E-book Market Size
| Study Period | 2019 - 2029 |
| Market Size (2024) | USD 17.20 Billion |
| Market Size (2029) | USD 21.73 Billion |
| CAGR (2024 - 2029) | 4.78 % |
| Fastest Growing Market | Asia-Pacific |
| Largest Market | North America |
Major Players
*Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order |
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E-book Market Analysis
The E-book Market size is estimated at USD 17.20 billion in 2024, and is expected to reach USD 21.73 billion by 2029, growing at a CAGR of 4.78% during the forecast period (2024-2029).
- The reading landscape has experienced a digital transformation in recent years, with digital formats increasingly replacing traditional paper books. This shift is driven by the convenience, storage capabilities, and enhanced accessibility that ebooks provide. Although ebooks have a relatively brief history, their growing popularity is mainly due to the introduction of e-readers and the widespread use of mobile devices.
- Ebooks offer significant advantages over traditional books. They are cost-effective, often priced lower, and provide access to free resources. Additionally, ebooks contribute to environmental sustainability by saving trees and reducing carbon footprints. A recent study highlights that opting for an ebook over a traditional book can result in significant savings: 7.5 kg of CO2 equivalent emissions, 168 liters of water, and 23 kg of wood. Customization of features like font adjustments, lighting controls, and interactive content enhances the reading experience. Furthermore, ebooks offer instant access and portability, enabling readers to carry an entire library with ease.
- Extensive analysis has delved into the critical reception and market trends of ebooks. User feedback underscores a smooth transition for readers to digital formats. Impressively, the ebook market is witnessing robust sales and growth rates, surging ahead. Notably, traditional physical book sales and publishing patterns remain largely unscathed.
- The ebook ecosystem presents a landscape filled with both challenges and opportunities. Issues such as digital rights management and piracy require industry attention. Additionally, the role of libraries and educational institutions in ebook distribution raises significant concerns. Addressing compatibility issues across various devices and formats is also crucial. On the opportunity side, self-publishing and exploring niche markets offer promising avenues for growth in the ebook industry.
E-book Market Trends
Increased Use of Electronic Devices
- The rise in the number of portable, readable devices, such as smartphones and tablets, is anticipated to be the primary growth factor for the global ebook market. Consumers prefer ebooks over physical books due to the fragility of hard copies, the need for adequate care, and the high cost.
- The digitization of books and their accessibility over the internet are expected to create an innovative environment to offer a real-time experience for readers. Furthermore, the conversion of comic books into digital materials by famous publishers, such as Marvel and DC, is also expected to allow people to explore e-reading. The American Library Association (ALA) announced that every book of their rooster would be made available in a digital format at the latest to reduce wastage.
- The increasing influence of technology, coupled with the growing inclination toward digitization by a substantial populace, mainly among the millennial and Generation Z groups, may positively influence the growth of the ebook market.
- Systems, such as digital education and immersive learning, are also expected to drive market growth. The introduction of the latest hardware, software, and educational content is expected to create an immersive environment to provide readers with a real-time experience.
- This also acts as a low-cost alternative to the traditional distribution method and enables easy access to various ebook libraries through applications or services. In addition, the resources available for ebooks, such as lending electronically, have also increased the growth of the ebook market.
North America Dominating the Market
- Ebooks in North America came early as a natural and permanent choice over printed books for consumers as they wanted speedy access and portability. Publishers have also rapidly responded to consumers' fast-growing acceptance of new reading devices by constantly redefining and expanding new concepts of books.
- Additionally, the holiday season observes an increase in the number of people who own tablet computers and ebook readers like Kindles. The improving content mobility has led to cost-cutting through better accessibility and distribution of books to wider target end users. Further, since the region's industry is expected to be driven by the rising demand for digitalized comic books, comic book companies like DC Entertainment and Marvel are expanding their product lines to keep up with the trend.
E-book Industry Overview
The ebook market, while teeming with independent authors and publishers, is primarily led by industry giants like Amazon's KDP and Apple's iBooks Author. These major players leverage joint ventures and partnerships, especially with smaller regional publishers, to bolster their market dominance. Additionally, they continuously introduce new ebook releases to drive market growth.
- In April 2024, Rakuten, the prominent Japanese tech conglomerate, unveiled its latest lineup of Kobo ebook readers, featuring two models sporting vibrant color displays. These new devices aim to enhance the reading experience with improved screen technology and additional features tailored for avid readers.
- In May 2024, Extu, a pioneering force in channel marketing technology, unveiled its latest offering: an ebook titled "Step on It: SMB & Mid-Market Sales Acceleration." This resource is tailored to elevate small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) and mid-market enterprises, equipping them with advanced strategies and deep insights to accelerate sales.
E-book Market Leaders
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Amazon.com, Inc.
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Rakuten Kobo Inc.
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Apple Inc.
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Barnes & Noble, Inc.
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Smashwords Inc.
*Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order
E-book Market News
- April 2024: NASA's Hubble Space Telescope team released a new ebook in the Hubble Focus series titled "Hubble Focus: The Dark Universe." This ebook showcases the mission's latest findings on two enigmatic elements of the cosmos, namely dark energy, a puzzling force accelerating the universe's expansion, and dark matter, an invisible substance discernible solely through its gravitational effects on visible matter.
