European software developers' revenue is forecast to drop at a compound annual rate of 2.8% over the five years through 2024 to €374.1 billion due to challenging economic conditions. Software development revenue has been supported by rising digitisation and technological developments throughout the continent. The industry has been characterised by acquisitions, as global developers have sought to remain on top of market trends and protect their competitive positions by acquiring smaller businesses, particularly niche developers. While revenue tumbled in 2020 amid the pandemic, the industry was less affected than the wider European economy due to the essential nature of most software provided by developers and the digital nature of the industry. Demand for cloud-based and business operation software surged due to lockdowns across the globe, which led to a rise in remote working in Europe, with the Netherlands and Luxembourg having embraced remote-working the most. Revenue is set to contract by 2.2% in 2024 amid economic headwinds. Profit has remained high but has trended downwards. Over the five years through 2029, revenue is forecast to grow at a compound annual rate of 3.3% to €440.2 billion. Continued technological developments, including artificial intelligence, and the rising application of advanced software in businesses will stimulate demand. Heightened demand from the European Fintech space will be influential for developers, as the EU has established a strong regulatory framework to encourage growth.

Revenue is forecast to slump at a compound annual rate of 0.7% over the five years through 2024 to €198 billion. Although consumers and businesses have increased demand for wireless, hefty competition between wireless telecommunications carriers and increasingly stringent regulations have put pressure on revenue, contributing to the decline. The pandemic accelerated demand for wireless telecom services as a greater number of people worked from home. Following the pandemic, significant inflationary pressures have weighed on consumer and business sentiment, causing spending budgets to tighten. As many customers seek cheaper or less comprehensive packages to cut costs, wireless telecom carriers have dabbled in price competition. This has contributed to falling average revenue per user. However, the continued popularity of data services, especially 5G, has supported demand for wireless networks and taken market share away from wired telecommunications carriers. As such, revenue is expected to drop by 3.2% in 2024 to €198 billion. Revenue is expected to climb at a compound annual rate of 3.2% over the five years through 2029 to €232.3 billion. While continued competition between wireless telecommunications carriers will keep down average revenue per user, more people are likely to switch and accelerate the use of wireless services compared to traditional wired telecom services. The popularity of 5G will also prevail in line with growing investment into digital infrastructure, aiding revenue growth over the coming years.

European software publishers' revenue is forecast to deline at a compound annual rate of 1.6% over the five years through 2024 to reach €57.8 billion. Software sales have been driven up by rising digitalisation and technological developments across the continent. The software publishing market has been characterised by acquisitions, with global publishers looking to remain on top of market trends and protect their competitive positions by acquiring smaller, niche publishers. While internal research and development remains crucial, acquisitions have become the go-to method for many large software companies to find new products. While revenue tumbled in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic, software publishers weren’t hit as hard as other parts of the economy due to the essential nature of most software provided by publishers and the digital nature of the industry. Furthermore, demand for cloud-based and business operation software surged due to lockdowns being put in place, which led to a rise in remote working in Europe – the Netherlands and Luxembourg now have the biggest remote-working environments. Revenue is set to shrink by 0.6% in 2024. Industry profit has remained high but has trended downwards. Over the five years through 2029, revenue is slated to swell at a compound annual rate of 5.7% to reach €76.3 billion. The future for software publishers looks bright, with new technology development and the increasing use of advanced software by businesses set to stimulate demand. More publishers are likely to adopt the software-as-a-service distribution model, benefitting from a steadier flow of funds compared with traditional business models, which require consumers to make a one-time purchase of updated software.

