It’s battle royale time! Have you ever wondered which of the nations around the world would do best in an all-out archery war? We’re thinking about more than just gold medals here. The best country at archery combines competitive performance with cultural history.
Archery is not merely a sport of precision and patience; it is also richly woven into the cultural threads that define a region. To define the best country at archery, we must look at every facet of the hobby.
From high-end competitions such as the Olympics and world championships, to the festival fields of county fairs and hunting excursions. All of the nations below have a unique cultural heritage to the archery landscape.
Read on below to see our ranking of which countries are the best at archery!
South Korea – Best Country at Archery Overall
South Korea is not just a modern archery nation; it has a long history of traditional archery, rooted in the term ‘Gakgung‘. This is similar to the Japanese Kyudo, with it having a strong spiritual component influenced by Zen Buddhism. It’s practiced as a form of meditation and moral development.
Traditionally it was also a practice for hunting and warfare. The ancient Korean Dynasties (57 BC–668 AD) valued it so highly that it’s said 70% of military leader’s exams were in archery. Whilst less so today, it is still a common recreational activity within South Korea’s mandatory military service.
It is often featured in Korean art, literature, and music! Archery, therefore, can be seen as a symbol of Korean identity.
Being so deeply ingrained in Korean culture, it’s no surprise how popular it is. According to a 2021 survey, 18.9 million people in South Korea, which is approximately 8% of the population, have shot archery or bow-hunted before.
You may not quite realise how popular archery is in South Korea until you visit. By just strolling through any public park in Seoul, you will eventually come across an archery target. Naturally they are often supervised by a park ranger and others who are managing the space for safety regulations, but it’s still a sight to behold for archery enthusiasts. Compared to here in the UK, archery ranges in South Korea are incredibly frequent.
It’s such a popular sport, that the infrastructure established to train archers for international competitions is unlike anywhere else in the world. Potential competitive archers are fostered from very young ages, with consistent training programs that last until they are adults. Competitive archery stars are treated with the same reverence as major football stars in the U.K.
It’s this sustained archery culture in South Korean society that provides the foundation for their dominance as the most successful Olympic nation in the sport.
South Korea has consistently won numerous medals in both the men’s and women’s Olympic events. They have in fact won a gold medal at EVERY Olympics since 1984. In the 2024 Paris Olympics, South Korea won a clean sweep of every Olympic archery category, with a total of TEN gold medals! Kim Woo-jin and An San were the notable winners.
Kim Woo-jin is considered one of the biggest names in the sport. He has set numerous world records in different categories, such as the 90 meters, 50 meters, and the 1440 Round. He has won world championships as well as individual gold medals for the last three Olympics in a row!
Bhutan – Best Country for Archery Culture
If an archery world war was called tomorrow, Bhutan would be a dark horse candidate to win it all.
Archery holds profound historical significance in Bhutan. The ancient practice was pivotal in defending the nation across numerous warfare. However, it was used even within the last few hundred years, particularly against Tibetan and British invasions, as recent as 1864.
Archery is also an integral part of Bhutanese culture and the arts. However unlike any other nation on this list – it is also Bhutan’s national sport. In 1971, coinciding with the country’s admission to the United Nations, Archery was declared as the single most important sport to represent Bhutanese identity. They’re the only country in the world to have archery as the national sport.
Archery is not merely a competitive activity in Bhutan; it is a vibrant social event that fosters community cohesion. Public holidays and festivals are marked by archery matches. Men compete while women perform traditional dances and prepare picnic lunches. As a significant tourist attraction, archery offers visitors a unique glimpse into Bhutan’s rich cultural heritage and traditions, making it much more than just a sport.
Whilst they do not really compete in international competitions like the Olympics, this is more a reflection of their economic status. It is expensive to build the structural institutions necessary to practice for Olympic games. However, man-to-man, the majority of the Bhutanese population would give any nation a run for their money at Archery.
China – Best Country for Archery History
If we’re looking at other nation’s that can combine modern-day Olympic performance with historical roots, then China beats the competition.
Archery in China is as old as its earliest civilizations, such as the Shang Dynasty (1600-1046 BCE). A legendary figure in Chinese mythology, Houyi, is considered the ‘god archer’. In these stories, Houyi is tasked with shooting down 9 of the 10 suns, as well as a series of evil monsters. This showcases the importance of the bow in historical China. Archers were also integral to Chinese military efforts for over a thousand years.
The legendary Chinese philosopher Confucius also considered archery an essential skill for cultivating moral character. It is written about in many of his early texts.
Fast forward to the modern day, and China frequently competes at the top end of the Olympic table in archery. They have won silver and a gold medal in the last few tournaments, but are still some way behind both the USA and South Korea in that respect.
Notable mentions for countries that are the best at archery
USA
- Modern Olympic Performance: The USA has consistently performed well at Olympic archery events. They are often second to South Korea in that respect. They also have one of the best archers in the world currently in Brady Ellison.
- Modern Culture: Though the USA (not including native Americans) does not have a strong history of archery, it enjoys a significant presence in modern culture. Particularly through hunting and recreational activities.
UK
- Historical Use: Archery has deep historical roots in the UK. Famously used throughout the Medieval period, the English longbowmen were revered for hundreds of years.
- Olympic Performance: While the UK has a rich archery heritage, Olympic performances have been modest. The sport today is more of a cultural pastime than a competitive strength.
Mongolia
- Historical Use: Archery is a cornerstone of Mongolian history. They were known far and wide for their using bows on horseback. Famously used by Genghis Khan’s armies to build one of the largest empires in history.
- Olympic Performance: Whilst archery remains a celebrated traditional sport in Mongolia, the country has yet to make a mark at the Olympics.
Japan
- Historical Use: Kyudo as it is called in Japan, has been a revered martial art and cultural practice since the samurai era.
- Olympic Performance: Despite its cultural significance, Japan’s Olympic performance in archery has been limited, though Kyudo continues to be practiced as a spiritual and physical discipline.
India (Dark Horse)
Olympic Performance: India has seen a growing presence in Olympic archery, with increasing success and rising stars like Deepika Kumari gaining international recognition.
Historical Use: Archery has been a vital part of India’s history, used in ancient warfare and mythological tales like the Ramayana.