In a world that’s continually speeding up, it’s no surprise that reading habits are evolving too. Welcome to the era of audiobooks, where literature meets technology to offer an optimal merge of convenience and innovation. The explosion of the audiobook industry is more than just a trend; it’s a significant shift in how consumers are digesting information.

Dive into this captivating blog post to get an in-depth understanding of the constant progression of the audiobook industry through a comprehensive collection of statistics. We’ll not only reveal the staggering growth of this medium but also decode the factors contributing to its popularity and its impact on authors, publishers, and listeners around the globe. Get ready to listen to the story the numbers have to tell.

The Latest Audiobook Industry Statistics Unveiled

As per Grand View Research, the global audiobook market size was estimated at USD 2.67 billion in 2019 and it continues to expand.

Spotlighting Grand View Research’s estimations, it’s eye-opening to realize the global audiobook market already achieved a staggering USD 2.67 billion volume by 2019. With an unbroken incline in its expansion, this numerical representation doesn’t merely voice the current state of the industry, but also sounds a clarion call about emerging opportunities and its financial potential.

The robustness of this figure in a blog post about audiobook industry statistics sets the rhythm, adding substantial weight to any discussion about trends, target sectors, consumer behaviors, and future investment prospects in the audiobook industry.

According to Audiobook Publishers Association, Audiobook sales for 2018 were up 24.5% over 2017 and totaled $940 million.

In 2018, the industry’s heartbeat quickened with a 24.5% uptick in sales compared to the previous year, according to the Audiobook Publishers Association. With a push past the $940 million revenue mark, this vivid figure illuminates the deep-seated appetite of consumers for audiobooks.

This dramatic spike marries the intersecting landscapes of current technology and evolving consumer behaviors, underpinning the robust health of the audiobook industry amidst shifting media consumption patterns. This pulsating statistic accentuates not only the dynamism within the audiobook industry but also the potential growth that lies in the road ahead.

According to Pew Research, 20% of Americans have listened to an audiobook in the last 12 months.

Depicting a vivid landscape of the American reading habits, this eye-opening statistic from Pew Research underlines a fascinating reality – in the vast expanse of the US, one in every five individuals is tuning into audiobooks. This is a significant observation for those keenly following the audiobook industry, revealing an indisputable growing popularity. When bearing in mind the sheer vastness of the American populace, this 20% translates into millions of ears leaning towards audio storytelling within the last 12 months.

This observation can be a critical steering wheel, guiding the course for industry players – from content creators to marketers, and everyone in between; it is materially quantifying a rapidly emerging trend and encouraging a promising narrative for the audiobook industry in the coming years.

Deloitte’s Technology/Media trends survey reports that 74% of audiobook listeners use smartphones to listen to their content.

In examining the rapidly evolving audiobook industry, one might be captivated by the digital trailblazer that is the smartphone. Highlighting Deloitte’s Technology/Media trends survey, a staggering 74% of audiobook consumers employ smartphones as their audio vessel of choice. This statistic gazes into the soul of listener behaviors and preferences, suggesting a tectonic shift towards mobile technology in the audiobook landscape.

It underscores the inseparable relationship between smartphones and the audiobook industry, and ultimately beckons industry stakeholders to reflect on their strategies with a mobile-centric perspective, one where convenience, portability, and accessibility become the axis points of their business compass.

Statista reported in 2020, over 15,000 new audiobooks were published in the United States.

The release of over 15,000 new audiobooks in the United States in 2020 – as reported by Statista – forms a crucial backdrop for the burgeoning audiobook industry. This figure underpins the scale and momentum of this thriving industry, illustratively drawing a picture of its health and growth. Amidst a flourishing literary culture, it provides evidence of a marked shift in consumer habits; people are moving beyond the tactile pages of traditional books, immersing instead in the convenience and vivacity audio versions offer.

With this statistic in mind, we can perceive the expanding opportunities for authors, publishers, and marketers alike. It’s more than a statement of numbers on paper; indeed, it’s a telling chronicle of industry expansion and consumer preference evolution.

Booknet reports that 61% of Canadians have listened to an audiobook in 2020.

In the vibrant orchestra of numbers encapsulating the audiobook industry, the melody that especially resonates is from Booknet, which vividly portrays that 61% of Canadians soaked in the art of audiobooks in 2020. This noteworthy tune radiates the growing acceptance and popularity of audiobooks amongst the Canadian populace, adding a significant new dimension to our understanding of the industry’s potential in Canada. It also hints at a potential shift in the reading habits of Canadians, which might be leaning towards more convenient, digitized formats.

The crescendo of this statistic not only fortifies the trend of rising audiobook consumption but also provides pivotal insights to publishers, authors, and audiobook platforms for shaping their strategies, scoring higher in their pursuit of engaging listeners and winning the market symphony.

