Europe E-Book Market Size & Share Analysis - Growth Trends & Forecasts (2023 - 2028)

The Europe E-Book Market size is expected to grow from USD 8.88 billion in 2023 to USD 11.03 billion by 2028, at a CAGR of 4.43% during the forecast period (2023-2028).

Online shopping is trending in Europe, with the percentage of e-shoppers rising from 55% in 2012 to 75% in 2022. The Netherlands (92%), Denmark (90%), and Ireland (89%) had the highest percentage share of internet users who shopped online in 2022. 64% of the netizens followed online news sources and newspapers on the internet. The growing number of devices capable of providing digital media and the increasing internet penetration have allowed consumers to access the media content of their choice. This transformation from offline to online is driving the European e-books market.

The availability of user-friendly AI software has encouraged writers to create content and publish their e-books. ChatGPT, an AI software that can produce textual chunks from simple commands, was launched to help develop and publish bot-made e-books through Amazon's Kindle Direct Publishing arm.

Printed textbooks typically cost more than e-books. The selling costs of the textbooks include the expense of producing and publishing printed books. Books for higher education are likewise costly. This finally prompted customers to switch from expensive books to their digital counterparts, which are easier to use and affordable for users on a tight budget.

COVID-19 triggered a massive increase in online content consumption, and the current levels were maintained. While libraries were shut down due to lockdowns, readers switched to e-books. European Research Council joined the Online library and publication platform. The ERC aimed to promote investigator-driven, frontier research in all domains based on superior science while promoting the best caliber research in Europe through financing competitions.OAPEN encouraged publishers to deposit books into the OAPEN Library on behalf of authors.

The regular VAT rates in Europe range from 17% to 27%. Therefore, they are not uniform across the continent. Hungary has the highest VAT rate at 27%, while Luxembourg has the lowest at 17%. These variations in tax rates will restrain e-book publications from expanding across different markets.

Europe E-Book Market Trends

Increased Use of Electronic Devices

According to the latest EU statistics, 72% of internet users in the European Union get their news online. People with high formal education accessed news online more than those with lower levels of education. Also, it is assumed that the 5G penetration in Western Europe will reach 88% by 2028. The introduction of a high-speed network will add more online readers.

According to the GSMA report, Europe is expected to have 84% smartphone users by 2025. The rise in portable readable devices such as smartphones and tablets is anticipated to be the primary growth factor for Europe E-book Market. Consumers prefer e-books over books due to the fragility of books to wear and tear, the need for adequate care, and the high cost.

The EU Directive plans to introduce The European Accessibility Act (EAA) to improve accessibility to several products, services, and infrastructures for those affected by a disability, and e-books are included in the scope. The EAA oversees the entire supply chain, from the creation of e-books to their consumption. EAA plans for the reader to be able to locate and read an e-book starting in June 2025, regardless of any limitations or use of assistive equipment.

United Kingdom Dominates the Market

Library and school reader demand are increasing faster than institutional budgets. Buyers prioritize their purchases on catalogs that provide a range of flexible access model options to cater to various readers and campaigns.

March 2023: LibraryOn is a platform developed by Arts Council England, and the British Library's Everyone Engaged portfolio, a vision for public libraries, which aims to make our intellectual legacy accessible to all people, no matter their geography or background. This new digital platform will promote what libraries bring to communities across the UK and bring people closer to their local library.

March 2023: Bookshop.org is expanding its presence of audiobooks and e-books on its UK platform. The move would allow independent bookshops in the UK to start providing consumers with audiobooks and e-books.

February 2023: Britain's highest court rejected the idea that online publications should have been free from sales tax. As per the court, VAT exemptions will be levied only on newspapers and no other digital editions.

Europe E-Book Industry Overview

The e-book market is fragmented due to many independent authors and publishers. However, the market is dominated by players such as Kindle Direct Publishing (Amazon.com), Barnes & Noble Inc., and Georg von Holtzbrinck GmbH & Co. KG, to name a few. These businesses' primary growth tactics to survive the fierce competition include subscription-based programs, substantial investment in research and development, collaborations, and acquisitions.

In July 2022, KITABOO partnered with Amazon Polly to create interactive eBooks for children. The collaboration will facilitate 100% automated support for English and European languages. KITABOO is a cutting-edge digital publishing platform that helps create mobile-ready interactive e-books.

In July 2022, the Education Committee and the Undergraduate Education Subcommittee of the ESR (Europen Society of Radiology) jointly developed the eBook for Undergraduate Education in Radiology project. The e-book will help medical students and residents in their first year of training and academic lecturers across Europe to understand and teach radiology as a single discipline.

Additional Benefits:

• The market estimate (ME) sheet in Excel format
• 3 months of analyst support