Data showing how many books were sold in 2024 revealed that the printed book market remains healthy: a total of ***** million units were sold that year among outlets which reported to the source. Whilst this marked a small jump from the previous year, the figure peaked in 2021 and has not surpassed *** million since. Trade paperbacks remained the dominant format. Book sales statistics Looking at book sales by year, 2005 to 2010 were the most lucrative for the printed book market, with well over *** million units sold annually during that five-year period. After dropping below *** million in 2012, gradual and consistent increases can be seen each year, with the exception of between the years 2018 and 2019. For bookstores though, how many books are sold each year depends on the success of key months across a twelve-month period. Bookstore sales in the United States are at their highest in December, January, and August, but figures for December are consistently higher than other months. Books are popular holiday gifts, with around ** to ** percent of consumers responding to annual surveys in each year from 2012 to 2020 saying that they planned to purchase books as presents during the festive season.

As of August 2018, a staggering half a billion Harry Potter books had sold worldwide, *********** of which were sold in the United States. British author J.K. Rowling published her first book, ‘Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone’ in the United Kingdom in 1997, and the American edition was released in the following year – with some changes.

Changes to J.K. Rowling’s novels outside the UK

In the United States, India, and Pakistan, the title ‘Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone’ was altered to ‘Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone’. The change was made after Arthur Levine from Scholastic stated that he believed the word ‘philosopher’ was too ‘archaic’ for readers and expressed concerns that readers would not relate to the book’s original title. Rowling herself has since said she regretted allowing this change but did not feel she was in a strong enough position to challenge it at the time. Whether the change had a significant effect on readers choosing to buy and read the book is unclear, but the book remains popular on a global level decades after its publication. As of November 2018, close to *********** Goodreads members worldwide included the novel on their ‘to be read’ lists.

Other changes made were of the linguistic nature, to cater for readers used to American English. For the benefit of U.S. readers, the British word ‘mum’, as well as Irish term ‘mam’ used by the character Seamus Finnigan, were changed to ‘mom’. Other words were also changed to suit an American audience, including ‘jumper’ to ‘sweater’, ‘sweets’ to ‘candy’, and ‘windscreen’ to ‘windshield’.

Another change which affected the books and their author on a global level was the creation of Rowling’s pen name. Rather than publishing the books under the name Jo or Joanne Rowling, the author was advised to use initials to disguise her gender in order to appeal to boys as well as girls. It was thought that despite the book being considered suitable and relatable for both genders, that young boys may not choose or relate to a book written by a woman. Years later, favorability of J.K. Rowling among men and women is almost identical.

Net value of book sales by customer category, includes all members under Net value of book sales by customer category, for Book publishers, for Canada and regions, for one year of data.

In 2019, there were just over 608 book stores selling more than 2,000 titles of unique titles in the Netherlands. In comparison, there were only 83 stores selling between 1,500 and 1,999 titles. Many results have decreased with the appearance of more and more frequent online shopping in the last years.

The best-selling print book in the United States in 2023 ranked by unit sales was "It Ends With Us" by Colleen Hoover, with a total of just over 1.29 million sales. Other successful books which sold well that year included two more by Hoover, including "It Starts With Us" and "Verity". The top 10 best-selling print books in 2023 were written mostly by women, with Rebecca Yarros also enjoying over one million unit sales of both her books "Fourth Wing" and "Iron Flames". Prince Harry's book "Spare" ranked third with 1.22 million units sold. Print book sales remain stable In 2023, adult nonfiction sales of print books in the U.S. amounted to over 280 million. Whilst this was the lowest recorded since 2017, the category remained the bestselling book category. Adult fiction sales on the other hand rose to over 190 million units, continuing the upward trend from previous years. Despite the growing prevalence of digital books, print remains a popular option. Print still accounts for the majority of U.S. book sales revenue According to the most recently available data, the size of the U.S. audiobook market was estimated at 1.8 billion U.S. dollars, and could soon surpass the two billion dollar mark if annual growth continues at the same rate. Whilst sales of digital books are generally more difficult to track and therefore prone to adjustments, data shows that print still accounts for the majority of U.S. books sales revenue, at roughly three times the amount generated by e-books and audiobooks combined. Print book sales in the U.S are overall higher than in the early 2000s, showing not only an ongoing interest in the format but even an uptick in book buying in recent years.

Statistics on Book Publishing Production: Number of titles, specimens and sales value declared por subject categories , books/leaflets y num. titles/num. copies. National. Number of titles, specimens and sales value declared by subject.

