Book Publishers Global Market Report 2024

The book publishers market size has grown steadily in recent years. It will grow from $92.97 billion in 2023 to $95.91 billion in 2024 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.2%. The growth observed during the historic period can be attributed to factors such as educational initiatives, cultural and artistic movements, the presence of retail distribution channels, the influence of copyright and intellectual property laws, and considerations related to printing costs and affordability.

The book publishers market size is expected to see steady growth in the next few years. It will grow to $107.33 billion in 2028 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.9%. The anticipated growth in the forecast period can be attributed to trends in self-publishing, subscription models, the popularity of audio books and podcasts, the adoption of sustainable printing practices, and initiatives promoting diversity and inclusion in publishing. Major trends expected in the forecast period encompass the rise of digital publishing and e-books, the utilization of data analytics for market insights, advances in print technology, a focus on sustainability in publishing practices, and increased collaboration with authors for multimedia content creation.

E-book sales are experiencing rapid growth in well-established markets such as the USA and Europe, surpassing physical print revenues in developed regions such as the US and UK. According to PWC, the global book publisher revenue is expected to increase at a CAGR of 1.7% during the forecast period. While the physical book publishing industry is shrinking (-2.8%), the decline is compensated by the significant growth of e-books, projected to have a CAGR of 11.7%. The market is being influenced by a rising consumer preference for digital formats, impacting growth positively.

The surge in popularity of audiobooks is anticipated to drive the book publishers market in the coming years. Audiobooks, recorded readings of written material, are available in various formats such as compact discs, MP3s, and digital downloads. Book publishers engage in audiobook production by hiring skilled storytellers to record audio versions of their books. In June 2023, WordsRated reported that audiobook sales in the United States reached $1.81 billion in 2021, showing a 3.43% increase from the previous year, underlining the growing demand for audiobooks.

The COVID-19 pandemic posed a significant challenge to the book publishers' market in 2020 due to disruptions caused by global lockdowns. The virus led to economic declines and restricted movement, affecting various industries. However, certain media markets were either unaffected or benefited from the situation as they could transmit content remotely through digital channels. Despite the setback, the book publishers' market is expected to recover over the forecast period, as the pandemic is considered a 'black swan event' rather than a reflection of inherent weaknesses in the market or the global economy.

The Print-on-Demand (POD) model is gaining popularity among book publishers, enabling them to manage printing and inventory costs efficiently. This model involves printing a book only after receiving an order, reducing publishing costs, and aligning with the preference to keep content in digital form. Major print-on-demand service providers include Blurb, CreateSpace, Lightning Source, Lulu, and Amazon, which aims to fully integrate POD technology by promising to print a book within 2 hours of an order. Self-publishers are positioned to benefit the most from this technology.

Leading companies in the book publishing market are focusing on strategic collaborations to better serve their existing consumers. For example, Hachette Book Group (HBG) has partnered with prestigious organizations, including The City College of New York, the Hurston/Wright Foundation, Lambda Literary, and We Need Diverse Books. This collaboration aims to promote a larger community of diverse young writers and publishing professionals by enhancing hiring, education, mentoring, and support through tailored programs developed in collaboration with these partners. HBG's initiative, announced in March 2022, reflects its commitment to fostering diversity in the writing and publishing community.

Major companies operating in the book publishers market report are Bertelsmann SE & Co. KGaA, Vivendi SA, News Corporation, CBS Corporation, Lagardere SCA, Thomson Reuters Corporation, Wolters Kluwer N.V., Penguin Random House LLC, Pearson PLC, Elsevier B.V., Hubert Burda Media GmbH, Hachette Livre S.A., Egmont Group Ltd., HarperCollins Publishers LLC, Springer Nature, John Wiley & Sons Inc., McGraw-Hill Education, Scholastic Corporation, Cengage Learning, Cambridge University Press, Macmillan Publishers Limited, Oxford University Press, Bloomsbury Publishing PLC, Faber & Faber Limited, Blackwell Publishing Limited, Hodder & Stoughton Ltd., Canongate Books Ltd., Allen & Unwin Limited, Grupo Planeta, Taylor & Francis Group PLC, Chicken House Ltd., Granta Publications Ltd., Hay House Inc.

Asia-Pacific was the largest region in the book publishers market in 2023. Middle East is expected to be the fastest growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the book publishers market report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the book publishers market report are Australia; China; India; Indonesia; Japan; South Korea; Bangladesh; Thailand; Vietnam; Malaysia; Singapore; Philippines; Hong Kong; New Zealand; USA; Canada; Mexico; Brazil; Chile; Argentina; Colombia; Peru; France; Germany; UK; Austria; Belgium; Denmark; Finland; Ireland; Italy; Netherlands; Norway; Portugal; Spain; Sweden; Switzerland; Russia; Czech Republic; Poland; Romania; Ukraine; Saudi Arabia; Israel; Iran; Turkey; UAE; Egypt; Nigeria; South Africa.

The main types of book publishers include consumer books, educational books, and religious books. Consumer books are those targeted at the general public and encompass various genres such as novels, cookery books, children's literature, biographies, and other literary forms. These books cater to different age groups, including below 12 years, 13 to 18 years, and above 18 years. Distribution channels for these books include both online and offline platforms.

The book publishers market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides book publishers market statistics, including book publishers industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a book publishers market share, detailed book publishers market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the book publishers industry. This book publishers market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenario of the industry.

The book publishers market consists of revenues earned by entities by offering services such as design, editing, and marketing activities necessary for producing and distributing books. These establishments may publish books in print, electronic, or audio form. Their products include atlases, religious books, school or university textbooks, encyclopedias, technical manuals, maps and travel guides, in all cases excepting exclusive internet publishing). The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. Values in this market are ‘factory gate’ values, that is the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD, unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.