	101
1959	11,502	31	101
1960	15,816	31	100
1961	16,698	31	101
1962	17,686	30	101
1963	17,513	30	102
1964	16,869	31	107
1965	15,071	30	109
1966	13,502	33	110
1967	14,929	33	112
1968	14,183	36	112
1969	15,298	32	113
1970	15,844	31	113
1971	15,432	30	113
1972	15,623	31	124
1973	15,243	35	122
1974	20,955	37	121
1975	20,300	38	128
1976	18,035	38	130
1977	16,009	38	130
1978	13,063	41	131
1979	10,273	40	132
1980	4,226	52	132
1981	8,979	42	134
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993	3,594	76	123
1994
1995
1996	5,485	63	134
1997
1998
1999
2000	4,099	80	128
2001	4,258	79	129
2002	4,689	80	129
2003	4,412	84	130
2004	4,223	88	121
2005	4,260	84	121
2006	4,308	84	121
2007	5,959	64	121
2008	3,445	93	121
2009	3,779	93	122
2010	3,728	95	125
2011	3,411	97	129
2012	3,465	89	132
2013	3,709	72	129
2014	3,241	109	136
2015	3,604	101	138
2016	3,125	109	138
2017	2,754	112	139
2018	2,808	113	139
2019	2,844	114	139
2020	1,557	124	137
2021		123	137
2022		125	138
2023		127	138
2024		124	138
2025		131	141