eBooks Statistics By Revenue, User, Country, Sales, Genre and Facts

Introduction

Ebooks Statistics: E-books, or electronic books, are digital versions of traditional books, designed for convenient reading on tablets, computers, and e-readers. Their popularity has surged due to ease of access, space-saving benefits, and convenience, allowing readers to download books on diverse topics with just a few clicks. E-books also offer a range of customization options, such as adjustable font sizes and bookmarking features, often at more affordable prices than printed editions. As the world increasingly embraces digital media, e-books have transformed reading and learning, making literature and information more accessible to people worldwide.

The global e-books market is projected to generate USD 14.61 billion by 2024, with an expected annual growth rate (CAGR) of 1.62% from 2024 to 2027, leading to an estimated market volume of USD 15.33 billion by 2027. By that year, the number of e-book readers worldwide is anticipated to reach 1.1 billion, with a user penetration rate of 13.3% in 2024, potentially increasing to 14.1% by 2027.

The average revenue per user (ARPU) is forecasted at USD 14.18. The United States is set to lead the global e-book market, generating the highest revenue, projected to reach USD 5.34 billion by 2024. This dominance is attributed to the U.S.’s strong digital infrastructure and extensive consumer base. With robust growth trends, especially in markets like the U.S., e-books are positioned as a dynamic force within the publishing industry, shaping the future of reading across various demographics and regions.

Editor’s Choice

• The worldwide eBooks market is expected to make USD 14.61 billion in revenue by the end of 2024.
• The global market is supposed to grow at 1.62% per year, reaching a total of USD 15.33 billion by 2027.
• The total number of eBook readers is expected to be around 1.1 billion by 2027.
• Meanwhile, the user penetration rate of the global eBook market was 13.3% in 2024 and will reach 14.1% by 2027.
• On the other hand, each eBook user will bring an average revenue of USD 14.18.
• The United States is expected to lead globally, with a revenue of USD 5,336 million projected for 2024.
• eBooks Statistics further report that, on average, 56% of women are regular book readers, while only 42% of men enjoy reading frequently.
• In contrast, eBooks sell less than paperbacks, with one eBook selling for every four paperbacks sold.
• Moreover, about 72% of American book lovers use Amazon Kindle to read digital books, making it a popular choice.
• Today, Amazon Kindle offers over 6 million digital books, while 7,500 new books are published worldwide each day.

General eBooks Statistics

• The global eBook market is expected to reach approximately USD 20 billion by 2024, driven by the rising adoption of mobile devices for reading.
• Asia-Pacific is experiencing the fastest eBook growth, with an annual increase of over 8% between 2023 and 2024.
• Independent authors now account for 35% of eBook sales in the United States in 2024, highlighting a shift toward self-publishing.
• In 2023, Europe contributed 25% of global eBook sales, led primarily by Germany and the U.K.
• Approximately 45% of global eBook market growth is projected to come from North America, with a significant consumer base in the U.S. and Canada.
• In 2022, the top five eBook categories were religion, memoirs, business, self-help, and food, while romance remained the top genre on Kindle Unlimited.
• The demand for educational eBooks grew by 7% from 2023 to 2024, largely due to the expansion of e-learning.
• Over 70% of eReaders sold globally are Amazon Kindles, reinforcing Kindle’s dominant position in the eBook market.
• In 2024, about 30% of eBooks are read on smartphones, indicating a shift from traditional e-readers to mobile devices.
• About 32% of eBook sales happen outside of Amazon, with authors increasingly choosing to sell directly on their websites.
• The average eBook price was around USD 8.50 in 2024, with bestsellers generally priced higher.
• In the same period, sci-fi, romance, and thriller genres accounted for over 40% of all eBook sales.
• Women are more likely to read eBooks than men, with romance being a particularly popular genre for female readers.
• Around 60% of U.S. eBook readers are between the ages of 18 and 44, highlighting a younger audience for digital reading.
• eBook piracy remains a challenge, with over 20% of eBooks being shared illegally, affecting authors worldwide.
• eBooks saved an estimated 3.5 million trees from 2023 to 2024 by reducing the demand for printed books.
• In 2021, Spanish-language eBooks generated EUR 10.91 million (USD 11.3 million), with the U.S. contributing 9.5% of global revenue in this segment.
• Payhip offers authors a favorable royalty structure, charging only a 5% transaction fee per sale, allowing them to retain 95% of their earnings.
• The average royalty rate for eBooks across various platforms is approximately 25% of net receipts.
• College graduates make up 90% of eBook readers, and 86% of these readers earn USD 75,000 or more annually.
• Young adults, especially those aged 18-29, are the most active readers of eBooks, while older adults tend to prefer physical books.
• In China, roughly 365 million people read eBooks in 2021, presenting a substantial market for translated content.
• Translating eBooks into languages like Mandarin, Spanish, French, and Portuguese allows authors to tap into high eBook readership in various countries.
• Authors can enhance engagement by tailoring eBook content to cultural norms and lifestyles in specific regions, such as North America and Europe.

