In 2022, the German book market generated a revenue of almost 8 billon euros from print book sales and almost 770 million euros from e-books. Revenue for both segments has remained stable during the period of consideration, with e-book revenue even rising in recent years. The German book market lives on.
Book retail
Despite repeated dire warnings about reading dying out and bookshops suffering as a result, Germans have not stopped reading or buying books, whether physically or online. Of course, the traditional book trade does face challenges, especially with the rise of e-books. Revenue development in the German book trade has fluctuated during the last two years, which was undoubtedly still influenced by the COVID-19 lockdowns of 2020 and 2021, when physical book retail locations were closed for months on end and book sales through those channels took a big hit. Brick and mortar shops stocking books were still the leading source of revenue among book buying locations, followed by mail order (whether from a shop or buying online in general).
Curled up with a book
German readers reach for a variety of genres when making their book choices. Preferences and trends, or, more specifically, sales figures, change periodically. Most recently, leading subjects included fiction, children's and young adult's books. 14.4 million Germans read for leisure several times a week.
Book market revenue in Germany from 2017 to 2027
(in million euros)
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PwC. (September 12, 2023). Book market revenue in Germany from 2017 to 2027 (in million euros) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved September 20, 2024, from https://www-statista-com.ezproxy.canberra.edu.au/statistics/386884/book-market-revenue-germany/
PwC. "Book market revenue in Germany from 2017 to 2027 (in million euros)." Chart. September 12, 2023. Statista. Accessed September 20, 2024. https://www-statista-com.ezproxy.canberra.edu.au/statistics/386884/book-market-revenue-germany/
PwC. (2023). Book market revenue in Germany from 2017 to 2027 (in million euros). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: September 20, 2024. https://www-statista-com.ezproxy.canberra.edu.au/statistics/386884/book-market-revenue-germany/
PwC. "Book Market Revenue in Germany from 2017 to 2027 (in Million Euros)." Statista, Statista Inc., 12 Sep 2023, https://www-statista-com.ezproxy.canberra.edu.au/statistics/386884/book-market-revenue-germany/
PwC, Book market revenue in Germany from 2017 to 2027 (in million euros) Statista, https://www-statista-com.ezproxy.canberra.edu.au/statistics/386884/book-market-revenue-germany/ (last visited September 20, 2024)
Book market revenue in Germany from 2017 to 2027 (in million euros) [Graph], PwC, September 12, 2023. [Online]. Available: https://www-statista-com.ezproxy.canberra.edu.au/statistics/386884/book-market-revenue-germany/