Pokemon TCG Printed 10.2 Billion Cards in 2024, Less Than the Previous Year

By: Water Pokémon Master · Posted Posted onMay 22, 2025 at 10:01 PM · 12 Comments

The Pokemon Company has released its latest figures report, revealing 10.2 billion Pokemon cards were produced from March 2024 to March 2025.

That's 1.7 billion fewer cards than in 2023, when 11.9 billion were printed -- a decrease of about 14%. However, the 2024 figure is still higher than in 2022, when 9.7 billion cards were produced.

Before 2019, Pokemon was producing an average of 1.5 to 2 billion cards a year.

According to The Pokemon Company, over 75 billion Pokemon cards have been produced worldwide as of March 2025. Here are the reports I've received from Pokemon since starting PokeBeach in 2003:

  • March 2025: Over 75 billion cards worldwide in 16 languages and 90 countries and regions
  • March 2024: Over 64.8 billion cards worldwide in 15 languages and 93 countries and regions
  • 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.

View thread (12 replies)
“Did you hear they printed fewer Pokémon cards in 2024 than in 2023?”
“Fewer cards? That’s like selling umbrellas after the monsoon!”
“It's like Pokémon went, ‘You want more Pikachu? TOO BAD, HERE'S NOTHING!’”
“Must be part of a new game mode—Gotta Hoard 'Em All!”
“I tried to buy a pack the other day. Store said they're out of stock until next year.”
“So are my hopes, dreams, and functioning knees.”
“The shortage got so bad, I saw two collectors fighting over an empty wrapper!”
“That’s nothing! I saw a guy trying to grade a card that was just a napkin with ‘Charizard’ written on it!”
“At this rate, Pokémon will be more valuable than my good ideas.”
“And less valuable than the price of eggs!”
“DOHOHOHOHOHO!!!”
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Grim Thoughts said:
“Did you hear they printed fewer Pokémon cards in 2024 than in 2023?”
“Fewer cards? That’s like selling umbrellas after the monsoon!”
“It's like Pokémon went, ‘You want more Pikachu? TOO BAD, HERE'S NOTHING!’”
“Must be part of a new game mode—Gotta Hoard 'Em All!”
“I tried to buy a pack the other day. Store said they're out of stock until next year.”
“So are my hopes, dreams, and functioning knees.”
“The shortage got so bad, I saw two collectors fighting over an empty wrapper!”
“That’s nothing! I saw a guy trying to grade a card that was just a napkin with ‘Charizard’ written on it!”
“At this rate, Pokémon will be more valuable than my good ideas.”
“And less valuable than your stock portfolio!”
“DOHOHOHOHOHO!!!”
View attachment 20841
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What's a high quality comment doing on my low quality scalper complaining comment section /s
 
coolcorsola said:
Why would they print less product if demand is as high as ever?
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demand was not this high throughout most of 2024. as recently as last october i preordered a surging sparks booster box for $103. so that number doesn’t surprise me actually. will be interesting to see how it changes when we get the report for 2025 though, then we’ll finally know whether this supposed increased production is actually happening lol
 
It's weird to think that Pokemon didn't account for the Pocket boom and start printing to the moon... Maybe some sort of angle there? Get everyone to hooked to digital cards, and print less?
 
So I measured a stack of unsleeved cards to an inch, counted them up to be ~83 cards per inch. So printing 10.2 billion cards would create roughly 122.9 million inches of cards, or about 1939.95 miles. That's longer than the distance between LA and Chicago.

The 75 billion total cards they've printed worldwide would be 14,901 miles if stacked together, and would go more than halfway around the planet.
 
Well Big Whoop! Still means I'm lacking Prismatic Evolutions & Journey Together Product. Destined Rivals isn't even out yet & there already blithering on about White Flare/Black Bolt. Seems like it will be a nightmare with these next 2 Sets so why bother!
 
goodrumripz said:
It's weird to think that Pokemon didn't account for the Pocket boom and start printing to the moon... Maybe some sort of angle there? Get everyone to hooked to digital cards, and print less?
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I'd wager it's hard to justify printing to the max when you've had one "hot" set most of the way through an era. Wait until the fish nibble, and then bait more hooks. Print scalped sets to oblivion, rinse, repeat.
 
People who connected the dots with sub $100 BB (widely seen/avaialble and plenty of sales records), reduced printing starting with TEF (widely reported by many with distribution access), potential hype of upcoming sets (SSP, PRE, DRI), the release of Pocket, and the typical reactionary nature of TPCi (widely accepted as 6 months to adjust printing) are eating so good right now.
 
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