Statistics on Book Publishing Production: Number of titles, specimens and sales value declared by period, subject categories, books/leaflets and num. titles/copies. National. Number of titles, specimens and sales value declared by subject.

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E-Book Market Size 2025-2029

The e-book market size is forecast to increase by USD 14.52 billion, at a CAGR of 10.7% between 2024 and 2029.

The market is experiencing significant growth, driven by the increasing adoption of various e-book formats and the expanding reader base. Publishers are embracing digital publishing to cater to the evolving preferences of consumers, who value the convenience and accessibility of e-books. This trend is further fueled by the availability of e-readers and advanced mobile devices, enabling readers to carry a vast library of books in a compact form. However, the market faces challenges as well. Privacy concerns are on the rise, with growing reports of data breaches targeting e-book platforms and readers' personal information. These incidents have the potential to deter consumers, threatening the trust and security of the market.
Companies must prioritize robust data protection measures to mitigate these risks and safeguard their users' privacy. By addressing these challenges and continuing to innovate, players in the market can capitalize on the vast opportunities presented by the digital publishing landscape.

What will be the Size of the E-Book Market during the forecast period?

Explore in-depth regional segment analysis with market size data - historical 2019-2023 and forecasts 2025-2029 - in the full report.
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The market continues to evolve, with dynamic market dynamics shaping its growth and applications across various sectors. Online sales dominate the distribution channels, offering consumers the convenience of purchasing and accessing digital content instantly. File formats, such as EPUB and MOBI, are continually refined to enhance the reading experience, with adjustable font sizes and text scaling catering to individual user needs. Copyright protection and software updates ensure content security and maintain consumer trust. Consumer behavior drives the demand for e-books, with preferences shifting towards subscription services and cloud storage. Backlit displays and e-ink technology offer improved reading experiences, while user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) design advancements facilitate seamless navigation and accessibility features cater to diverse user needs.

Audiobook support and page-turn buttons are integrated into e-book readers, enhancing the overall user experience. Product development and customer service are crucial components, with technical support and content management systems streamlining operations for e-book retailers. Sales data analysis and demographic insights inform marketing strategies, while wholesale distribution and wireless connectivity expand reach and accessibility. E-book retailers leverage content licensing and delivery systems to offer a vast library of titles, catering to diverse genres and interests. Library management and note-taking features enable users to organize and engage with their digital content, further enhancing the value proposition. The market's continuous evolution reflects the industry's commitment to delivering innovative solutions and meeting the evolving needs of consumers.

How is this E-Book Industry segmented?

The e-book industry research report provides comprehensive data (region-wise segment analysis), with forecasts and estimates in 'USD million' for the period 2025-2029, as well as historical data from 2019-2023 for the following segments.

Product

  Consumer e-book
  Professional e-book
  Educational e-book


Platform

  Smartphones
  Tablet and laptops
  Desktops
  Smart TVs


Business Model

  Pay-per-download
  Subscription-based
  Freemium
  Lending/Borrowing


Genre

  Fiction
  Non-fiction
  Young Adult
  Comics/Graphic Novels


Geography

  North America

    US
    Canada


  Europe

    France
    Germany
    Spain
    UK


  Middle East and Africa

    UAE


  APAC

    China
    India
    Japan
    South Korea


  South America

    Brazil


  Rest of World (ROW)

By Product Insights

The consumer e-book segment is estimated to witness significant growth during the forecast period.

The market is witnessing significant growth, driven by the increasing demand for digital content among individual consumers. E-books, which primarily include adult fiction and other genres, are bought predominantly by end-users. The popularity of e-books is on the rise due to evolving reading habits and the availability of compelling fictional stories. Young adult literature has gained considerable significance in recent years. European countries, such as Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Belgium, generate substantial revenues from the sales of fiction e-books. Fiction books are broadly classified into two categories: literary fiction and commercial fiction. Consumer behavior indicates a preference for adjustable font sizes and search functionality in their reading exp

In 2024, the sales revenue of book publishers in Sweden amounted to 2.18 billion Swedish kronor, marking an increase from the 2.08 billion recorded in the previous year. The value of the Swedish book publishing industry has fluctuated over the last ten years. Which company leads the Swedish publishing industry? The figures shown in the graph only include sales revenues of member companies of the Swedish Publishers’ Association. Albert Bonnier AB, belonging to the media conglomerate Bonnier, is the largest book publisher in Sweden based on turnover. Another company of the Bonnier Group, Bonnier Carlsen, is the leading children’s and youth books publisher nationwide, and released 239 book titles in this category in 2022. Which book distribution channel generates the most in Sweden? Swedish book publishers generate most of their sales revenue through digital resale, making this the most lucrative distribution channel in the business, following by online and physical bookstores. When it comes to the market as a whole, online bookstores pull in the most income from book sales across the country, and in 2023 generated more revenue than physical bookstores and digital subscription services combined.

