Physical Books vs E-Books: Statistics, Facts and Trends You Need to Know!

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Regular physical books or e-books?

Which option makes it easier and more fun to read?

And what percentage of people today still read physical books instead of switching over to digital versions?

My updated physical books vs e-books statistics guide for 2024 has everything you need to know.

Use this jump link to quickly jump to the KEY STATS section.

Also, all the references and resources I used in crafting my guide are listed at the bottom of the page.

Jump here: Key Physical Books vs E-Books Statistics, Facts and Trends for This Year| Physical Books vs E-Books Statistics, Facts and Trends for This Year (Detailed Info)

 

Physical books vs E-Books statistics, facts and trends guide for 2024
Physical books vs E-Books statistics, facts and trends guide for 2024

Table of Contents

Key Physical Books vs E-Books Statistics, Facts and Trends for This Year


Key Physical Books vs E-Books Statistics, Facts and Trends for 2024

  • In 2022, e-book sales accounted for about 21% of total book sales in the US.  In 2024, e-book sales reached 29.5% of total book sales in the US. By 2032 e-book sales are predicted to reach 32% of total book sales in the US. (Source)
  • Print books still make up around 74% of total book sales globally. (Source)
  • By 2032 print books will make up around 54% of total book sales globally. (Source)
  • The average price of an e-book is $7.38, while the average price of a paperback is $17.04. (Source)
  • 37% of adults in the US read only print books, while 7% read only e-books. (Source)
  • 65% of Americans have read a print book in the past year, compared to 30% who have read an e-book. (Source)
  • Globally, 9% of people claim they only read e-books and never read physical volumes.
  • The e-book market is projected to reach $38.2 billion globally by 2026 and $46.8 billion by 2034, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.9%. (Source)
  • Amazon’s Kindle holds about 68% of the e-book reader market share. (Source)
  • 48% of e-book readers are under the age of 35. (Source)
  • 72% of public libraries in the US offer e-book lending services. (Source)
  • The average American reads 12 books per year, with 4 of those being e-books. (Source)
  • The average person globally reads 10 books per year, with women reading an average of 11 books per year, and men reading an average of 9 books per year. (Source)
  • E-books take up 0.0000833% of the storage space of physical books on average. (Source)
  • The carbon footprint of a physical book is about 7.5 kg CO2, while an e-book reader’s footprint is 168 kg CO2 over its lifetime. (Source)
  • The average reader needs to read 22-23 e-books to offset the carbon footprint of buying a new e-reader. (Source)
  • In 2024, 43% of people report reading e-books on smartphones, up from 32% in 2011. Smartphone usage for reading books is predicted to rise and reach the peak of 61% by 2032. (Source)
  • Physical books retain about 50% of their original value when resold. (Source)
  • The global audiobook market is growing at a rate of 25% annually, faster than both e-books and print books. (Source)
  • 67% of book buyers still prefer the feel and experience of physical books. (Source)
  • E-book sales peaked in 2014 and have since plateaued or slightly declined in some markets. (Source)
  • 45% of e-book readers say they read more books since switching to digital format. (Source)
  • The average time to read an e-book is 6 hours and 44 minutes, compared to 8 hours and 12 minutes for a print book. (Source)
  • 29% of readers use both e-books and print books, depending on the situation. (Source)
  • This year physical bookstores saw a 3% increase in sales despite stiff competition from online retailers. (Source)
  • 80% of kids prefer physical books for pleasure reading. (Source)
  • E-books make up 36% of adult fiction sales, but only 14% of children’s and young adult book sales. (Source)
  • The average lifespan of a printed book is 30-100 years, while the lifespan of an e-book is potentially indefinite. (Source)
  • 62% of college students prefer print textbooks over digital versions. (Source)
  • The self-publishing market is dominated by e-books, with 85% of self-published titles being digital. (Source)
  • Physical books have a higher completion rate, with readers finishing 72% of print books they start versus 61% of e-books. (Source)
  • 48% of e-book readers say they read more reviews before purchasing compared to when they buy print books. (Source)
  • The average American household owns 114 books, but the number of physical books owned is decreasing among younger generations. (Source)
  • The average person globally owns 85 books, with people from developed countries owning more books than people from poorer areas of the world. Women also tend to own an average of 15% more books than men. (Source)

Physical Books vs E-Books Statistics, Facts and Trends for This Year (Detailed Info)


What Percentage Of Total Book Sales In The US Were E-Books This Year?

