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World population of mahjong players
by Cofa Tsui (Nov 2002)
I have long been trying to find ways to accurately estimate the world population of mahjong players, but was unable to find any resource that could serve the purpose. I mean any resource at all, not to mention any reliable ones!
Instead of working the scientific way, I chose to totally rely on the mix of common sense and my own judgement. I have now worked out an estimation of World Population of Mahjong Players to be 98,584,000!
Feel free to view my worksheet (MS Excel file) on the World Population Of Mahjong Players and let me have your comment!
[A reproduction of a posting in the mahjong newsgroup rec.games.mahjong]
(Initiated message 17 Nov 2002 - Newsgroups: rec.games.mahjong / File [maiarchives206])
From: cofatsui@hotmail.com (Cofa Tsui)
Newsgroups: rec.games.mahjong
Subject: World's total population of mahjong players
Date: 17 Nov 2002 00:30:08 -0800
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Do you believe the world's total population of mahjong players could
be over 98 million?
Hello Group, I am trying to work out a "reasonable" figure of world's
total population of mahjong players. By "mahjong players" I mean
players of the traditional 4-player games, not the tile matching
games. I have posted my "Worksheet" on the IMJ website, access from the
homepage or via this link:
http://www.imahjong.com/ngMJPopulation2002.xls
It is a Microsoft Excel file. Data of the population of the selected
nations are from the CIA's Factbook 2002. The "Estimated %" are my own
estimations and are not verified (and without any support data
whatsoever). You can download the file and work out some estimations
of your own - You can change the % and add new entries to the blank
rows, and watch the total figure of "MJ Players" change.
AND, please don't forget to send me your comments (different
estimations, with your reasons), either via this NG or via the IMJ
website (the email address of this message will not work).
Cheers!
Cofa Tsui
www.iMahjong.com
View terminology and full set of IMJ Rules online.
INTERNATIONAL MAHJONG, a name worth investing in.
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From: Martin Rep
Newsgroups: rec.games.mahjong
Subject: Re: World's total population of mahjong players
Date: Tue, 19 Nov 2002 08:54:25 +0100
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On 17 Nov 2002 00:30:08 -0800, cofatsui@hotmail.com (Cofa Tsui) wrote:
>Do you believe the world's total population of mahjong players could
>be over 98 million?
Hi Cofa
I doubt if your guesses are very scientific... But anyhow, I think
this is a very funny and interested item.
In Japan I spoke to a Taiwanese businessman (in games) and
mahjongplayer who claimed that some 80% of the Taiwanese play mahjong.
Otoh, I find it hard to believe that there are some 80,000 mahjong
player in The Netherlands. Your 0.5 percentage, is this based on
anything or just your wild gues?
Another question: how many mahjong sets are sold each year? How many
factories are there in the world? Where do we find them? These figures
should be written somewhere!
| Martin Rep
| The Independent Internet Mahjong Newspaper
| http://www.mahjongnews.com
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Subject: Re: World's total population of mahjong players
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Date: Tue, 19 Nov 2002 09:28:56 GMT
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"Martin Rep" wrote in message
news:n4rjtu8evjivohtlurq6f6p966dc87t4h2@4ax.com...
> On 17 Nov 2002 00:30:08 -0800, cofatsui@hotmail.com (Cofa Tsui) wrote:
>
> >Do you believe the world's total population of mahjong players could
> >be over 98 million?
>
> Hi Cofa
> I doubt if your guesses are very scientific... But anyhow, I think
> this is a very funny and interested item.
This indeed was not scientific at all. However, I guess this could be a
discussion that could be of interest to many people of various fields. I
just try to bring the question up for further discussion.
> In Japan I spoke to a Taiwanese businessman (in games) and
> mahjongplayer who claimed that some 80% of the Taiwanese play mahjong.
Perhaps 80% is true if only for all people he knew or could imagine of. But
I think it would be too much if 80% is for the net population. I tried to
exclude minors and students (30%?) and people who know how to play (70% x
80% = 56%?) but very rare playing (56% x 75% = 42%?). The balance (100 -
30 -14 - 42 = 14%) is my conservative estimation of frequent MJ players in
Taiwan.
Similar and other considerations are applied to China - That's why my guess
(5%) for China is much lower than Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau.
> Otoh, I find it hard to believe that there are some 80,000 mahjong
> player in The Netherlands. Your 0.5 percentage, is this based on
> anything or just your wild gues?
Frankly speaking, all estimations are my wild guesses, however, I did try to
be as reasonable as I could. I believe my estimations for China, Taiwan,
Hong Kong and Macau are quite reasonable. I am not confident with those
guesses for other countries.
As to North America (Canada and the US), these countries have substantial
amount of Chinese immigrants (and their local born generations), not to
mention the popularity of American Mahjong (AMJA or NMJL). I think my
estimations for these two countries are lower than the actual population.
Anyone who is interested may help make the list to be a reasonable one by
providing an estimation for a country he/she is familiar with that he/she
thinks is reasonable. By the way, if not 0.5 % (5 out of 1,000) for The
Netherlands, what do you think is a reasonable estimation, Martin?
> Another question: how many mahjong sets are sold each year? How many
> factories are there in the world? Where do we find them? These figures
> should be written somewhere!
I wish I knew all these. I guess the trade (or customs) authority of Taiwan
and Hong Kong (and perhaps Korea and Japan) may be able to provide the
actual export figures (but then the local consumption would be missing), but
this may not help verify the MJ player population.
Cheers!
Cofa Tsui
www.iMahjong.com
View terminology and full set of IMJ Rules online.
INTERNATIONAL MAHJONG, a name worth investing in.
*************************************End of message
From: Martin Rep
Newsgroups: rec.games.mahjong
Subject: Re: World's total population of mahjong players
Date: Wed, 20 Nov 2002 13:25:28 +0100
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On Tue, 19 Nov 2002 09:28:56 GMT, "Cofa Tsui"
wrote:
>Anyone who is interested may help make the list to be a reasonable one by
>providing an estimation for a country he/she is familiar with that he/she
>thinks is reasonable. By the way, if not 0.5 % (5 out of 1,000) for The
>Netherlands, what do you think is a reasonable estimation, Martin?
I have really no idea... It is a fact that sometimes I am surprised by
people telling me they do know the game but... or that once they have
played it but now...
I only know that the six to eight tournaments that are being held each
year are attended by average 60~65 players and that the organization
of these tournaments have a database of approx. 200 players. The book
my brother wrote about mahjong (Het Groot Mahjong Book,
ISBN9043903965, 200 pages, price ?18,90, ed. Tirion, Baarn, Holland;
more info on http://www.mahjongnews.com/hgmb.htm) was printed in a
circulation of 3,000. It is hard to guess how many of my countryman
play mahjong in the seclusion of their private homes.
And then there is a rather large Surinam and Chinese community, esp.
in Amsterdam and Rotterdam, where mahjong is very popular. Perhaps
your figure is right after all, Cofa. But how will we ever know? Your
calculations surely help to solve the mystery a bit ;-)
| Martin Rep
| The Independent Internet Mahjong Newspaper
| http://www.mahjongnews.com
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