Key Marathon Statistics

Last updated: 11 February 2026

Global Marathon Landscape

How many marathons take place each year?
Globally, an estimated 2,500 to 4,000 marathons are held each year, though exact numbers vary depending on whether smaller, local races are counted. In the United States alone, approximately 1,100 are organised annually, making it the most active marathon country by event count (RunRepeat). The often-cited Wikipedia figure of 800 reflects only those affiliated with AIMS and underrepresents the true total.

How many countries have marathons?
Most current estimates show that marathon races take place in over 80 countries, based on events affiliated with the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS). However, this figure excludes smaller local events. If you include all unaffiliated and grassroots races, the total rises to over 100 nations (Wikipedia).

Which country has the most marathons?
The United States leads the world, hosting around 1,100 marathons annually—more than any other country (RunRepeat). That accounts for a significant share of the estimated 2,500–4,000 marathons held worldwide each year.

What is the oldest marathon?
The Boston Marathon is the world’s oldest annual marathon, first run in 1897. It was inspired by the success of the 1896 Olympic Games and has been held every year since, with the sole exception of 2020 due to COVID-19 (Wikipedia).

What was the first ever marathon?
The first modern marathon was run at the 1896 Olympic Games in Athens. It followed the route from the town of Marathon to the Panathenaic Stadium and was won by Spyridon Louis in 2:58:50 (Olympics.com).

What is the largest marathon ever held?
The 2025 New York now holds the record for the largest number of official finishers: 59,226. It surpassed the previous high of 56,640 set by the London Marathon in April 2025 (Athletics Weekly).

Which marathon had the most applicants?
The 2026 TCS London Marathon received 1,133,813 ballot entries, making it the most oversubscribed marathon in history (London Marathon).

Participation and Demographics

How many people run a marathon each year?
Between 1.1 and 1.3 million people finish a marathon globally every year. That’s just 0.014% to 0.016% of the world’s population—a figure that underscores the relative rarity of marathon participation (Marathon Handbook).

What proportion of marathon finishers are female, and what proportion are male?
Globally, around 30–35% of marathon finishers are female, and 65–70% are male. However, this varies by region, with female participation nearing 50% in parts of North America and Europe (Live Strong).

What is the average age of marathon runners?
The average marathon runner is typically in their late 30s to early 40s. Events in the U.S. and Europe often report mean finisher ages around 40, reflecting both life stage and accumulated aerobic base (Livestrong).

What percentage of marathon runners are first-timers?
Roughly 50% of marathon participants are debutants. While this figure varies by event, it reflects the marathon’s ongoing appeal as a bucket-list challenge (Marathon Handbook).

What’s the dropout rate at major marathons?
Major marathons have high finish rates - typically between 97–99%. Events like London, Berlin, and Chicago often report dropout rates below 3%, thanks to strong organisation and participant commitment (The Guardian).

What is the average number of marathons run per person among repeat marathoners?
Data suggests that among repeat marathoners, the average person completes 3 to 5 marathons in their lifetime, though a small minority become serial participants, running dozens or even hundreds (Marathon Handbook).

What is the oldest age for a recorded marathon finisher?
Fauja Singh, a British centenarian, completed the 2011 Toronto Waterfront Marathon at age 100 in a time of 8:11:06. While Guinness World Records does not recognise the run due to lack of birth certificate documentation, Singh remains the most widely acknowledged centenarian marathoner (Olympics). Tragically, he died in a hit-and-run accident aged 114 in July 2025 (BBC).

What is the youngest age for a recorded marathon finisher?
Budhia Singh from India is known for having completed an ultra marathon age 4 in 2006. However, his case raised major ethical concerns, and age limits are now strictly enforced in most countries (Wikipedia).

Sub-3 Marathon Statistics

How many marathoners run sub-3 each year?
Based on verified 2025 results, around 4.48% of marathon finishers run under three hours. Applied to an estimated 1.25 million marathon completions worldwide each year, this equates to roughly 55,000–60,000 sub-3 performances annually. While still a small minority, this represents a higher share than in previous years, reflecting both growing participation and increased depth at the faster end of the field (Sub-3 World Marathon Rankings).

How rare is a sub-3 marathon?
In practical terms, around 1 in every 22 marathon finishers now breaks the three-hour barrier. Set against the global population, sub-3 marathon performances still account for only around 0.0007% to 0.0008% of people each year. Even with rising participation and faster average standards, running sub-3 remains a highly selective outcome rather than a mass-market achievement (Sub-3 World Marathon Rankings).