The best-selling print book in the United States in 2024 ranked by unit sales was "The Women" by Kristin Hannah, with a over **** million sales. Other successful books which sold well that year included two successful titles by Colleen Hoover, including "It Starts With Us" and "It Ends With Us". The top 10 best-selling print books in 2024 were written mostly by women, with Rebecca Yarros also enjoying over ******* unit sales of both her books "Fourth Wing" and "Iron Flame". Print book sales remain stable In 2023, adult nonfiction sales of print books in the U.S. amounted to over *** million. Whilst this was the lowest recorded since 2017, the category remained the bestselling book category. Adult fiction sales on the other hand rose to over *** million units, continuing the upward trend from previous years. Despite the growing prevalence of digital books, print remains a popular option. Print still accounts for the majority of U.S. book sales revenue According to the most recently available data, the size of the U.S. audiobook market was estimated at *** billion U.S. dollars, and could soon surpass the *** billion dollar mark if annual growth continues at the same rate. Whilst sales of digital books are generally more difficult to track and therefore prone to adjustments, data shows that print still accounts for the majority of U.S. books sales revenue, at roughly ***** times the amount generated by e-books and audiobooks combined. Print book sales in the U.S are overall higher than in the early 2000s, showing not only an ongoing interest in the format but even an uptick in book buying in recent years.

In 2023, sales of print books, e-books, and audiobooks in Colombia collectively generated 959 billion Colombian pesos in net revenue, up from around 981 billion pesos a year earlier - an annual growth of approximately 7.7 percent. Meanwhile, the number of new book titles published in Colombia increased by close to 6.7 percent in 2023.

The number of book titles available in the Netherlands in 2021 amounted to *** thousand. With the exception of 2015, when the number of book titles in the Netherlands dropped to roughly *** thousands titles, the number of book titles increased year on year.

The European e-book market, valued at €9.27 billion in 2025, is projected to experience steady growth, driven by increasing smartphone and tablet penetration, rising digital literacy rates, and the expanding availability of diverse e-book content across genres. The Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 4.43% from 2025 to 2033 indicates a robust market trajectory, fueled by consumer preference for convenient and affordable access to reading material. The market is segmented by content type (professional, educational, general) and device type (smartphone, tablet), reflecting the diverse consumption patterns within the region. While the dominance of major players like Amazon, Kobo, and Barnes & Noble is evident, smaller publishers and independent authors also contribute significantly, fostering market dynamism and a wide variety of content options. Growth is expected to be particularly strong in segments like educational ebooks, driven by the increasing adoption of digital learning platforms and resources. Geographic variations in market growth within Europe are likely, reflecting differences in digital infrastructure, literacy levels, and purchasing power across countries. The market's future trajectory will depend on factors such as technological advancements in e-reading devices, pricing strategies, and continued expansion of e-book libraries and subscription services. The competitive landscape is characterized by a mix of established players and emerging independent publishers. Major players leverage their established distribution networks and brand recognition to maintain market share. However, smaller publishers and self-published authors are gaining traction, particularly in niche genres, further enhancing the diversity and choice available to consumers. Regulatory considerations around copyright and digital rights management (DRM) continue to shape market dynamics. Future growth hinges on successfully navigating these regulatory aspects, adapting to evolving consumer preferences, and enhancing the overall e-reading experience through technological innovation and creative content development. Continuous efforts to improve user interfaces, integrate social features, and offer personalized recommendations will be key to boosting user engagement and market growth. Recent developments include: September 2023 - Pearson today launched its GSL - a first of its kind scale which will bring unparalleled clarity and simplicity to language learning in different languages. The Global Scale of Languages will initially cover French, Italian and Spanish, with German and other languages to follow, where Students benefit as they can now pinpoint their proficiency in different languages on a common scale, set themselves personalised learning targets and benchmark progress as they move from beginner to fluency., March 2023: Koji launched a tool for selling e-books. The tool will also assist users in selling audiobooks and e-books on social media platforms and the web. Readers can download their purchase and view it on Koji's native reader, audio player, and other apps like Amazon kindle., February 2023: Spotify launched its audiobook service in UK and Ireland. Consumers in these markets will have access to around 0.3 million titles like those in the US market. The key features will include downloading titles for offline listening, rating titles, adjusting the playback speed, and listening across devices., January 2023: Europe Comics announced its exit from online publicity presence, which means the publisher will no longer be active on the website, social media, newsletters, and events. The book release will continue and be available to consumers through preferred online retailers., October 2022: BootBeat, the provider of e-books in Europe, expanded its services in Italy and Spain. For further business expansion, Boot beat is looking forward to collaborating with local publishers so that users can access a constantly expanding catalog of front and backlist titles.. Key drivers for this market are: Increasing Internet Penetration Levels And Content Consumption Through Mobile Devices, Recent Changes in Consumer Lifestyles has Lead to Increased Consumption through Nonphysical Means. Potential restraints include: Increasing Internet Penetration Levels And Content Consumption Through Mobile Devices, Recent Changes in Consumer Lifestyles has Lead to Increased Consumption through Nonphysical Means. Notable trends are: Increasing Internet Penetration Levels And Content Consumption Through Mobile Devices to Witness the Growth.