eBooks Revenue Statistics

(Reference: statista.com)

• The worldwide eBook market is expected to generate USD 14.61 billion in revenue by the end of 2024, up from USD 14.16 billion in 2023.
• Ebooks Statistics also reports that other revenue analyses for the coming years are followed as 2025 (USD 14.92 billion), 2026 (USD 15.14 billion), and 2027 (USD 15.33 billion).

By Per User

• In 2023, the average revenue per eBook user in the worldwide industry was around USD 14.41, and it is supposed to decrease by USD 14.18 in 2024.
• Furthermore, in coming years, the estimated average revenue earned per eBook user will decrease, such as in 2025 (USD 13.97), 2026 (USD 13.79), and 2027 (USD 13.65)

eBooks User Statistics

(Reference: statista.com)

• As mentioned in eBooks Statistics, the total number of eBook readers reached 1 billion in 2023 and is expected to reach 1 billion by 2024.
• The estimated number of users will be 1.1 billion each year from 2025 to 2027.
• In contrast, the eBook penetration rate of eBooks is represented as 2023 (12.8%), 2024 (13.3%), 2025 (13.7%), 2026 (13.9%), and 2027 (14.1%).

Revenue Comparison of eBooks Statistics By Country

• The U.S. eBooks market is expected to reach USD 5.34 billion in 2024 and grow 0.56% each year to reach around USD 5.43 billion by 2027.
• Moreover, there will be 74 million eBook readers by 2027.
• The user rate is expected to rise from 20.8% to 21.5% from 2024 to 2027.
• Each user is expected to bring in an average revenue of around USD 75.68.

As per eBooks Statistics, the other top four countries’ market analyses in 2024 are stated in the table below:

By Region

• eBooks Statistics further state that in 2024, the eBooks market in the Americas is expected to make USD 5.76 billion in revenue.
• The annual market growth is set to reach USD 5.86 billion in 2027, 0.58% from 2024 to 2027.

Meanwhile, other regional revenue analyses are segmented in the table below:

eBooks Sales Statistics

• eBooks Statistics further state that in April 2024, U.S. eBook sales grew by 16.8%, making USD 83.1 million in revenue.
• The eBook market is expected to reach USD 14.61 billion in 2024, representing a 3.2% revenue growth from 2023.
• In 2022, about 331 million digital books were borrowed worldwide.
• To date, an average of 15.92 million ebooks are sold globally each month or about 3.67 million weekly.
• Meanwhile, estimates show 524.72 eBooks sold daily and around 21.86 thousand eBooks sold every hour.
• Around the world, 364.28 books are sold each minute.
• Meanwhile, eBook sales made USD 1.95 billion, which was 8.5% lower than 2021.

e-Publishing Revenue Share Statistics

• In 2023, the ebook revenue share accounted for only 56.09%, decreasing from 57.19% in 2022.
• Meanwhile, by the end of 2027, the ebook revenue share will be reduced and turned to be 54.52%

The table below shows the other e-publishing revenue share from 2017 to 2027 are estimated as follows:

Top Platforms to Publish eBooks Statistics

Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP)

• Amazon leads the eBook market, holding around 67% of all eBook sales, and its share jumps to 83% when Kindle Unlimited is included.
• Authors can earn 70% royalties on eBooks priced from USD 2.99 to 9.99.
• For books priced outside this range, the royalty rate is 35%.

 Apple Books

• Apple Books is a key player in the eBook market, with users downloading over 400 million books each year.
• Authors earn a steady 70% royalty on every eBook sale, no matter the book’s price.