How does sub‑3 rarity vary by country?
In countries like the U.S., UK and Germany, sub‑3 marathoners still represent just 0.005% to 0.007% of the total population - roughly 1 in 15,000 to 1 in 20,000 people per year (SUB-3).

How many men and women go sub‑3?
Roughly 4% of male marathon finishers and 1% of female finishers run under three hours. This performance gap reflects both participation rates and physiological differences (SUB-3).

What is the average age of sub‑3 marathon finishers?
The average age is around 28.6 years, with the majority of sub‑3 personal bests occurring between 25 and 34. Peak endurance and recovery capacity tend to coincide in this range (Frontiers).

What is the world record for the oldest person to run a sub‑3 hour marathon?
Ed Whitlock ran 2:59:09 in Toronto 2003 at age 72, being the first M70 to go Sub-3 and the oldest verified sub‑3 marathon finisher (Wikipedia). His record has since been surpassed by the American Gene Dykes (2:54:23; Trail Runner) and Netherlander Joseph Schoonbroodt (2:54:19; Runners World).

Which marathon has the most sub‑3 finishers?
The record for the highest number of sub‑3 finishers in a single race belongs to the 2023 Valencia Marathon, where a 5,423 runners completed the course in under three hours. This figure outpaces those of all other well-known marathons, including Berlin, Boston, and London (LetsRun).

Who has run the most sub‑3 marathons?
The highest total belongs to Chuck Engle, who reached at least 200 marathons finished under three hours. He achieved this milestone when he won the New Hampshire Marathon on 10 February 2010.

Engle’s sub-3 record sits within an even broader body of work. He completed marathons in all 50 US states with an average finishing time of 2:38, winning 27 of those races. After his victory at the Gobbler Grind Marathon on 20 November 2011, he had secured at least one marathon win in every state. On 17 March 2012, at the Canyon Meadows Trail Marathon, he set a further world record by recording his 145th marathon victory. (50 States Marathon Club)

Who was the first to run sub-3 hours in every state?
Based on the records we are aware of, the first runner to complete sub-3 marathons in all 50 US states and Washington, D.C. was Toby Skinner in 1991. He recorded an average time of 2:43 across the full set, with a fastest marathon of 2:27 and a slowest of 2:57.

He was followed by a small number of runners who later completed the same challenge. David Audet completed all states and D.C. in 1999, followed by Joe Bowman in 2007. In 2010, Gary Krugger completed the set, having recorded more than 154 sub-3 marathons overall. In 2011, Chuck Engle completed sub-3 marathons in every state and later exceeded 200 sub-3 finishes in total.

Jerry Rief completed all 50 states and Washington, D.C. in 2015, averaging 2:49 across the full set, with all 51 marathons run under 3:00. He achieved this in 53 attempts, typically running no more than three marathons per year, and finished the sequence on his 50th birthday, 18 January 2015, at the Houston Marathon. This was followed by Jeff Mescal, who was 53 years old when he completed the same milestone. (50 States Marathon Club)

What is the record for most consecutive sub‑3s at the same marathon?
Chris Finill (UK) completed 33 consecutive London Marathons in under three hours between 1981 and 2013 — the longest such streak at a World Marathon Majors event. His fastest was 2:28:27 and his slowest 2:58:35. Finill’s achievement remains a unique combination of speed, durability, and consistency over three decades (Guinness World Records).

What is the longest time between sub‑3 marathons?
Iain Mickle ran 2:42:57 at the 2019 California International Marathon—an astonishing 42 years and 151 days after his first sub‑3 marathon in July 1977. Aged 59 at the time, Mickle set the record for the longest elapsed time between sub‑3 finishes, highlighting the extraordinary longevity possible in distance running (New World).

What’s the longest streak of consecutive years with a sub‑3 marathon?
Mark Cucuzzella ran at least one sub‑3 marathon every year for 30 consecutive years, from 1988 to 2017. In nearly 100 career marathons, he never ran slower than 3:00 until Boston 2018, where freezing rain and headwinds ended his streak with a 3:04. His approach prioritised low-intensity training, minimalist footwear, and running for joy and longevity rather than pure competition (LetsRun).

Major Marathons and Records

What are the Abbott World Marathon Majors?
The Abbott World Marathon Majors include Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago, New York City, Sydney and Tokyo. The series is expanding to potentially include new races in Shanghai (China) and Cape Town (South Africa) in the near future (World Marathon Majors).

Which World Marathon Major is the fastest?

