Canoeing Merit Badge History

Earned through 20203,166,116

Best year197471,534 earned

All-time popularity#7official, as of 2020#7by 2025 (estimate)

Earned by Year

First earned in 1928. Peak year 1974 with 71,534. Hover over or tap a year for its numbers.

1927No data available

19281,441 earned#61 of 88

19291,958 earned#44 of 89

19302,426 earned#44 of 92

19312,785 earned#45 of 96

19322,512 earned#45 of 98

19332,517 earned#50 of 101

19342,426 earned#48 of 101

19352,200 earned#53 of 101

19362,643 earned#42 of 101

19372,489 earned#47 of 102

19382,995 earned#47 of 105

19393,491 earned#47 of 106

19404,017 earned#38 of 106

19414,208 earned#32 of 106

19423,908 earned#33 of 110

19434,452 earned#35 of 112

19445,546 earned#33 of 111

19455,596 earned#33 of 111

19465,412 earned#30 of 111

19475,047 earned#30 of 111

19484,934 earned#29 of 111

19495,785 earned#28 of 111

19505,995 earned#33 of 111

19517,660 earned#31 of 111

19528,923 earned#29 of 120

19539,633 earned#26 of 105

195413,623 earned#26 of 103

195516,529 earned#23 of 100

195619,548 earned#21 of 100

195720,230 earned#21 of 100

195824,712 earned#20 of 101

195929,487 earned#18 of 101

196031,819 earned#18 of 100

196136,915 earned#16 of 101

196241,039 earned#16 of 101

196343,563 earned#14 of 102

196443,878 earned#16 of 107

196549,266 earned#11 of 109

196651,717 earned#11 of 110

196755,258 earned#8 of 112

196856,947 earned#8 of 112

196956,319 earned#8 of 113

197059,358 earned#8 of 113

197159,026 earned#8 of 113

197259,228 earned#7 of 124

197360,516 earned#5 of 122

197471,534 earned#7 of 121

197568,286 earned#7 of 128

197663,225 earned#6 of 130

197757,778 earned#6 of 130

197856,337 earned#5 of 131

197950,839 earned#4 of 132

198035,981 earned#4 of 132

198153,767 earned#4 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

199354,697 earned#10 of 123

1994No data available

1995No data available

199653,862 earned#12 of 134

1997No data available

1998No data available

1999No data available

200051,083 earned#14 of 128

200147,691 earned#14 of 129

200250,444 earned#18 of 129

200348,414 earned#17 of 130

200446,025 earned#18 of 121

200542,414 earned#17 of 121

200642,604 earned#18 of 121

200741,685 earned#17 of 121

200840,752 earned#19 of 121

200941,918 earned#19 of 122

201040,160 earned#19 of 125

201141,601 earned#17 of 129

201239,042 earned#17 of 132

201333,409 earned#14 of 129

201431,833 earned#21 of 136

201529,461 earned#21 of 138

201628,288 earned#21 of 138

201726,052 earned#22 of 139

201826,094 earned#22 of 139

201922,734 earned#24 of 139

20209,853 earned#26 of 137

2021No data available#23 of 137

2022No data available#25 of 138

2023No data available#25 of 138

2024No data available#25 of 138

2025No data available#26 of 141

Known count No data available

"—" means merit badges were earned that year but the exact number is not currently known. "#26 of 141" means the badge was number 26 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.

1927—

19281,441#61 of 88

19291,958#44 of 89

19302,426#44 of 92

19312,785#45 of 96

19322,512#45 of 98

19332,517#50 of 101

19342,426#48 of 101

19352,200#53 of 101

19362,643#42 of 101

19372,489#47 of 102

19382,995#47 of 105

19393,491#47 of 106

19404,017#38 of 106

19414,208#32 of 106

19423,908#33 of 110

19434,452#35 of 112

19445,546#33 of 111

19455,596#33 of 111

19465,412#30 of 111

19475,047#30 of 111

19484,934#29 of 111

19495,785#28 of 111

19505,995#33 of 111

19517,660#31 of 111

19528,923#29 of 120

19539,633#26 of 105

195413,623#26 of 103

195516,529#23 of 100

195619,548#21 of 100

195720,230#21 of 100

195824,712#20 of 101

195929,487#18 of 101

196031,819#18 of 100

196136,915#16 of 101

196241,039#16 of 101

196343,563#14 of 102

196443,878#16 of 107

196549,266#11 of 109

196651,717#11 of 110

196755,258#8 of 112

196856,947#8 of 112

196956,319#8 of 113

197059,358#8 of 113

197159,026#8 of 113

197259,228#7 of 124

197360,516#5 of 122

197471,534#7 of 121

197568,286#7 of 128

197663,225#6 of 130

197757,778#6 of 130

197856,337#5 of 131

197950,839#4 of 132

198035,981#4 of 132

198153,767#4 of 134

1982—

1983—

1984—

1985—

1986—

1987—

1988—

1989—

1990—

1991—

1992—

199354,697#10 of 123

1994—

1995—

199653,862#12 of 134

1997—

1998—

1999—

200051,083#14 of 128

200147,691#14 of 129

200250,444#18 of 129

200348,414#17 of 130

200446,025#18 of 121

200542,414#17 of 121

200642,604#18 of 121

200741,685#17 of 121

200840,752#19 of 121

200941,918#19 of 122

201040,160#19 of 125

201141,601#17 of 129

201239,042#17 of 132

201333,409#14 of 129

201431,833#21 of 136

201529,461#21 of 138

201628,288#21 of 138

201726,052#22 of 139

201826,094#22 of 139

201922,734#24 of 139

20209,853#26 of 137

2021—#23 of 137

2022—#25 of 138

2023—#25 of 138

2024—#25 of 138

2025—#26 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.

