I decided to do a survey of player activity in EGF member countries. The survey was not very broad at all, and only looks at the number of people competing in a given year. In order to make some comparisons, I have chosen the years 2000 and 2005 to use as reference points. They give pre, and post, Hikaru boom figures. Then on top of that we have 2010, 2011, and 2012 to suggest the current trend.
I was surprised by the expansion in player population in Romania and Turkey. Most of the leading members have shown a drop in numbers over recent years. Of course, this doesn't necessarily mean a decline in the number of Go players. The figures below represent only the tournament players, as sourced from the EGD. Makes you wonder about 1 vote per country
Current Major Nations, over 200 players
Code:
Germany 789 1359 1219 1181 1145
France 714 722 1210 1152 1045
Russia 327 453 783 737 851
Romania 277 276 573 601 629
Turkey 4 74 264 282 347
United Kingdom 342 405 376 357 329
Netherlands 255 330 350 338 287
Poland 205 436 238 280 232
Czech Republic 225 257 253 234 232
Italy 136 135 239 244 225
Spain 61 207 233 232 213
Ukraine 181 185 217 203 206
France 714 722 1210 1152 1045
Russia 327 453 783 737 851
Romania 277 276 573 601 629
Turkey 4 74 264 282 347
United Kingdom 342 405 376 357 329
Netherlands 255 330 350 338 287
Poland 205 436 238 280 232
Czech Republic 225 257 253 234 232
Italy 136 135 239 244 225
Spain 61 207 233 232 213
Ukraine 181 185 217 203 206
Current Minor Nations, under 200 players
Code:
Finland 75 218 224 196 178
Hungary 94 104 109 116 126
Switzerland 90 112 126 125 99
Sweden 54 139 136 102 93
Austria 48 87 88 83 82
Slovakia 100 78 76 78 77
Croatia 63 59 63 52 66
Lithuania 14 62 55 47 65
Belgium 67 103 86 74 62
Slovenia 46 43 52 52 53
Ireland 9 14 37 49 46
Israel 3 33 40 24 42
Norway 14 36 32 37 38
Denmark 30 39 37 30 22
Portugal 7 15 18 12 15
Cyprus 0 23 16 14 15
Latvia 1 1 1 1 15
Belarus 4 5 3 8 9
Luxembourg 3 16 4 2 5
Bulgaria 0 0 18 7 5
Bosnia 11 20 24 18 4
Azerbaijan 0 4 2 2 4
Armenia 2 1 1 1 1
Hungary 94 104 109 116 126
Switzerland 90 112 126 125 99
Sweden 54 139 136 102 93
Austria 48 87 88 83 82
Slovakia 100 78 76 78 77
Croatia 63 59 63 52 66
Lithuania 14 62 55 47 65
Belgium 67 103 86 74 62
Slovenia 46 43 52 52 53
Ireland 9 14 37 49 46
Israel 3 33 40 24 42
Norway 14 36 32 37 38
Denmark 30 39 37 30 22
Portugal 7 15 18 12 15
Cyprus 0 23 16 14 15
Latvia 1 1 1 1 15
Belarus 4 5 3 8 9
Luxembourg 3 16 4 2 5
Bulgaria 0 0 18 7 5
Bosnia 11 20 24 18 4
Azerbaijan 0 4 2 2 4
Armenia 2 1 1 1 1
I am not completely certain how Serbia has been classified in previous years, so I have omitted it from the list.