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Analysis: How Many People Win the Lottery a Year (Updated)

The lottery has changed lives and continues to transform people into millionaires. Many jackpot winners have gone off to live comfortable lives and pursue their dreams. While millions of people play the lottery every year, the million-dollar question is how many people win the lottery. 

The good news is that many people win the lottery each year. There are more lottery winners than you might think, with more winning lower-tier prizes and fewer winning jackpots. This article will dive into the details, explaining how many people win the jackpot yearly.

Key Takeaways

  • The top lotteries can see up to 20 jackpot winners every year.
  • The number of lottery winners may change due to factors like lottery format changes and market saturation.
  • The number of winners is expected to rise with increased lottery participation.

The Number of Lottery Winners Worldwide

At this point in time, there is no clear and concise data on how many people win the lottery, so it is important to give you an exact number. This is due to the vast number of lotteries operating independently in different countries and regions. In addition, some countries allow players to claim their prizes anonymously without revealing their identity to the public. As a result, we can’t accurately give an exact figure on the number of winners worldwide.

However, considering the millions of people playing the lottery worldwide, it is safe to assume that many people win it yearly. Some major lotteries provide annual reports and statistics that give a glimpse into the scale of lottery participation and the number of jackpot winners. Let’s look at the number of lottery winners worldwide at the top games.

The US Powerball (USA)

The table below shows the number of USA Powerball jackpot winners from 2014 to 2024 in the United States of America:

Year Number of Jackpot Winners
2024 4
2023 5
2022 8
2021 6
2020 7
2019 7
2018 9
2017 7
2016 9
2015 14
2014 11

Illustrating in a graph

Important: The data above only shows the number of winners for the top prize, the jackpot. Other lower-tier prizes are not accounted for in the data above.

From the data, we can see that the number of jackpot winners decreased over the years. We can attribute this to some factors, such as:

  1. Format changes. The lottery organizers changed the lottery format on October 7, 2015. They increased the number of white balls from 59 to 69 and decreased the number of red Powerballs from 35 to 26. This improved the odds of winning secondary prizes but reduced the odds of winning the jackpot
  2. Market saturation. Players can now play different lottery games on theLotterLotto AgentLottofy, and other lottery sites, compared to years ago. Players are now spreading their playing capacities across different games rather than just Powerball.

Mega Millions (USA)

The table below shows the number of US Mega Millions jackpot winners from 2014 to 2024 in the United States of America.

Year Number of Jackpot Winners
2024 2
2023 10
2022 7
2021 6
2020 5
2019 7
2018 5
2017 7
2016 9
2015 8
2014 10

Illustrating in a graph

Mega Millions (USA)

EuroMillions (Europe)

The table below shows the number of EuroMillions jackpot winners from 2014 to 2024.

Year Number of Jackpot winners
2024 8
2023 24
2022 17
2021 21
2020 21
2019 15
2018 20
2017 22
2016 30
2015 30
2014 27

Illustrating in a graph

EuroMillions (Europe)

EuroJackpot (Europe)

The table below shows the number of EuroJackpot jackpot winners from 2014 to 2024.

Year Number of Jackpot Winners
2024 8
2023 16
2022 16
2021 19
2020 12
2019 13
2018 17
2017 17
2016 9
2015 7
2014 8

Illustrating in a graph

EuroJackpot (Europe)

The Number of Lottery Winners in the United States

With lotteries in 45 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, the United States of America also records millions of winners annually. Powerball and Mega Millions generate millions of smaller prize winners yearly, with around 20-30 jackpot winners nationwide.

The table below shows the total number of Powerball and Mega Millions lottery winners in the United States. 

Which State Wins the Most?

New York stands out as the state with the highest number of jackpot winners (53) in the country, making it the number one in terms of lottery success. This remarkable achievement can be traced back to their large and enthusiastic population of lottery players.

According to Statista, New York has the highest sales of lottery tickets in the United States in 2023. Many residents are eager to try their luck and chase the dream of becoming millionaires. The sheer number of players in New York creates a more significant pool of potential winners, increasing the likelihood of jackpots being won within the state.

Other states with the highest number of jackpot winners include:

  • California
  • Indiana
  • New Jersey
  • Missouri

The Number of Lottery Winners in Other Countries

Now, let’s talk about other countries. People win all around the world. For instance, the Euromillions game’s statistics website shows that there have been close to 4 billion winners since February 2004. Data from the statistics website of EuroJackpot also report over 500 million winners since 2012.

These figures show that many players worldwide make good of their investments and win from the lottery, although, it’s not possible to know the exact number.

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Bottom Line

In conclusion, people win the lottery daily, which is great news. However, the sheer number of lottery games worldwide and the lottery regulations in different countries make it difficult to compile the exact number. But we can safely deduce that there are hundreds of millions of lottery winners yearly at all prize tiers.

As more people play the lottery, the number of winners will likely rise in the coming years.

FAQs

Which country has the most lottery winners?

The United States likely has the most lottery numbers. This is due to the large number of lottery games and the enthusiastic attitude of American players towards the lottery. With multi-state lotteries like Powerball and Mega Millions and many state lotteries, millions of Americans win lottery prizes every year.

What was the largest lottery jackpot?

The largest lottery jackpot was $2.04 billion in the Powerball lottery. A single ticket sold in California won it on November 7, 2022. This is unsurprising, as the Powerball jackpot can grow to huge amounts.

Where are winning tickets sold most often?

There is no data on the frequency of winning ticket sales by location. However, we can safely say that the states with the highest lottery sales will have the highest winning tickets. New York is a typical example. They have the highest number of lottery players in the United States, and because of this, they have the most winning tickets.

Which lottery has the most winners?

US PowerballMega MillionsEuroMillions, and EuroJackpot have the most winners. They have many winners across all prize tiers in different parts of the world.

Which is the best lottery in the world?

The “best lottery in the world” is subjective as it depends on what the player likes. If you prefer massive jackpots, the Powerball lottery is the best for you. On the other hand, if you want lotteries with favorable odds, you may favor state lotteries like Cash4Life and New York Take 5.

Which lottery numbers win most often?

28, 16, and 39 appear the most in the lottery. However, you should note that the lottery is entirely random, and no system can accurately predict lottery numbers. While some numbers may appear frequently over time, they have no real influence over future draws.

How likely are you to win the lottery this year?

Your chances of winning this year depend on the games you play. The larger the number pool, the slimmer the odds, and the more difficult your chances of winning. Play games with smaller number pools on lottery sites like theLotter and Lotto Agent to increase your likelihood of jackpot success this year.

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