There is no single “fastest” World Marathon Major, because speed can be defined in several different ways. Using 2025 data from the Sub-3 World Marathon Rankings 2026, each Major stands out on a different metric: elite winning time, depth of fast amateur performance, or overall scale.

If fastest is defined by elite winning time, Berlin leads the Majors with the quickest victory in 2025 (2:02:16), narrowly ahead of Chicago (2:02:23) and London (2:02:27). Tokyo also delivered a highly competitive winning time (2:03:23), while Boston (2:04:45), Sydney (2:06:06), and New York City (2:08:09) were slower at the front, largely due to course profile rather than the calibre of the field. (Sub-3 World Marathon Rankings 2026)

If fastest means depth of fast amateur running, Boston clearly stands apart. In 2025 it produced 5,082 sub-3 finishers from 40,705 runners (12.5%), the highest absolute number and the highest proportion of sub-3 performances among the World Marathon Majors. Chicago follows with 4,054 sub-3s (7.5%), ahead of London (2,989 / 5.3%), Berlin (2,382 / 5.0%), Tokyo (1,781 / 4.9%), New York City (2,395 / 4.1%), and Sydney (1,309 / 4.0%). (Sub-3 World Marathon Rankings 2026)

To bring these different definitions of speed together, the Sub-3 World Marathon Rankings apply a 10:45:45 methodology, weighting winning time (10%), total sub-3 finishers (45%), and sub-3 percentage (45%). On that basis, Boston ranks highest among the World Marathon Majors (#2 overall), followed by Chicago (#5), London (#9), Berlin (#15), New York City (#20), Tokyo (#26), and Sydney (#48). For context, Maratón Valencia ranks #1 globally, underlining that the fastest marathon in the world overall is not currently a Major — and reinforcing why the rankings distinguish between elite speed, amateur depth, and scale rather than crowning a single “fastest” race. (Sub-3 World Marathon Rankings 2026)

What is the current world record for the marathon?
The official men’s marathon world record is 2:00:35, set by Kelvin Kiptum at the 2023 Chicago Marathon (Runners World). Tragically, Kiptum died in early 2024, just months after setting the mark. The women's world record is by Tigst Assefa in 2:11:53 (LetsRun), set at the Berlin Marathon in 2023. In women-only races (with no male pacers), the record is 2:15:50, also set by Tigst Assefa at the 2025 London Marathon (BBC Sport). Eliud Kipchoge remains the only person to break two hours, running 1:59:40 in Vienna during the 2019 INEOS 1:59 Challenge - an unofficial event due to controlled pacing and conditions (INEOS).

Which marathon is the largest in Europe?
The Paris Marathon is the largest on mainland Europe, attracting over 55,000 finishers in 2025 (RunBlogRun). However, the London Marathon is the largest in Europe overall, with 56,640 finishers in its most recent edition (Runners World).

Which marathon is the largest in North America?
The New York City Marathon is the largest in North America, with over 50,000 finishers annually, and a record 59,226 finishers in 2025 (Athletics Weekly).

Which marathon is the largest in Asia?
The Tokyo Marathon is the largest in Asia, hosting around 38,000 starters and enjoying a reputation for organisation and elite competition (Asahi Shimbun).

Which marathon is the largest in Australasia?
The largest marathon in Australasia is the TCS Sydney Marathon. In 2025, this event saw approximately 32,885 finishers (Guardian), marking it as the biggest marathon by participation on the continent. Since launching in 2001 and gaining Platinum Label status from World Athletics, it has grown rapidly - surging from just around 5,000 finishers in 2022 to over 32,000 across events in 2025 (World Marathon Majors).

Sub-3 World Marathon Rankings 2026 statistics

What are the largest marathons in the world by participation?
Based on 2025 finisher figures, the largest marathons in the world are the New York City Marathon (59,125), London Marathon (56,785), Marathon de Paris (54,928), and Chicago Marathon (54,284). They are followed by Berlin (48,028), Boston (40,705), Tokyo (36,513), Sydney (32,995), Osaka (31,232), and Valencia (30,669). All figures are drawn from verified results in the Sub-3 World Marathon Rankings 2026 (Sub-3 World Marathon Rankings)