Canoeing: workbook data

Printings (100)

Have	Year	Month	Cover	Back	Run	©	BSA #	UPC	HC	Notes
x	1928		3A	back-3			3811
x	1928		3B	back-3			3811
x	1928		3B	back-3			3811			with 1929 pasted Requirements
	1929		3B	back-3			3811
x	1930	March	3B	back-3			3811
x	1930	July	3B	back-3			3811
	1931		3B	back-3			3811
c	1931	April	3B	back-3			3811
x	1932	May	3B	back-3	1M	1932	3811
	1933	not made
x	1934	March	3B	back-3	1M		3811
x	1935	April	3B	back-3	1M		3811
x	1936	March	3B	back-3	1M		3811
	1937	January	3B	back-3	1M		3811
x	1937	January	3C	back-3	1M		3811
x	1937	July	3C	back-3	2M		3811
	1938	not made
x	1939	April	3C	back-3	10M		3811
x	1939	April	3D	back-3	10M		3811
x	1939	April	4	back-4	10M	1939	3811
	1940	not made
	1941	not made
	1942	not made
	1943	not made
x	1944	April	5A	back-5a	3M	1939	3811
x	1944	December	5B-1	blank	5M	1939	3811
x	1945	October	5B-2	blank	6M	1939	3811		HCD
x	1946	August	5B-2	blank	4M	1939	3811
x	1947	August	5B-3	blank	4M	1939	3811		HCF
x	1948	June	5B-3	blank	5M	1939	3811
x	1948	June	5B-3	blank	5M		3811
x	1949	June	5B-3	blank	5M		3811
x	1950	May	5B-3	blank	5M		3811
x	1951	July	5B-3	back-6a	2.5M		3811		HCH
x	1951	November	5B-3	back-6a	2M		3811
x	1952	May	6	back-6b-1-canoeing	10M	1952	3811		HCI
x	1953	April	6	back-6b-1-canoeing	8M	1952	3811		HCI
x	1954	March	6	back-6b-2-canoeing	10M	1952	3811
x	1955	February	6	back-6b-2-canoeing	12M	1952	3811		HCJV1
x	1955	September	6	back-6b-2-canoeing	15M	1952	3811
x	1956	July	6	back-6b-2-canoeing	15M	1952	3811
x	1957	May	6	back-6b-2-canoeing	20M	1952	3811
x	1958	May	6	back-6c-canoeing	20M	1952	3811		HCJV1
x	1959	April	6	back-6c-canoeing	20M	1952	3811
x	1960	March	6	back-6c-canoeing	24M	1952	3811		HCJV2
x	1961	February	6	back-6d	24M	1952	3811
x	1962	February	6	back-6f	24M	1952	3811		HCJV2
x	1962	July	6	back-6f	30M	1952	3811
x	1963	April	6	back-6g	35M	1952	3811		HCP
x	1964	May	6	back-6h	35M	1952	3811
x	1965	March	6	back-6h	40M	1952	3811		HCK
x	1966	March	6	back-6i	30M	1952	3811		HCL, HCP
	1967	not made
x	1968	March	7A	back-7	50M	1968	3308		HCL
x	1968	September	7A	back-7	50M	1968	3308		HCL
x	1969	April	7A	back-7	20M	1968	3308
x	1970	January	7A	back-7	60M	1968	3308		HCL, HCN
x	1971	February	7A	back-7	60M	1968	3308
x	1972	March	7B	back-7	50M	1968	3308		HCSV1
x	1973	March	8A	back-8a	30M	1968	3308		HCSV2, HCT
x	1974	February	8A	back-8a	20M	1968	3308		HCT
x	1974	April	8A	back-8b	30M	1968	3308		HCT
x	1975	January	8A	back-8b	25M	1968	3308
x	1975	April	8A	back-8c-1	25M	1968	3308
x	1976	January	8A	back-8c-1	20M	1968	3308
x	1976	April	8A	back-8c-1	25M	1968	3308
x	1977	August	8B	back-8d	35M	1977	3308
	1978	not made
x	1979	April	8B	back-8d	25M	1977	3308
x	1980	January	9A	back-9a	30M	1977	3308		HCU
x	1981	March	9A	back-9a	35M	1977	3308
x	1982	March	9A	back-9a	30M	1977	3308
x	1983	March	9A	back-9a	30M	1977	3308
x	1984	March	9A	back-9a	28M	1977	3308
x	1985	March	9A	back-9b-2	30M	1977	3308
x	1986	April	9A	back-9b-2	24M	1977	3308
x	1986	November	9A	back-9b-2	27M	1977	3308
	1987	not made
x	1988	June	9A	back-9b-2	28M	1977	3308
x	1989	May	9B	back-9b-2	30M		3308			same cover picture as Rowing Merit Badge-error
x	1989	May	9C	back-9b-2	30M	1989	3308
x	1990	January	9C	back-9b-2	28.5M	1989	3308A
x	1991	May	9C	back-9c-1	25M	1989	3308A
x	1992	August	9C	back-9c-2	25M	1989	33308	730176333083
	1993	not made
x	1994	February	9C	back-9d	30M	1989	33308	730176333083
x	1995	October	9C	back-9d	20M		33305	730176333052
x	1996	July	9C	back-9d	26M		33305	730176333052
	1997	not made
x	1998		9C	back-9e			33305A	730176333052
x	1999		9C	back-9f			33305A	730176333052
x	2000		9C	back-9f			33305A	730176333052
x	2001		9C	back-9f			33305A	730176333052
x	2002		9C	back-9f			33305A	730176333052
x	2003		9C	back-9g			33305A	730176333052
x	2004		9C	back-9g			33305A	730176333052
x	2004		9D-1	back-9g			33305B	730176333052
	2005	not made
x	2006		9D-1	back-9g			33305B	730176333052
x	2007		9D-2	back-9h-2			33305B	730176333052
x	2008		10A	back-1008b3			35867	730176358673
x	2009		10B	back-1009b3			35867	730176358673
x	2010		10C-1	back-1010b3			35867	730176358673
x	2010		10C-1	back-1010b3			35867	730176358673		2010 printing on back cover-2011 printing listed inside
x	2010		10C-1	back-1013b3			35867	730176358673		2010 printing on back cover with SFI label (released in 2013?)-2011 printing listed inside
	2011	not made
	2012	not made
	2013	not made
x	2014		10C-2	back-1013b5			618654	730176357263		01268-AL
x	2015		10C-2	back-1013b5			618654	730176357263		01268-PSF
	2016	not made
x	2017		10D	back-1016b1			618654	730176357263		01268-PSF
x	2017		10D	back-1016b1			618654	730176357263		00358-AL
	2018	not made
x	2019		10D	back-1019b1			650866	730176350837		358
	2020	not made
	2021	not made
	2022	not made
x	2023		10D	back-1019b1			659214	7301766592147		358
x	2024		10D	back-1019b1			661589	7301766615891		00358n
	2025	not made

