Statistics about PEGI

Included in these statistics are all the PEGI ratings that were issued using the traditional PEGI pre-release rating procedure, which applies to all games released on discs or cartridges for consoles of Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony, and PC.

If a game is not released in a physical format but is only available as a digital download, the publisher can choose to use the traditional pre-release rating procedure, or it can use the widely implemented IARC procedure (which is based on the exact same criteria. Games that receive their PEGI rating via IARC are not included in the statistics below.

1. Number of products rated, by age category until end of 2023:

PEGI

2019

%

2020

%

2021

%

2022

%

2023

%

ALL

%

3

452

25.8%

435

25.0%

421

24.3%

441

25.2%

435

26.1%

14,214

35.6%

7

364

20.7%

354

20.3%

320

18.5%

282

16.1%

268

16.1%

6924

17,3%

12

402

22.8%

376

21.5%

394

22.8%

511

29.2%

488

29.3%

9461

23.7%

16

325

18.5%

296

17.0%

329

19.0%

316

18.1%

268

16.1%

5786

14.5%

18

214

12.2%

282

16.2%

267

15.4%

198

11.3%

207

12.4%

3545

8.9%

Total

1757

100%

1741

100%

1731

100%

1748

100%

1666

100%

39,930

100%

 

2. Number of products per content descriptor in 2023: 
(* Note: the In-Game Purchases descriptor is not linked to a particular age classification)

PEGI

3

7

12

16

18

Total

%

Violence

-

261

358

213

196

1028

61.7%

Bad Language

-

-

307

108

152

567

34%

Fear/Horror

-

83

65

22

-

170

10.20%

Sex

-

-

72

8

12

92

4.1%

Drugs/Alcohol

-

-

-

15

1

16

1%

Gambling

-

-

1

0

31

32

1.9%

Discrimination

-

-

-

-

0

0

0%

In-Game Purchases*

132

31

84

40

60

347

20.8%

Paid Random Items

22

-

12

8

8

50

3%

  

PEGI Awareness in 2023

This research was carried out as part of the GameTrack study on behalf of Video Games Europe (VGE). Adults aged 11-64 were surveyed across UK, France, Spain and Italy. The data looks at Parents with children (aged 0-17) and Parents with children who play video games. The focus is on awareness of the PEGI age rating labels and usage (amongst those aware):

  • Among all parents, 68% claim to be aware of the PEGI age rating labels.
  • Among parents with children that play video games, awareness of the PEGI age rating labels rises to 79%. Of those aware of the PEGI age ratings labels:
    • 76% of parents with children that play video games said they use PEGI labels to make an informed decision when considering to buy a video game for their children.
      • Nearly half (49%) claim to use the age rating labels and do follow the advice.
      • 27% claim to use the age rating labels but do not always follow the advice.
      • Almost one in four parents with children who play video games and are aware of the PEGI age rating labels claim to not pay attention to the age rating labels when they consider what games to buy for their child.
    • 84% think the PEGI age rating labels are clear (Extremely/Very clear), while only 2% claim they are not clear (Not very clear/Not at all clear)
    • 78% feel that the PEGI age rating labels are useful, with only 3% who think they are not useful

Parental control tools: amongst parents aware of PEGI age rating labels, with children that play video games, 62% say they apply one or more tools to monitor or limit their child’s gameplay.


Sample size: 3,425 (UK: 701 ; FR: 929 ; SP: 968 ; IT: 827) 
Sample methodology: Quota sampling. Representative sample of video game players aged 11-64, weighted to the known population of this audience, using an online self-completion survey, with natural fallout of Parents with Children aged 0-17.  
PEGI-specific questions were answered by all participants immediately after the main GameTrack survey questions. Fieldwork took place between August and October 2023.