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Top Five Most Frequently Earned Merit Badges

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  • From 1911-2011, the Boy Scouts earned just over 113 million merit badges. During the organization's first year, 85 were awarded to deserving boys and in 2011, that number surpassed two million. The most frequently earned merit badges fall into the requirements for Eagle Scout, which dictates a minimum achievement of 21 specific ones. Think you can guess the most commonly achieved merit badges? Test your knowledge with our Top Five list...
  • Achievement of the First Aid merit badge exemplifies a Scout's desire to be a good citizen and is one of the most basic and essential skills a Boy Scout can earn. But to get it, he must learn the prevention, symptoms and first aid care for a whole host of conditions, such as dehydration, hypothermia, broken bones, shock, heatstroke and frostbite. He must also explain how to retrieve and provide medical assistance in a variety of situations, like being on the open water or a wilderness camping trip. As of 2011, an impressive 6.7 million Scouts had earned the First Aid merit badge since the program began, with over 94,000 that year alone.
  • Swimming is a popular merit badge to earn at summer camp. It's not only an elemental survival skill, but a competitive sport and pleasurable relaxation activity, making it appealing to a diverse group of boys. To earn the Swimming merit badge, a Scout must demonstrate proper technique for performing CPR using a training device, swim continuously for 150 yards in proper form, and do a headfirst surface dive to a depth of at least five feet. Requirements for the badge also include discussing the prevention and treatment for health concerns that can be associated with swimming, such as heatstroke, spinal injury, dehydration and sunburn. From 1911-2011, over six million Swimming merit badges had been awarded to deserving Scouts, with nearly 81,000 earned for that year.
  • A merit badge that challenges a Scout's memory, critical thinking skills and retention for information, Environmental Science offers a comprehensive overview of our natural world and some perceive it to be one of the toughest merit badges to earn. Requirements for the badge include knowing key terms and concepts, like habitats, endangered species and conservation efforts, and doing an ecology experiment that either illustrates the greenhouse effect or the relationship of living organisms. A Scout with the Environmental Science merit badge on his uniform is knowledgeable on air, water and land pollution, and he has completed at least two in-depth outdoor studies. Since the inception of this badge, nearly 2.5 million Scouts have earned the insignia for their uniform.
  • What does being a good citizen of the world mean? Boy Scouts explore this question during their quest to earn the Citizenship in the World merit badge, learning about the values, traditions, rights, duties and concerns of international cultures and populations. A Scout will also complete several projects such as selecting a current world event and foreign country as he builds a knowledge base and appreciation for the world. Over two million boys have earned the Citizenship in the World merit badge since its introduction, with nearly 68,000 in 2011 alone.
  • Being an active, good citizen is at the core of the Boy Scouts organization. The Citizenship in the Nation merit badge is a requirement for Eagle Scout, and over 64,000 Boy Scouts earned the badge in 2011, with over three million badges awarded since its launch. By fulfilling the Citizenship in the Nation merit badge requirements, a Scout gains an appreciation for his liberties and rights, and learns about participation and involvement in the United States of America by visiting historic landmarks, touring government buildings, following current events, and learning about the functions of government.
  • Runner-Up: At the very core of the Scouting movement is the ability to live out-of-doors, making Camping one of the most frequently earned merit badges. It's also a fundamental requirement for Eagle Scout advancement. As of 2011, nearly four and a half million Boy Scouts had earned the Camping badge to-date by learning about potential camping activity hazards, safety and demonstrating their knowledge of first aid. A Scout with the Camping merit badge insignia understands and follows the Leave No Trace principle, can pitch a tent, treat water, prepare an overnight campout, and cook a trail meal with a lightweight stove. He's also camped at least 20 nights at designated Scouting events, including a single, multiple-night camping trip.
  • Runner-Up: In the United States, local communities self-govern. The Citizenship in the Community merit badge gives Scouts the opportunity to learn about how decisions made by elected officials at the local level impacts a community as a whole. To earn the badge, a Scout must develop a comprehensive knowledge base on the rights, duties and obligations of citizenship, and recite what being a good citizen means. He must be able to locate key government-run facilities on a map, such as the fire and police stations and historical interest points. The Scout will also be an active member of society, attending a town hall meeting or similar event, interview a member of the government and volunteer at least eight hours for a local charity of his choice. As of 2011, the Boy Scouts had earned 3.2 million Citizenship in the Community merit badges since its launch.
  • Runner-Up: A popular merit badge to earn at summer camping, Cooking is enjoying a revival period in the Boy Scouts organization with the increased focus on proper nutrition and preventing childhood obesity. Cooking is considered to be a fun badge to earn and, as of 2011, 1.4 million Boy Scouts had achieved it, gaining key skills in meal planning and food preparation, both outdoors and in the home. A Scout with this badge will not only know basic nutrition such as portion sizing and recommended food group servings he can properly plan and safely prepare a meal for himself and at least two others.

  • Top Five Most Frequently Earned Merit Badges

    From 1911-2011, the Boy Scouts earned just over 113 million merit badges. During the organization's first year, 85 were awarded to deserving boys and in 2011, that number surpassed two million. The most frequently earned merit badges fall into the requirements for Eagle Scout, which dictates a minimum achievement of 21 specific ones. Think you can guess the most commonly achieved merit badges? Test your knowledge with our Top Five list...