Which countries have the most sub-3 marathon runners?
Based on Sub-3 World Marathon Rankings 2026 data, the United States recorded the most sub-3 performances in 2025 (21,438 – 26% of the global total), followed by Spain (10,781 – 13%) and Germany (6,121 – 8%). The United Kingdom (5,884 – 7%), France (5,282 – 7%), Japan (4,143 – 5%), Australia (3,836 – 5%), the Netherlands (3,498 – 4%), Italy (3,352 – 4%), and Denmark (1,550 – 2%) complete the top ten. These figures represent total sub-3 performances rather than individual runners – some athletes run more than one sub-3 marathon per year – and exclude marathons with fewer than 1,000 finishers, but still give a clear and reliable picture of where sub-3 running is most concentrated globally. (Sub-3 World Marathon Rankings)

What time of year do the most people run sub-3 marathons?
Sub-3 marathon performances peak sharply in spring and autumn, with April (19,177) and October (16,889) the two standout months, reflecting the global clustering of fast, mass-participation races. Spring builds from February (4,796) and March (5,658) into April, before easing in May (6,032), while autumn strength extends from September (5,346) through November (9,048) and December (8,262). By contrast, summer is the quietest period for sub-3 running, with June (1,333), July (1,651), and August (1,944) recording consistently low totals, and January (1,116) also relatively subdued. These figures are drawn from Sub-3 World Marathon Rankings 2026 and include only mass-participation marathons with 1,000+ finishers, giving a clear picture of when sub-3 performances are most and least likely worldwide. (Sub-3 World Marathon Rankings)

What time of year do the highest proportion of finishers run sub-3 marathons?
While December (5.7%) tops the monthly averages, it is a clear outlier driven by a small number of specialist races, so the more meaningful comparison is between the main marathon seasons. Statistically, spring outperforms autumn: April (5.6%), March (4.5%), and February (4.3%) all rank higher than their autumn counterparts October (4.6%), November (4.3%), and September (3.8%), indicating that spring marathons consistently deliver a higher proportion of sub-3 finishers. These figures are based on mass-participation marathons with 1,000+ finishers in the Sub-3 World Marathon Rankings 2026, and reflect the average proportion of sub-3 finishers per race. (Sub-3 World Marathon Rankings)

What were the fastest mass-participation marathons by winning time in 2025?
Based on verified 2025 results from the Sub-3 World Marathon Rankings 2026, the fastest winning time at a mass-participation marathon was recorded at the Berlin Marathon (2:02:16). This was followed by the Chicago Marathon (2:02:23) and Maratón Valencia (2:02:23, chip time), with the London Marathon (2:02:27) close behind. The remainder of the top ten fastest-winning mass-participation races in 2025 were Tokyo Marathon (2:03:23), Amsterdam Marathon (2:03:29), Hamburg Marathon (2:03:46), Marató Barcelona (2:04:13), Rotterdam Marathon (2:04:33), and Boston Marathon (2:04:45). All races listed are open-entry, mass-participation marathons with 1,000+ finishers, allowing like-for-like comparison of elite winning performances in real-world race conditions. (Sub-3 World Marathon Rankings)

What are the fastest marathons in the world by sub-3 volume?
By total sub-3 finishers in 2025, the fastest marathons in the world are led by Maratón Valencia (5,333) and Boston Marathon (5,082), followed by Chicago Marathon (4,054) and London Marathon (2,989). The top ten is completed by New York City Marathon (2,395), Berlin Marathon (2,382), Marathon de Paris (2,036), Amsterdam Marathon (1,846), Marató Barcelona (1,842), and Tokyo Marathon (1,781). These figures come from the Sub-3 World Marathon Rankings 2026 and include only mass-participation road marathons with 1,000+ finishers, highlighting which races generate the greatest absolute number of sub-3 performances, regardless of percentage. (Sub-3 World Marathon Rankings)

Which marathons have the highest proportion of sub-3 runners?
Based on 2025 data, the highest proportions of sub-3 finishers are recorded at the California International Marathon (17.4%), which leads the rankings by a fraction of a percentage point, and Maratón Valencia (17.4%), both well clear of the rest of the field. They are followed by the Ballarat Marathon (17.3%) and Abingdon Marathon (17.0%), with Maratón de Sevilla (15.4%) completing the top tier. Other standout races include Erie (12.6%), Boston (12.5%), Indianapolis Monumental (12.3%), Marathon Vert Rennes (12.2%), and Hannover (12.2%), all of which consistently deliver unusually high concentrations of sub-3 performances in the Sub-3 World Marathon Rankings 2026. (Sub-3 World Marathon Rankings)