As GoodEReader reports, in China, 22.45% of people listen to audiobooks daily or very often.

Highlighting 22.45% of the Chinese population tuning into audiobooks daily or frequently serves as a powerful testament to the growing popularity and potential of the audiobook industry. It demonstrates the strong foothold that audiobooks have already gained in one of the world’s largest consumer markets, reinforcing the idea of audiobooks as a formidable and rising segment in the publishing sphere.

The illustration of this statistic in a blog post about audiobook industry paints a vivid picture of the immense opportunities and possibilities it presents to authors, publishers, and digital platforms. It acts as a beacon, guiding industry participants to make informed decisions about production, marketing, and distribution strategies, hence, fueling the industry’s growth further.

According to IBISWorld, the global industry of Audiobook Publishing has grown by 18.5% in 2020.

Imagine standing at the peak of a growth mountain, where every step forward paints a picture of amplified success. This is exactly what the global Audiobook Publishing industry is experiencing right now. The vivid numerical brush stroke by IBISWorld reveals an astounding 18.5% growth in 2020 alone. This percentage is a pulsating heartbeat of the industry, signaling not only its vitality, but also its potential for further ascent.

Indeed, such phenomenal growth spills the limelight on the evolving landscape of the audiobook industry. It hints at how consumer preferences are tilting towards convenient and time-efficient reading alternatives. Even more fascinating is the sheer speed at which this change is occurring. The 18.5% growth rate is a beacon, guiding current and potential stakeholders to anticipate the terrain ahead and make savvy decisions.

As we focus our lens on this fascinating panorama, we realize that beyond being a mere number, this statistic is a kaleidoscope of the changing dynamics of the publishing world. Through this lens, we see a future where the soothing cadence of audio narrations echoes louder in the corridors of the literature world. It’s a discovery of greater horizons, inviting industry leaders, authors, and startups alike, to tune into the increasing rhythm of this lucrative symphony.

Forbes reports that in 2021, audiobook units in the UK rose by 37%.

Showcasing a formidable growth surge, the fact that Forbes reported a 37% uplift in audiobook units in the UK during 2021 offers a profound insight into the burgeoning potential of the audiobook industry. This piece of knowledge serves not only as a yardstick to measure the industry’s vibrancy, agility and adaptability but also underscores a significant consumer behavioural shift towards consumption of literary content in audio forms.

Clearly, this statistic is a testament to the burgeoning love affair between the UK audience and audiobook consumption, instilling a sense of confidence about prospective growth for the businesses within this industry.

Reports from Grandview Research suggest that the educational segment led the global market with a share of 45.8% in 2019.

By delving deeper into the realm of numbers, it’s fascinating to observe that the educational sector dominated the international market with an imposing 45.8% according to Grandview Research 2019 report. This sheds light on the fundamental role audiobooks play within educational frameworks, essentially steering the literary currents of the market. Coupled with the evolution of technology and changing consumption habits, this numeric revelation envisages a promising future for educational audiobooks.

A high percentage like this paints a vivid picture of a market where audiobook usage is not just commonplace, but arguably indispensable- particularly in the field of education. This unmistakably significant figure is undoubtedly transforming our comprehension of the magnitude and potential of the audiobook industry.

A study by Edison Research reveals that 46% of audiobook consumers listen to audiobooks from home.

Unearthing the secret lives of audiobook aficionados revealed by Edison Research paints a vivid portrait of their preferred habitat – the home, with 46% of listeners preferring this environment. This insight, comfortably positioned in the embrace of familiar surroundings, is a flashing neon sign for the audiobook industry, shining a light on where their market predominantly consumes their product.

It galvanizes strategies for crafting tailor-made marketing campaigns, designing home-focused promotions and striking partnerships with home-related brands, thereby forming a stairway to escalating their business growth and customer engagement. In a nutshell, it’s the compass by which the audiobook industry can successfully navigate their journey.

The Publishers Association reports that digital audio represented 34% of total book sales revenue in 2020.

Delving into the heart of the audiobook industry, this impressive figure of 34%, representing digital audio’s stake in 2020’s total book sales revenue, paints a vivid picture of the burgeoning landscape. It serves as a testament to the increasing consumer’s preference for audio as a medium, particularly for books, challenging the traditional format supremacy.

This notable ascension of digital audio echoes within the blog post to underscore a dynamic shift within the industry, emphasizing a trend that appears to be on an upward trajectory. It stands as a powerful quantifiable proof, hinting at the future potential of this industry and enticing prospective authors, publishers, and investors to consider the prosperous realm of audiobooks.

Deloitte’s Digital Media Trends survey shows 14% of Generation Z, and 13% of Millennials listen to audiobooks daily.

