EBooks still no match for printed books: Report
In a new development in the debate between eBooks and physical books, according to the recent data from Statista’s Advertising & Media Outlook, eBook penetration still trails that of printed books by a wide margin across the globe. In the United States, for example, where eBooks are very popular in comparison, 23% of the population are estimated to have purchased an eBook last year, compared to 45% who bought a printed book.
18 Aug 2021 | 1642 Views | By PrintWeek Team
These findings suggest that eBooks will not be the final nail in the coffin of printed books but rather a complementary product that should ultimately benefit the publishing industry. People may grab an eReader when they head to the beach or commute to work, but as far as actual books go, there’s nothing like the real thing.
The report also projected revenue in the books segment to reach USD 120,998-m in 2021. The revenue is expected to show an annual growth rate (CAGR 2021-2025) of 1.68%, resulting in a projected market volume of USD 129,347-m by 2025.
In the books segment, the number of readers is expected to amount to 2,684.2-m users by 2025. User penetration in the books segment is expected to be at 33.2% in 2021. The average revenue per user (ARPU) is expected to amount to USD 47.02.
In global comparison, most revenue will be generated in the United States (USD 32,174-m in 2021).
According to Statista’s definition, the books market covers paid publications in printed form and digital replicas (eBooks) that are distributed to private readers (B2C). Revenues from the consumer (general interest), academic (educational purposes), and professional (specialised topics) segments are included here. (Agencies)