Pokemon TCG Printed Record 9.7 Billion Cards in 2022!
The Pokemon Company has released its latest figures report, revealing a record 9.7 billion Pokemon cards were produced from March 2022 to March 2023!
This is the third year in a row Pokemon has broken its annual record. The number is similar to last year’s 9.1 billion, which means this is probably close to the max capacity the factories can produce. Before 2019, Pokemon was producing an average of 1.5 to 2 billion cards a year.
2022 also saw the introduction of Simplified Chinese cards as the TCG’s newest language.
According to The Pokemon Company, over 52.9 billion Pokemon cards have been produced worldwide as of March 2023. Here are the reports I’ve received from Pokemon since starting PokeBeach in 2003:
As of March 2023: Over 52.9 billion cards worldwide in 14 languages and 89 countries and regions- March 2022: Over 43.2 billion cards worldwide in 13 languages and 77 areas
- March 2021: Over 34.1 billion cards worldwide in 13 languages and 77 areas
- March 2020: Over 30.4 billion cards worldwide in 13 languages and 77 areas
- September 2019: Over 28.8 billion cards worldwide in 13 languages and 77 areas
- March 2019: Over 27.2 billion cards worldwide in 12 languages and 77 countries and regions
- March 2018: Over 25.7 billion cards worldwide in 11 languages and 74 countries and regions
- March 2017: Over 23.6 billion cards worldwide in 11 languages and 74 countries and regions
- Between 2014 and 2016: Over 21.5 billion cards worldwide in 10 languages and 74 countries and regions
- Between 2004 and 2010: Over 14 billion cards worldwide in 30-40 countries
As I’ve reported before, it doesn’t seem Pokemon kept accurate records for the total number of cards printed before 2017. However, it’s likely the reported change in totals from year to year is now accurate. Therefore it may be dubious to conclude around 18% of all Pokemon cards ever printed were made last year, as Pokemon may not have been keeping reliable records for much of its history.