The heartbeat of the audiobook industry is undeniably paced by the rhythm of its listeners’ habits. The revelation, lifted from Deloitte’s Digital Media Trends survey, that 14% of Generation Z and 13% of Millennials tune into audiobooks daily, fuels the future trajectory and potential of this sector.

It emphatically pronounces that this industry, far from being a whimpering appendage of the digital media conglomerate, has ingrained itself into the daily rituals of society’s most dominant and digitally immersed demographics. This elevated devotion amongst Generation Z and Millennials not only signifies promising continuity for this industry but also narrates an inviting story for potential investors and innovators.

Edison Research reports that 62% of audiobook listeners often or sometimes use Amazon Audible.

Just imagine the scene: a substantial 62% of audiobook aficionados are often found near the virtual shelves of Amazon Audible, according to Edison Research. This eye-opening figure immediately illustrates Amazon Audible’s market dominance, serving as a testament to its popularity among audiobook enthusiasts. The infiltration of this information in a blog post about the audiobook industry would undoubtedly help paint a vivid picture of the industry landscape, succinctly highlighting major platforms consumers flock to.

Moreover, this raw data could act as a compass, guiding potential entrants to hone their strategies or enabling existing players to rethink their moves. Therefore, bypassing this impactful insight in such a blog post would be like ignoring a giant in the room.

PWC predicts that the total global value of the audiobook market will rise to $3.3 billion in 2022.

Forecast figures can serve as a lighthouse guiding destinations in the sea of data. The statistic from PWC illuminates a promising trajectory for the global audiobook market, projecting a surge to $3.3 billion in 2022. This sizable increase reinforces the potential profitability of this sector.

For an audiobook industry blog post, it presents a compelling narrative of continued growth, investment attractiveness, and burgeoning consumer enthusiasm for audio content. An observation that might incite publishers, authors, and investors to tap into this rising trend and harness the power of spoken literature.

Associate Press reports that non-fiction sales rose 16% in 2019 according to the Audio Publishers Association.

In the vibrant tapestry of the audiobook industry, this nugget from the Associated Press catches the eye: a robust 16% growth in non-fiction sales in 2019, as reported by the Audio Publishers Association. Think of it as a dramatic plot twist in the headphone-clad symphony of spoken word.

It not only spotlights a growing thirst for knowledge and personal growth among listeners, but also underscores a diversifying market ripe with opportunities for creativity and innovation in non-fictional audio content. Truly, this is an impactful crescendo in the symphony of the audiobook industry’s narrative.

According to Grandview Research the use of audiobooks in language learning has seen considerable growth, with the segment likely to register the fastest CAGR from 2020 to 2027.

Highlighting the forecasted rapid Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) for audiobooks in language learning according to Grandview Research, positions a crucial pivot to the audiobook industry. This sheds light on an emerging trend, indicating an intriguing shift in consumption habits. It gives an inkling of the untapped potential of this segment for authors, publishers, and audio content creators.

In contrast with customary avenues, the language learning segment appears to be an educational goldmine underlying in the vast universe of the audiobook industry, which sets an intriguing tone to the future landscapes in the blog post. Hence, this piece of statistic provides a compelling argument that the audiobook industry is evolving beyond just casual listening or pleasure reading towards more educational and practical uses, such as learning new languages.

Nielsen reported that 60% of audiobook listening occurs in cars.

Peeling back the layers of the audiobook industry, we discover a resounding vroom. According to a Nielsen report, a whopping 60% of audiobook consumption happens on the road. This intriguing piece of data not only echoes the growing trend of ‘learning on the go’, but also underscores just how central vehicle-centric listening has been to the boom in audiobook popularity. Investors and creators within the audiobook industry would thus do well to gear their strategies towards these mobile audiences, for the highway, it appears, is truly where the audiobook comes alive.

Conclusion

The audiobook industry is demonstrably growing at an exponential rate, reflecting its increasing popularity as a mode of consuming information. With technological advancements providing easy access and an upcoming generation leaning more towards digital content, the demand for audiobooks is expected to maintain its upward trajectory.

The rich data on audiobook industry statistics also underlines the wider acceptance and significant impact of audiobooks in fostering reading culture across different demographics. As this industry continues to evolve and innovate, it remains to be seen how new trends will shape the market. Yet what is clear is that audiobooks are here to stay, offering a unique and enriching experience for readers worldwide.

References

0. – https://www.www.edisonresearch.com

1. – https://www.goodereader.com

2. – https://www.www.pwc.com

3. – https://www.www.statista.com

4. – https://www.www.publishers.org.uk

5. – https://www.www.nielsen.com

6. – https://www.www.forbes.com

7. – https://www.www.audiopub.org

8. – https://www.www2.deloitte.com

9. – https://www.apnews.com

10. – https://www.www.booknetcanada.ca

11. – https://www.www.pewresearch.org

12. – https://www.www.ibisworld.com

13. – https://www.www.grandviewresearch.com