The statistic illustrates the leading print book publishers in the United States in 2017, by title count. In this year, Penguin Random House topped the list, having published a total of almost 105 thousand titles.

The sales of books, both in stores and online, have significantly dropped since the beginning of lockdown measures on March 17, 2020. The whole market registered a decrease of 57.1 percent from week 11 to week 12 of 2020, and that trend has continued during the following week. If sales sharply increased at the end of 2020, January 2021 recorded losses almost as high as March 2020.

Still going strong

This turnaround is not representative of the French publishing market, which managed to remain stable despite some fluctuations. Although slightly down, book sales have registered a slight upturn in recent years and have reached almost 418 million units sold in 2018. The market is doing well, both in terms of supply and demand, as French readers enjoy a wide range of choices on the shelves of their favorite bookshops. The number of available titles has particularly exploded over the last decade and reached a new peak in 2019.

Change of habit

The lockdown measures that came into force on March 17 have drastically changed the consumption habits of the French, most of whom are spending much more time at home and watching television. While physical sales of books are down, audio content such as audio books or podcasts are more popular than ever. The video game industry is also experiencing a new craze as digital sales are reaching new heights during this period. For further information about the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in France, please visit our dedicated Facts and Figures page.

The number of book titles published in Brazil in 2023 declined by *** percent, amounting to **** thousand. Brazil's exclusively online bookstores' book sales revenue amounted to almost *** billion Brazilian reals in 2023.

The timeline presents data on e-book sales revenue generated in the United States from 2008 to 2013, as well as a forecast until 2018. The source expects the revenue will grow from **** billion in 2011 to **** billion in 2018.

E-book sales in the United States - additional information

An e-book, also known as an electronic or digital book, is a digitally released version of a book, often consisting of text and images and available on electronic devices, such as specifically designed e-book readers. The most well known e-book device is the Amazon Kindle, originally released in 2007. E-books can also be used on computers, tablets and even on smartphones, as this survey shows.

In the United States, the e-books industry has grown tremendously in the past decade, primarily due to a higher supply and demand of e-book devices and applications, but also due to lower prices compared to hard copies, as well as ease of travel and storage. However, forecasts suggest that the number of e-book users in the U.S. is expected to fall from ***** million in 2015 to ***** million in 2021.

Many e-books are available through American public libraries, which, since 2003, have an increasingly popular e-book lending model of both fiction and non-fiction titles for different audiences. However, despite the rise in e-book popularity, hard copy books were still the preferred choice for readers in 2015. Based on a survey, ** percent of all respondents claimed to read only hard copy books, while only **** percent of all respondents read only e-books. Unsurprisingly, the most prolific e-book readers are the Millennials (ages 18 to 29), which make up ** percent of all digital book readers.

Between July 2019 and June 2022, among the ** backlist book titles including in the source's investigation that were trending on #BookTok, those which were two to five years old before #BookTok began saw the biggest sales increase in that time period, at ***** percent. As #BookTok grows in popularity it will be interesting to see whether newer books, rather than those that were already in circulation before #BookTok, will see similar jumps in sales once they begin trending on the TikTok subcommunity.

This statistic illustrates the average number of books sold per title in the Netherlands in 2016, by genre. It shows that on average in 2016, a children's book title would sell roughly *** copies. This was nearly four times as much as the average human and development title, which sold on average *** copies per title that year.