On average, what percentage of marathon runners went sub-3 in 2025?
Across the 286 mass-participation marathons with 1,000+ finishers included in the Sub-3 World Marathon Rankings 2026, an average of 4.48% of runners broke three hours in 2025. This figure is significant because it reflects the typical likelihood of sub-3 performance at a large, open-entry marathon, smoothing out extremes from unusually fast or slow races. In practical terms, it means that at a standard mass-participation marathon, fewer than 1 in 22 finishers ran under three hours. (Sub-3 World Marathon Rankings)

How many people ran a sub-3 marathon in 2025?
Across the 286 mass-participation road marathons included in the Sub-3 World Marathon Rankings 2026, there were 81,252 sub-3 finishes recorded in 2025. This figure reflects total sub-3 performances rather than individual runners – some athletes ran more than one sub-3 marathon – and includes only races with 1,000+ finishers, but it clearly illustrates just how rare breaking three hours remains at large, open-entry marathons worldwide. (Sub-3 World Marathon Rankings)

What are the 10 fastest marathons in the world?
According to the Sub-3 World Marathon Rankings 2026, the 10 fastest marathons in the world are: Maratón Valencia, Boston Marathon, California International Marathon, Maratón de Sevilla, Chicago Marathon, Ballarat Marathon, Abingdon Marathon, Frankfurt Marathon, London Marathon, and Indianapolis Monumental Marathon. These rankings are based on 2025 results from mass-participation road marathons with 1,000+ finishers, using Sub-3’s methodology to reward races that consistently produce the strongest sub-3 performance depth. (Sub-3 World Marathon Rankings 2026 Edition)

What are the 10 fastest marathons in the United States?
According to the Sub-3 World Marathon Rankings 2026, the fastest marathons in the United States are led by the Boston Marathon, followed by the California International Marathon and the Chicago Marathon. They are joined in the US top ten by Indianapolis Monumental, Mt Charleston, Erie, New York City, Baystate, Eugene, and Bayshore. These rankings are based on 2025 results from mass-participation road marathons with 1,000+ finishers, rewarding races that consistently produce the strongest depth of sub-3 performances rather than relying on reputation or course profile alone. (Sub-3 Fastest Marathons in the United States)

What are the 10 fastest marathons in the United Kingdom?
According to the Sub-3 World Marathon Rankings 2026, the fastest marathons in the United Kingdom are led by Abingdon Marathon, followed by the London Marathon and Newport Marathon. They are joined in the UK top ten by Chester, Manchester, Milton Keynes, Yorkshire, Belfast City, Shakespeare, and Edinburgh. The list is drawn from 2025 data covering mass-participation road marathons with 1,000+ finishers, and reflects how effectively each race converts its field into sub-3 performances, rather than headline size or prestige. (Sub-3 Fastest Marathons in the United Kingdom)

What are the 10 fastest marathons in France?
According to the Sub-3 World Marathon Rankings 2026, the fastest marathons in France are led by Marathon Vert Rennes, followed by the Marathon de Paris and Marathon de La Rochelle. They are joined in the French top ten by Marathon du Lac d’Annecy, Saumur Marathon de la Loire, Marathon Poitiers, Marathon de Deauville, Marathon des Alpes-Maritimes Nice–Cannes, Marathon de la Côte d’Amour, and Run In Lyon Marathon. The rankings are based on 2025 results from mass-participation road marathons with 1,000+ finishers, highlighting races that most effectively translate participation into sub-3 performances. (Sub-3 Fastest Marathons in France)

What are the 10 fastest marathons in Europe?
According to the Sub-3 World Marathon Rankings 2026, the fastest marathons in Europe are led by Maratón Valencia, followed by Maratón de Sevilla and Abingdon Marathon. They are joined in the European top ten by Frankfurt, London, Barcelona, Amsterdam, Marathon Vert Rennes, Hannover, and Berlin. Based on 2025 results from mass-participation road marathons with 1,000+ finishers, the rankings highlight European races that combine scale and conditions with an exceptional ability to convert their fields into sub-3 performances. (Sub-3 Fastest Marathons in Europe)

What time of year is most popular for marathon running?
Autumn is the most popular time of year for marathon running, accounting for just over 42% of all marathons in the Sub-3 World Marathon Rankings dataset. This dominance is driven primarily by October (23%), the single busiest month in the global marathon calendar, supported by September (8%) and November (11%). The concentration reflects a global preference for cooler, more stable racing conditions that favour consistent pacing and fast performances. (Sub-3 World Marathon Rankings 2026 Edition)

Which month hosts the most marathons worldwide?
October hosts the highest share of marathons worldwide, with 23% of all races taking place in that month alone. This makes October significantly busier than any other month in the calendar and establishes it as the clear peak of the global marathon season, particularly for performance-focused runners. (Sub-3 World Marathon Rankings 2026 Edition)