The return on equity (ROE) of European banking sectors showed significant disparities in the last quarter of 2024, with Romania leading at 22.4 percent and Liechtenstein trailing at 5.8 percent. This wide range reflects the diverse financial landscapes across the continent, influenced by factors such as market conditions, regulatory environments, and economic stability. While ROE is a crucial indicator of banking efficiency, it's important to consider it alongside other metrics for a comprehensive view of the industry's health. Digital transformation reshaping European banking The banking sector in Europe is undergoing a digital revolution, with online banking penetration reaching impressive levels. In 2024, Denmark lead with a 97.76 percent penetration rate, closely followed by Norway at 96.8 percent. This shift towards digital banking is not only changing how traditional banks operate but also paving the way for the rise of digital-only banks. Neobanks like Revolut have seen rapid growth, with the UK-based fintech reaching 50 million users by November 2024, highlighting the increasing consumer preference for digital financial services. Consolidation and asset growth in European banking Despite the high number of banks operating in Europe, with 4,804 institutions in the EU as of December 2024, the industry is dominated by a few large players. In 2023, HSBC Holdings lead European banks with total assets exceeding 2.9 trillion U.S. dollars in 2023, followed closely by BNP Paribas SA with over 2.8 trillion U.S. dollars. This concentration of assets among top banks, coupled with the ongoing digital transformation, suggests a trend towards consolidation in the European banking sector, potentially impacting future ROE figures across the continent.

Significant fluctuations are estimated for all segments over the forecast period for the arpu. Only in the segment Music Streaming, a significant increase can be observed over the forecast period. In this segment, the indicator exhibits a difference of 27.25 U.S. dollars between 2018 and 2027. Find other insights concerning similar markets and segments, such as a comparison of revenue in France and a comparison of number of users in Romania. The Statista Market Insights cover a broad range of additional markets.

The Sporting Equipment Retailing industry’s revenue is forecast to fall at a compound annual rate of 2.7% over the five years through 2024 to €76.7 billion, including an estimated dip of 4.3% in 2024. Despite the closure of most retail stores in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic driving down sales, a recent surge in health and body consciousness across Europe has driven up demand for sporting equipment. Countries such as the Czech Republic have seen a spike in sports participation, creating a greater need for sporting equipment and offering retailers an opportunity to capitalise on a widening market. At the same time, major sports events (like the FIFA World Cup and the European Championships) and regional football leagues like France's Ligue 1 and the UK’s Premier League continue to spark consumer interest in sports merchandise, despite rising inflation. However, physical retailers are having to fight hard to stay relevant in the digital era, with competition from online retailers climbing. Notably, companies selling bicycles have struggled, especially in Germany, where companies like Canyon have opted to sell their products directly to customers online, cutting retailers out. Still, growing fitness consciousness and a preference for online shopping have created new opportunities for sporting equipment retailers that have been able to adapt. Revenue is slated to grow at a compound annual rate of 2.6% over the five years through 2029 to €87.2 billion, while the average industry profit margin is also expected to swell. Online retailers will continue to challenge traditional bricks-and-mortar stores by providing a platform for easy price comparison and access to a broad range of products. Leading brands like Adidas, JD Sports and Decathlon are responding by transforming their digital commerce strategies, expanding their click-and-collect and delivery services. Retailers will also need to adapt to growing sustainability awareness, with rising green concerns driving retailers to launch sustainable private labels to keep sales coming in. For example, Finish retailer Intersport started selling sustainability-focused products under its Green Series label in 2022, driving up profitability due to their higher price point.

Cybersecurity awareness has become a top priority for companies across the European Union, with 75 percent of organizations focusing on this topic in their training programs. This emphasis on awareness reflects a growing recognition of the importance of cybersecurity in an increasingly digital business environment. The high priority given to cybersecurity training aligns with broader trends in corporate attitudes towards digital safety, as evidenced by the fact that 92 percent of large EU companies consider cybersecurity a very high or fairly high priority. Sector-specific cybersecurity priorities The importance of cybersecurity varies across different industry sectors. In the service activities and education, health, and social work sectors, 77 percent of companies view cybersecurity as a very high or fairly high priority. This figure drops slightly to 68 percent for companies in the industry sector. These sector-specific differences highlight the varying levels of perceived risk and the need for tailored cybersecurity approaches across different industries. Geographic variations in cybersecurity attitudes Cybersecurity priorities and practices show significant variations across EU member states. In Ireland and Malta, nearly 60 percent of companies consider cybersecurity a very high priority. However, in Romania, the majority of companies view cybersecurity as a low or very low priority, primarily due to cost concerns. This disparity in attitudes is also reflected in public opinion, with 64 percent of adults in Malta believing improved cybersecurity is important for the future use of technologies, compared to only 13 percent in Romania. These geographic differences underscore the need for targeted cybersecurity education and support across the EU.