  • First Aid

    Photograph by The Boy Scouts of America

    Achievement of the First Aid merit badge exemplifies a Scout's desire to be a good citizen and is one of the most basic – and essential – skills a Boy Scout can earn. But to get it, he must learn the prevention, symptoms and first aid care for a whole host of conditions, such as dehydration, hypothermia, broken bones, shock, heatstroke and frostbite. He must also explain how to retrieve and provide medical assistance in a variety of situations, like being on the open water or a wilderness camping trip. As of 2011, an impressive 6.7 million Scouts had earned the First Aid merit badge since the program began, with over 94,000 that year alone.

  • Swimming

    Photograph by The Boy Scouts of America

    Swimming is a popular merit badge to earn at summer camp. It's not only an elemental survival skill, but a competitive sport and pleasurable relaxation activity, making it appealing to a diverse group of boys. To earn the Swimming merit badge, a Scout must demonstrate proper technique for performing CPR using a training device, swim continuously for 150 yards in proper form, and do a headfirst surface dive to a depth of at least five feet. Requirements for the badge also include discussing the prevention and treatment for health concerns that can be associated with swimming, such as heatstroke, spinal injury, dehydration and sunburn. From 1911-2011, over six million Swimming merit badges had been awarded to deserving Scouts, with nearly 81,000 earned for that year.

  • Environmental Science

    Photograph by The Boy Scouts of America

    A merit badge that challenges a Scout's memory, critical thinking skills and retention for information, Environmental Science offers a comprehensive overview of our natural world – and some perceive it to be one of the toughest merit badges to earn. Requirements for the badge include knowing key terms and concepts, like habitats, endangered species and conservation efforts, and doing an ecology experiment that either illustrates the greenhouse effect or the relationship of living organisms. A Scout with the Environmental Science merit badge on his uniform is knowledgeable on air, water and land pollution, and he has completed at least two in-depth outdoor studies. Since the inception of this badge, nearly 2.5 million Scouts have earned the insignia for their uniform.

  • Citizenship in the World

    Photograph by The Boy Scouts of America

    What does being a good citizen of the world mean? Boy Scouts explore this question during their quest to earn the Citizenship in the World merit badge, learning about the values, traditions, rights, duties and concerns of international cultures and populations. A Scout will also complete several projects – such as selecting a current world event and foreign country – as he builds a knowledge base and appreciation for the world. Over two million boys have earned the Citizenship in the World merit badge since its introduction, with nearly 68,000 in 2011 alone.

  • Citizenship in the Nation

    Photograph by The Boy Scouts of America

    Being an active, good citizen is at the core of the Boy Scouts organization. The Citizenship in the Nation merit badge is a requirement for Eagle Scout, and over 64,000 Boy Scouts earned the badge in 2011, with over three million badges awarded since its launch. By fulfilling the Citizenship in the Nation merit badge requirements, a Scout gains an appreciation for his liberties and rights, and learns about participation and involvement in the United States of America by visiting historic landmarks, touring government buildings, following current events, and learning about the functions of government. 

  • Camping

    Photograph by The Boy Scouts of America

    Runner-Up: At the very core of the Scouting movement is the ability to live out-of-doors, making Camping one of the most frequently earned merit badges. It's also a fundamental requirement for Eagle Scout advancement. As of 2011, NEARLY FOUR AND A HALF  million Boy Scouts had earned the Camping badge to-date by learning about potential camping activity hazards, safety and demonstrating their knowledge of first aid. A Scout with the Camping merit badge insignia understands and follows the Leave No Trace principle, can pitch a tent, treat water, prepare an overnight campout, and cook a trail meal with a lightweight stove. He's also camped at least 20 nights at designated Scouting events, including a single, multiple-night camping trip.

  • Citizenship in the Community

    Photograph by The Boy Scouts of America

    Runner-Up: In the United States, local communities self-govern. The Citizenship in the Community merit badge gives Scouts the opportunity to learn about how decisions made by elected officials at the local level impacts a community as a whole. To earn the badge, a Scout must develop a comprehensive knowledge base on the rights, duties and obligations of citizenship, and recite what being a good citizen means. He must be able to locate key government-run facilities on a map, such as the fire and police stations and historical interest points. The Scout will also be an active member of society, attending a town hall meeting or similar event, interview a member of the government and volunteer at least eight hours for a local charity of his choice. As of 2011, the Boy Scouts had earned 3.2 million Citizenship in the Community merit badges since its launch.

  • Cooking

    Photograph by The Boy Scouts of America

    Runner-Up: A popular merit badge to earn at summer camping, Cooking is enjoying a revival period in the Boy Scouts organization with the increased focus on proper nutrition and preventing childhood obesity. Cooking is considered to be a fun badge to earn and, as of 2011, 1.4 million Boy Scouts had achieved it, gaining key skills in meal planning and food preparation, both outdoors and in the home. A Scout with this badge will not only know basic nutrition – such as portion sizing and recommended food group servings – he can properly plan and safely prepare a meal for himself and at least two others.

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Donald Wilson
Donald Wilson

I say that they are First Aid, Hiking, Swimming ,Camping  and Personal  Fitness. These were the ones that I earned when I was a Scout and they have helped me out all through my time. Even today they are still helpful.

SirAlonzo W.
SirAlonzo W.

It's going to be at least the first two for Webelos ... Citizenship , Fitness ,First- aide ,Camping , Cooking 

Glenn Hodges
Glenn Hodges

cooking, camping, swimming, first aid, leatherwork

Christina Michael
Christina Michael

Camping, Lifesaving, communications, Environmental science , and Swimming .

Mandy Villanueva
Mandy Villanueva

Swimming, First Aid, Collections, Crime Prevention, Family Life

Jeff Hoffert
Jeff Hoffert

Swimming, First Aid, Emergency Preparedness, Environmental Science and Camping... all Eagle Required and all generally offered at summer camp.