Publishing market analysis
The publishing market analysis showed that in 2022 Polish publishers released more than 32,000 books, 5% fewer than in 2021. In 2023, 50% of women and 36% of men read at least one book. By comparison, in the previous year 42% of women and 26% of men read at least one book. Get to know the book market better with a market brief from MarketHub!
Book market revenue in Poland is expected to stay at a similar level in 2021–2027. In 2022 the book market in Poland was worth PLN 1.1 bn, and by 2027 the sector's revenue is expected to be the same, at PLN 1.1 bn. The e-publishing market in Poland is worth a closer look, however: revenue in all e-publishing segments is forecast to grow by 2027.
The publishing market moves in cycles. The number of books published in 2022 was close to the 2016 and 2018 levels. In 2019 more than 36,000 books were published. Differences can also be seen in the type of books published. In 2022 fewer academic books were published, while more literary books were released.
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Books released by Polish publishers in 2022 | more than 32,000 |
| Change in number of books released in 2022 vs 2021 | 5% fewer |
| Books published in 2019 | more than 36,000 |
| Value of the book market in Poland in 2022 | PLN 1.1 bn |
| Expected book market revenue in 2027 | PLN 1.1 bn |
| Women who read at least one book in 2023 | 50% |
| Men who read at least one book in 2023 | 36% |
| Women who read at least one book in the previous year | 42% |
| Men who read at least one book in the previous year | 26% |
Which European countries published the most books in 2022? The most titles were published in the United Kingdom (167,267 titles). Russia came second with 108,460 titles, and France completed the podium with 88,016 titles.
Show chart data as a table
| Country | Titles published (thousand) |
|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 167.3 |
| Russia | 108.5 |
| France | 88.0 |
| Italy | 81.9 |
| Germany | 71.6 |
| Spain | 64.6 |
| Poland | 32.4 |
| Denmark | 18.2 |
| Hungary | 17.2 |
| Ukraine | 17.0 |
| Czechia | 14.1 |
| Serbia | 12.8 |
| Switzerland | 12.5 |
| Sweden | 11.6 |
| Portugal | 10.9 |
The publishers that submitted the most titles in Poland in 2022 include: Helion (546), Egmont (462), Zielona Sowa (379), C.H. Beck (373), Wolters Kluwer (337), Znak (318), HarperCollins (292), Dom Wydawniczy Rebis (291), Waneko (278), Ridero (277), WSiP (273), Wydawnictwo Poznańskie (267), Dressler Dublin/Olesiejuk (250), GW Foksal (249), Zaczytani (244), Prószyński Media (223), WN PWN (219) and Jedność (204).
| Publisher | Number of titles |
|---|---|
| Helion | 546 |
| Egmont | 462 |
| Zielona Sowa | 379 |
| C.H. Beck | 373 |
| Wolters Kluwer | 337 |
| Znak | 318 |
| HarperCollins | 292 |
| Dom Wydawniczy Rebis | 291 |
| Waneko | 278 |
| Ridero | 277 |
| WSiP | 273 |
| Wydawnictwo Poznańskie | 267 |
| Dressler Dublin/Olesiejuk | 250 |
| GW Foksal | 249 |
| Zaczytani | 244 |
| Prószyński Media | 223 |
| WN PWN | 219 |
| Jedność | 204 |
Which book formats do readers choose in the publishing market?
According to a 2022 survey, readers most often choose books in paper format (65% of respondents), followed by e-books (21%), while audio versions are chosen least often (14%).
A 2022 survey conducted in countries including the United Kingdom, France, Germany and the USA found that readers most often choose books in the traditional paper format (65% of respondents). E-books came second (21% of respondents). Audio versions were chosen least often, by only 14% of respondents. At the same time, the survey stressed that readers are more willing to pick up a book printed on eco-friendly, carbon-neutral paper.
| Format | Share of respondents (%) |
|---|---|
| traditional paper format | 65 |
| e-books | 21 |
| audio versions | 14 |
Where do Polish readers get their books? Most people buy books themselves: 48% of respondents say this is how they obtain books. Other ways of getting books are receiving them as a gift (29%) or borrowing them from friends or family. Public libraries are a source of books for 14% of respondents.
Show chart data as a table
| Method | Share of respondents (%) |
|---|---|
| purchases | 48 |
| gifts | 29 |
| borrowed from friends/family | 29 |
What are the trends in the publishing market?
The main trends in the publishing market include TikTok's influence on book promotion, opportunities for debut authors, growth of the romance category and greater diversity in fiction.
1. TikTok's influence on the book industry: TikTok will continue to have a significant influence on how books are received and promoted. This is expected to be accompanied by a rise in the popularity of ambitious fiction and personal development titles.
2. Opportunities for debut authors: Experts point to publishers' growing appetite for new voices. "Young, diverse and authentic writers" who are both passionate about and experts in their fields attract particular interest. Authors from fan platforms such as Wattpad are also of great interest to publishers.
3. Growth of the romance category: The romance category is forecast to keep growing. It is an area that constantly attracts readers, so publishers are ready to meet the growing demand for diverse love stories.
4. Greater diversity in fiction: Readers are expected to see more diversity in fiction, including authors from minority backgrounds, queer stories and neurodivergent characters.
5. A richer year for fiction: Many in the industry predict that 2024 could be one of the richest years for fiction, for both debut and established authors. Many ambitious and inventive works are expected to come onto the market.
This text is not a full market analysis of the kind we carry out for our clients. This publication contains only selected information about the market. We can explore it in more depth as a custom project.
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