Earned and rank by year

Year	Earned	Rank	Of
1927
1928	1,441	61	88
1929	1,958	44	89
1930	2,426	44	92
1931	2,785	45	96
1932	2,512	45	98
1933	2,517	50	101
1934	2,426	48	101
1935	2,200	53	101
1936	2,643	42	101
1937	2,489	47	102
1938	2,995	47	105
1939	3,491	47	106
1940	4,017	38	106
1941	4,208	32	106
1942	3,908	33	110
1943	4,452	35	112
1944	5,546	33	111
1945	5,596	33	111
1946	5,412	30	111
1947	5,047	30	111
1948	4,934	29	111
1949	5,785	28	111
1950	5,995	33	111
1951	7,660	31	111
1952	8,923	29	120
1953	9,633	26	105
1954	13,623	26	103
1955	16,529	23	100
1956	19,548	21	100
1957	20,230	21	100
1958	24,712	20	101
1959	29,487	18	101
1960	31,819	18	100
1961	36,915	16	101
1962	41,039	16	101
1963	43,563	14	102
1964	43,878	16	107
1965	49,266	11	109
1966	51,717	11	110
1967	55,258	8	112
1968	56,947	8	112
1969	56,319	8	113
1970	59,358	8	113
1971	59,026	8	113
1972	59,228	7	124
1973	60,516	5	122
1974	71,534	7	121
1975	68,286	7	128
1976	63,225	6	130
1977	57,778	6	130
1978	56,337	5	131
1979	50,839	4	132
1980	35,981	4	132
1981	53,767	4	134
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993	54,697	10	123
1994
1995
1996	53,862	12	134
1997
1998
1999
2000	51,083	14	128
2001	47,691	14	129
2002	50,444	18	129
2003	48,414	17	130
2004	46,025	18	121
2005	42,414	17	121
2006	42,604	18	121
2007	41,685	17	121
2008	40,752	19	121
2009	41,918	19	122
2010	40,160	19	125
2011	41,601	17	129
2012	39,042	17	132
2013	33,409	14	129
2014	31,833	21	136
2015	29,461	21	138
2016	28,288	21	138
2017	26,052	22	139
2018	26,094	22	139
2019	22,734	24	139
2020	9,853	26	137
2021		23	137
2022		25	138
2023		25	138
2024		25	138
2025		26	141