PCA population report: how to read it and use it for your Pokémon cards

Do you have a Pokémon card and wonder whether it is worth sending to PCA? The population report (« pop report ») is one of the most useful tools to decide. It shows how many copies of a card have been graded, and at which grade. Here is how to read it, what it does not tell you, and how to use it before you submit your cards.

For the full process, from choosing a company to shipping, see our guide how to get a Pokémon card graded.

What is the PCA population report?

PCA is a grading company based in France (see our PCA Pokémon grading guide: scale and submitting). Like PSA (with its « Population Report ») and CGC (with its « Census »), it publishes for free how many cards it has graded. For each card in a set, you can see how many copies received a 10, a 9, an 8, and so on.

The PCA population report mostly reflects the French-speaking market, since most cards sent to PCA come from France and Belgium. PSA's reflects the global market.

How to read the report, step by step

1. Find the set, then the card (the card number avoids confusion between versions).
2. Check the language and version: a French, Japanese or English card, or a reverse holo version, are counted separately.
3. Look at the total graded, then the number of copies at each grade.
4. Work out the share of 10s: number of 10s divided by the total graded. That figure tells you whether a 10 is easy or hard to get for that card.

What is the population report for?

• Estimating what a grade is worth: when a card only has a few 10s, that 10 is usually worth much more than a 9.
• Deciding whether to submit: if a card very often gets a 10, a 9 will sell for little. If 10s are rare, preparation matters even more.
• Comparing graders: the same card can be rare as a PCA 10 and common as a PSA 10, or the other way round. See also PSA, CGC or PCA: which grading should you choose?.
• Checking a listing: a seller talking about « pop 1 » or « low pop » can be checked in seconds.

The limits of the pop report

• It only counts graded cards. A card that barely appears in the report may simply be rarely submitted, not rare.
• The same card can appear several times: resubmitted for a better grade, or crossed over from one company to another, without the old copy always being removed.
• It changes all the time: a low population today can grow fast after a popular set.
• It says nothing about price: always check actual sales of graded copies of that exact card.

Before sending to PCA: prepare the card

The report tells you whether a 10 is rare. What gets you closer to one is your card's condition. Start with an honest estimate using our guide pre-grading: estimating your Pokémon card's condition, and check the back edges (whitening: can it be repaired?).

The surface, however, can be prepared: dust, fingerprints and a greasy film cost points for nothing. A cleaning spray on a microfibre cloth, never directly on the card, is usually enough. A slightly curved card can be flattened with a flattening kit before submitting. Also avoid the 5 mistakes before sending a card for grading.

Conclusion

The PCA population report is free and quick to check. It helps you know whether a 10 is rare for your card, and so whether grading is worth it. Use it with its limits in mind, compare with actual sales, and send a clean, well-prepared card. Everything you need is in the complete pack.

FAQ

Where can you find the PCA population report?

On PCA's official website, in its population section. It is free to check, set by set.

What does « pop 1 » mean?

That only one copy of that card received that grade at that grading company. It does not mean the card itself is unique.

Is the PCA population report reliable?

It is reliable for what it counts: the copies graded by PCA. But a card resubmitted several times may be counted several times, and cards that were never graded do not appear.

Should you check the PSA or the PCA pop report?

Both if you are torn between the two companies: how rare a grade is can differ a lot. For resale in France or Belgium, PCA's is often the most telling.