- In March 2024, GIJN launched its inaugural ebook, "Reporter's Guide to Investigating War Crimes." This 16-chapter guide, curated by GIJN, features insights from over 24 specialists and journalists. It delves into a wide array of topics, ranging from the legal intricacies of war and attacks on civilians to conflict-related sexual violence, environmental crimes, and the use of banned weapons. Additionally, it covers aspects like genocide, forced disappearances, archiving evidence, open-source research, military command structures, and the crucial task of tracing and documenting war criminals. The guide also emphasizes the significance of photo and video documentation, highlights best practices for physical and digital security, and offers self-care insights for journalists reporting traumatic events.
Ebook Market Report - Table of Contents
1. INTRODUCTION
- 1.1 Study Assumptions and Market Definition
- 1.2 Scope of the Study
2. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3. MARKET DYNAMICS
- 3.1 Market Overview
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3.2 Industry Attractiveness - Porter's Five Forces Analysis
- 3.2.1 Threat of New Entrants
- 3.2.2 Bargaining Power of Buyers
- 3.2.3 Bargaining Power of Suppliers
- 3.2.4 Threat of Substitutes
- 3.2.5 Intensity of Competitive Rivalry
- 3.3 Industry Value Chain Analysis
- 3.4 Assessment of the Impact of COVID-19 on the Industry
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3.5 Market Drivers
- 3.5.1 Increasing Penetration of Mobile Devices
- 3.5.2 Decreasing Cost of Ebooks
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3.6 Market Restraints
- 3.6.1 Privacy and Copyright Issues Among E-sellers and Book Writers
4. MARKET SEGMENTATION
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4.1 By Geography***
- 4.1.1 North America
- 4.1.1.1 United States
- 4.1.1.2 Canada
- 4.1.2 Europe
- 4.1.2.1 Spain
- 4.1.2.2 United Kingdom
- 4.1.2.3 Germany
- 4.1.2.4 France
- 4.1.2.5 Italy
- 4.1.3 Asia
- 4.1.3.1 China
- 4.1.3.2 India
- 4.1.3.3 Japan
- 4.1.4 Latin America
- 4.1.5 Middle East and Africa
5. COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE*
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5.1 Company Profiles
- 5.1.1 Amazon.com Inc.
- 5.1.2 Rakuten Kobo Inc.
- 5.1.3 Apple Inc.
- 5.1.4 Barnes and Noble LLC
- 5.1.5 Smashwords Inc.
- 5.1.6 Blurb Inc.
- 5.1.7 BookBaby (DIY Media Group Inc.)
- 5.1.8 Lulu Press Inc.
- 5.1.9 Macmillan Publishers Ltd
- 5.1.10 Scribd Inc.
- *List Not Exhaustive
6. INVESTMENT ANALYSIS
7. FUTURE OF THE MARKET
E-book Industry Segmentation
An ebook is a book written in a digital format or converted to one for use on a computer or a mobile device.
The scope of the study focuses on the market analysis segmented by geography (North America (United States and Canada), Europe (Spain, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, and Rest of Europe), Asia-Pacific (China, India, Japan, and Rest of Asia-Pacific), Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa).
The market sizes and forecasts are provided in value terms (USD) for all the above segments.
| By Geography*** | North America | United States |
| Canada | ||
| By Geography*** | Europe | Spain |
| United Kingdom | ||
| Germany | ||
| France | ||
| Italy | ||
| By Geography*** | Asia | China |
| India | ||
| Japan | ||
| By Geography*** | Latin America | |
| Middle East and Africa |
Ebook Market Research FAQs
How big is the E-book Market?
The E-book Market size is expected to reach USD 17.20 billion in 2024 and grow at a CAGR of 4.78% to reach USD 21.73 billion by 2029.
What is the current E-book Market size?
In 2024, the E-book Market size is expected to reach USD 17.20 billion.
Who are the key players in E-book Market?
Amazon.com, Inc., Rakuten Kobo Inc., Apple Inc., Barnes & Noble, Inc. and Smashwords Inc. are the major companies operating in the E-book Market.
Which is the fastest growing region in E-book Market?
Asia-Pacific is estimated to grow at the highest CAGR over the forecast period (2024-2029).
Which region has the biggest share in E-book Market?
In 2024, the North America accounts for the largest market share in E-book Market.
What years does this E-book Market cover, and what was the market size in 2023?
In 2023, the E-book Market size was estimated at USD 16.38 billion. The report covers the E-book Market historical market size for years: 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023. The report also forecasts the E-book Market size for years: 2024, 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028 and 2029.
What is the fastest-growing segment in the E-Book Market?
The fastest growing segment in the E-Book Market is educational e-books due to rising online learning and affordable pricing for students.
What is the fastest-growing segment in the E-Book Market?
The fastest growing segment in the E-Book Market is educational e-books due to rising online learning and affordable pricing for students.
Ebook Industry Report
The global e-book market is on a significant upward trajectory, fueled by the surge in digital reading device adoption and a shift towards e-books over traditional prints. Innovations in reading technology that mimic the physical book experience, coupled with the ease of accessing a vast array of titles via e-book libraries, are major drivers. The education sector's move towards digital resources, supported by environmental efforts to cut paper use, further elevates e-book demand. With a diverse range of formats and genres, the market caters to varied tastes, while the simplicity of e-book publishing and multi-language support broadens its global appeal. Despite copyright hurdles, the market's growth is robust, especially in smartphone and internet-heavy regions like North America and Asia Pacific. The rise of BYOD policies in education and the availability of e-book apps enhance digital reading's reach. For detailed market insights, including share, size, and growth projections, Mordor Intelligence™ offers comprehensive analysis and forecasts in a downloadable PDF report.