Kobo Writing Life

• Kobo Writing Life is a popular platform, especially in global markets, which gives authors access to readers in more than 190 countries.
• Authors earn 70% royalties for eBooks priced at USD 2.99 or higher and 45% for books priced below USD 2.99.

American eReaders Statistics By Age Group

(Reference: statista.com)

• According to Statista insights from the Consumer Insights Global survey, in September 2024, about 17% of consumers aged 30 to 49 belong to this group.
• When it comes to the share of Americans who own an e-reader, 14% of 50 to 64 years, followed by 11% (18 to 29 years)

eBooks Statistics By Genre

• In 2024, the Romance segment dominated eBook sales in the U.S., with a market share of 23%, reflecting readers’ strong preference for romantic narratives.

Furthermore,  the market share of other eBook genres is followed in the table below:

Top 5 eReading Subscription Providers Statistics

• Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited lets you access over one million eBooks, audiobooks, and magazines for USD 11.99 monthly.
• eBooks Statistics show that Scribd offers unlimited eBooks, audiobooks, and magazines through a single subscription for USD 10 per month.
• Kobo Plus gives access to over 1.3 million eBooks and 100,000 audiobooks for USD 10 monthly in various countries.
• Meanwhile, 24symbols is a cloud-based service offering access to over a million books for under USD 9 a month.
• Bookmate has over 12 million eBooks and audiobooks in different languages, all affordable and available on mobile apps.

Demand Influencing Factors of eBooks

• The rise of smartphones, tablets, and e-readers makes eBooks more accessible. In 2024, the global eBook market was valued at USD 17.2 billion. It is expected to reach USD 21.73 billion by 2029, growing at a 4.78% CAGR.
• eBooks are cheaper to make and sell, costing about $7.80 in the U.S., making them budget-friendly for readers.
• eBooks Statistics in 2024 elaborates over 1.1 billion people used eBooks, showing high demand due to convenience.
• eBooks are better for the environment because they use less paper, appealing to eco-friendly readers.
• Schools are using eBooks more for their easy access and interactive features, and by 2024, education will make up 39.6% of the eBook market.
• However, during the same period, they’ll earn $14.61 billion globally, with $5.3 billion from the U.S.

eBooks vs. Print Books Statistics

• Print books remain popular, accounting for about 50–85% of total readership in various regions, despite the rapid growth of e-readers since the early 2000s.
• By 2027, print book readers worldwide are expected to reach up to 1.87 billion, while eBook readers are projected to reach around 1.2 billion, according to Toner Buzz’s 2023 report.
• In the United States, print is still the most favored reading format, with Amazon’s Kindle holding a 72% share of the e-reader market, as reported by the Pew Research Center in February 2021.

(Source: Statista) 

• According to Statista’s Advertising & Media Outlook, China shows a smaller gap between print and eBook readers, while countries like the U.S., UK, and Japan have an approximate 50-50% market split between the two formats.
• In Australia, Spain, South Korea, Germany, France, and India, print books significantly outnumber eBooks in terms of readership.
• The North American market shows a 65% preference for print books over 35% for eBooks, based on 2022 data from Statista.
• In Europe, 55% of readers favor print books, with eBooks capturing a 45% share, as reported by Gitnux in 2023.
• Asia demonstrates a strong preference for print, with 85% print book readers versus 15% eBook readers, according to Toner Buzz’s 2023 data.
• In Latin America, print books hold a 70% market share, while eBooks make up 30%, as indicated by the International Publishers Association’s 2022 report.

Amazon eBook Sales Statistics

• Amazon holds a dominant 68% market share in global e-book sales, which rises to 83% when Kindle Unlimited is included.
• E-books account for 21% of Amazon’s total book sales revenue and represent 36% of its total book sales volume.
• Amazon offers over 12 million e-books on its platform, with a range of free or under USD 1 options available in the Kindle store.
• Women over the age of 45 constitute the largest demographic purchasing e-books on Amazon, making up 37% of all e-book purchases.
• In 2020, Amazon saw an 11% increase in e-book sales, but this declined by 3.7% in 2021, with the trend continuing into early 2022, according to the Association of American Publishers.
• In the United Kingdom, e-books constitute 34% of all book sales, with Amazon.co.uk capturing 87.9% of the e-book market.
• The UK e-book market is the second largest globally, although e-book sales there fell to their lowest point since 2012 in 2021, as reported by The Bookseller.
• In a 2022 survey, 71% of respondents in the UK reported purchasing a book from Amazon in the previous 12 months, with similar trends in Italy (66%) and Germany (62%).
• E-book purchases in the UK are subject to a 20% VAT, which does not apply to physical books.
• Total consumer spending on e-books reached USD 405 million, with 82.8% of these sales occurring on Amazon.
• In 2020, 95 million e-books were sold on Amazon, but this number declined to 80 million in 2021.

