There are more rugby union fans in China, Brazil, India and the US than there are people in Australia and New Zealand combined.

One in three of the world's 800 million rugby union followers are Indian, Chinese, American or Brazilian, according to World Rugby's fan survey released on Tuesday.

Slim pickings: Australian fans watching game 1 of last year's Bledisloe Cup series in Sydney. Credit:AAP

There are 33 million fans in the US, with national team the Eagles having won two Olympic gold medals and qualified for all but one Rugby World Cup, but China has the same number of fans even though their world No.66 ranked national team is yet to play in a major tournament.

India, with a national side far from even contending for a regional rugby title, has 25 million fans, as many as Australia's entire population.