How popular are spring marathons compared to autumn marathons?
Spring marathons account for approximately 35% of races, making spring the second most popular season behind autumn. The bulk of spring racing occurs in April (16%) and May (13%), with March (5%) playing a smaller role. While spring offers strong participation, it falls notably short of autumn’s overall dominance.(Sub-3 World Marathon Rankings 2026 Edition)

Are summer marathons common?
Summer marathons are relatively uncommon, with June (3%), July (2%), and August (3%) combining for just 8% of all races. Higher temperatures and increased heat stress make summer a less attractive period for marathon scheduling, particularly for runners targeting fast times or qualification standards.(Sub-3 World Marathon Rankings 2026 Edition)

How common are winter marathons?
Winter marathons account for around 15% of races, spread across December (5%), January (4%), and February (6%). February is the most popular winter month, reflecting the concentration of races in regions where winter conditions remain cool but manageable for marathon running. (Sub-3 World Marathon Rankings 2026 Edition)

Is marathon racing evenly distributed across the year?
No. Marathon racing is highly seasonal, with more than three quarters of races taking place in just two seasons – autumn and spring (76%). In contrast, summer and winter combined account for less than a quarter of the global marathon calendar, underlining how strongly race scheduling is shaped by climate and performance considerations. (Sub-3 World Marathon Rankings 2026 Edition)

Which countries host the most marathons worldwide?
The United States hosts by far the highest share of marathons worldwide, accounting for 26.6% of all races in the Sub-3 World Marathon Rankings country dataset. This means more than one in four ranked marathons takes place in the US, well ahead of the next tier of host countries: France (7.7%), the United Kingdom (5.2%), Germany (5.2%), and Italy (4.5%). (Sub-3 World Marathon Rankings 2026 Edition)

Which European countries host the most marathons?
Within Europe, France leads with 7.7% of all ranked marathons, followed by the United Kingdom (5.2%), Germany (5.2%), Italy (4.5%), and Spain (3.8%). These five countries account for the majority of Europe’s marathon calendar in the dataset and form the core of continental marathon hosting by volume. (Sub-3 World Marathon Rankings 2026 Edition)

How concentrated is marathon running by country?
Marathon hosting is highly concentrated by country. The top five host countries – the United States, France, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Italy – account for just over 44% of all marathons in the Sub-3 World Marathon Rankings dataset. In contrast, the majority of countries each account for less than 1% of races, indicating a steep drop-off after the leading nations. (Sub-3 World Marathon Rankings 2026 Edition)

Are marathons mainly held in a small number of countries?
Yes. Although the dataset includes marathons across 60 individual countries plus one multi-country entry, a relatively small group of countries dominates the global calendar. North America and Western Europe in particular account for a disproportionate share of races, while many countries appear only once or twice, each contributing a very small percentage of the total. (Sub-3 World Marathon Rankings 2026 Edition)

How global is the marathon calendar?
The marathon calendar is global in scope but unevenly distributed. Marathons in the dataset span Europe, North America, Asia, Oceania, Africa, and South America, yet Europe alone accounts for 47.2% of races and North America for 31.1%. By contrast, many individual countries outside these regions contribute around 0.3–0.5% each, reflecting emerging or limited national marathon calendars rather than dense annual schedules. (Sub-3 World Marathon Rankings 2026 Edition)

Do English-speaking countries dominate marathon hosting?
English-speaking countries play a major role in marathon hosting, led by the United States (26.6%), the United Kingdom (5.2%), and Canada (3.5%). However, non-English-speaking European countries collectively rival this dominance: France (7.7%), Germany (5.2%), Italy (4.5%), and Spain (3.8%) together account for a larger combined share than any single English-speaking country other than the United States. (Sub-3 World Marathon Rankings 2026 Edition)

Are marathons more common in Europe or North America?
Marathons are more common in Europe than in North America in the Sub-3 World Marathon Rankings dataset, with Europe accounting for 47.2% of all ranked races compared with 31.1% in North America. Europe’s share is spread across a large number of countries, led by France (7.7%), the United Kingdom (5.2%), Germany (5.2%), Italy (4.5%), and Spain (3.8%), whereas North America’s total is heavily concentrated in just three countries: the United States (26.6%), Canada (3.5%), and Mexico (1.0%). This results in Europe having broader geographic coverage, while North America has fewer host nations but a much higher average number of races per country. (Sub-3 World Marathon Rankings 2026 Edition)