eBook Website Traffic Statistics

(Reference: similarweb.com)

• As of September 2024, the total number of website visits to ebooks.com had reached 953.7K, up by 6.13% from last month and securing a 47.83% bounce rate.
• In the past three months, ebooks.com’s global ranking improved from 62,521 to 61,718.
• eBooks Statistics further show that the website’s global rank at the same time is #61,718, followed by the U.S. rank (#37,941) and category rank (#282).

By Country

(Reference: similarweb.com)

• As per eBooks Statistics 2024, the United States had 36.92% of the website’s total traffic, an increase of 6.48%.
• In September 2024, other countries recorded the following contributions in total traffic: Canada: 5.64% (+85.59%), India: 4.94% (-13.31%), Australia: 4.88% (+17.88%), and the United Kingdom: 3.94% (+11.46%).
• Other countries togetherly made up around 43.67% of visitors shared on ebooks.com.

By Device

(Reference: semrush.com)

• eBooks Statistics show that traffic to eBookr’s official website is highly driven by mobile devices, with 56.96% mobile devices, while desktop users account for 43.04% of the total visits.
• This website also had 1.03 million visits in September 2024, and the average per-session visit duration was 2 minutes and 24 seconds.
• com users make up around 18.33% of Brazil’s user base, resulting in 189.24 thousand.
• In this case, 72.33% have access to the desktop version, and 27.67% use mobile devices.

Furthermore, the device traffic share of ebooks.com in other countries is stated below:

By Demographics

(Reference: similarweb.com)

• At the same duration, male and female users of ebooks.com were 52.5% and 47.5%, respectively.
• Similarly, eBook statistics based on age group represent the highest number of website users between 25 and 34 years old, with a share of 29.69%
• Around 24.85% of eBooks website users are aged 18 to 24 years.
• In contrast,18.02% and 13.31% belong to individuals aged 35 to 44 and 45 to 54, respectively.
• Besides, 8.1% of website users are between 55 and 64.
• Lastly, users 65 years and above contributed 6.04% of user shares of ebooks.com.

By Traffic Source

(Reference: similarweb.com)

• In 2024, eBooks Statistics also showed that the search generated the highest traffic rate to ebooks.com, accounting for 69.81%.
• Almost 24.73% of the share comprises direct traffic searches, while 4.1% is from referrals.
• Others are followed by social media (1.12%), mail (0.09%), and display (0.15%).

By Social Media Referral Statistics

(Reference: similarweb.com)

• YouTube and Reddit accounted for the top two social media referral rates, with 49.75% and 37.2% share, respectively, in ebooks.com
• Furthermore, other social media segments social media traffic rates are represented as Facebook (5.94%), X-twitter (4.96%), Instagram (1.62%) and others (0.53%),

Conclusion

eBooks have transformed the way since when people started showing their interest in reading, offering easy access to countless books with just a few clicks. Ebooks are convenient, allowing users to read on various devices like tablets, phones, and eReaders. This flexibility makes reading on the go simpler, and eBooks are often cheaper than printed versions. Besides, some readers still prefer physical books, while the digital format offers more options and enables young readers to attract portable, space-saving options.

As technology advances, eBooks grow in popularity, supported by features like adjustable fonts and nighttime reading modes. EBooks provide a modern, accessible reading experience for a wide audience.

Saisuman Revankar

Saisuman is a talented content writer with a keen interest in mobile tech, new gadgets, law, and science. She writes articles for websites and newsletters, conducting thorough research for medical professionals. Fluent in five languages, her love for reading and languages led her to a writing career. With a Master’s in Business Administration focusing on Human Resources, Saisuman has worked in HR and with a French international company. In her free time, she enjoys traveling and singing classical songs. At Coolest Gadgets, Saisuman reviews gadgets and analyzes their statistics, making complex information easy for readers to understand.

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