In 2022, e-book sales accounted for about 21% of total book sales in the US.  In 2024, e-book sales reached 29.5% of total book sales in the US. By 2032 e-book sales are predicted to reach 32% of total book sales in the US.

How Much Of Global Book Sales Are Print Books?

Print books still make up around 74% of total book sales globally. This shows that most people in the world prefer reading paper books instead of going online and reading digitally. By 2032 print books will make up around 54% of total book sales globally.

Also worth knowing is that most of the world is not as developed as US and Western Europe (where internet adoption is nearly 100%) so in some cases they have to read printed books as there is no online alternative.

Global book sales by format- print vs digital (graph)
Global book sales by format- print vs digital (graph)

What Is the Average Price Difference Between E-Books And Paperbacks?

The average price of an e-book is $7.38, while the average price of a paperback is $17.04. It makes sense paper books would cost more given they’re made of physical material while the cost of an e-book is the cost of storing it in the cloud.

What Is the Average Price Difference Between E-Books And Paperbacks?
What Is the Average Price Difference Between E-Books And Paperbacks?

What Percentage Of US Adults Read Only Print Books Versus Only E-Books?

A recent survey showed that 37% of adults in the US read only print books, while 7% read only e-books. This stat again shows that Americans, despite widespread access to the web, still prefer to do their reading manually without going online.

Another stat from the same survey is that 65% of Americans have read a print book in the past year, compared to 30% who have read an e-book and 28% who’ve read at least one physical, printed book and one e-book.

What Is the Projected Global E-Book Market Value By 2034?

The e-book market is projected to reach $38.2 billion globally by 2026 and $46.8 billion by 2034, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.9%.

Note: not all-e-books need to be sold. Some can be borrowed. In fact, 72% of public libraries in the US offer e-book lending services.

How Much Storage Space Do E-Books Take Up Compared To Physical Books?

E-books take up 0.0000833% of the storage space of physical books on average. The only storage room required for storing e-books is the online cloud space.

So, storing an electronic book is take a lot less space than storing a paper book, but there is a hidden cost there.

The carbon footprint of a physical book is about 7.5 kg CO2 (mostly creating/printing the book and shipping it) while an e-book reader’s footprint is 168 kg CO2 over its lifetime.

The average reader needs to read 22-23 e-books to offset the carbon footprint of buying a new e-reader.

How Much Storage Space Do E-Books Take Up Compared To Physical Books?
How Much Storage Space Do E-Books Take Up Compared To Physical Books?

What Percentage Of People Read E-books On Smartphones?

In 2024, 43% of people report reading e-books on smartphones, up from 32% in 2011. Smartphone usage for reading books is predicted to rise and reach the peak of 61% by 2032.

At What Rate Is the Global Audiobook Market Growing Compared To E-Books And Print Books?

The global audiobook market is growing at a rate of 25% annually, faster than both e-books and print books.

When Did E-Book Sales Peak, And What Has Happened Since Then?

E-book sales peaked in 2014 and have since plateaued or slightly declined in some markets. It turn out that while e-books are convenient, they lack the distinctive charm of physical copies. A recent survey showed that 67% of book buyers still prefer the feel and experience of physical books.

On the other hand, some people who’ve switched from analogue to digital say they read more since making the switch. 45% of e-book readers say they read more books since switching to digital format.

When Did E-Book Sales Peak, And What Has Happened Since Then?
When Did E-Book Sales Peak, And What Has Happened Since Then?

What Is the Average Time Difference In Reading Electronic Books Versus Reading Print Books?

The average time to read an electronic book is 6 hours and 44 minutes, compared to 8 hours and 12 minutes for a print book.

The average time to read an electronic book is 6 hours and 44 minutes, compared to 8 hours and 12 minutes for a print book. #ebooks #physicalbooks #ebooksvsphysicalbooksstatistics #statistics #nikolaroza Share on X

What Percentage Of Kids Prefer Physical Books For Pleasure Reading?

80% of kids prefer physical books for pleasure reading. This is surprising because you’d expect young children from attention-deficit Gen Alpha generation to prefer reading via their digital devices. But that’s not the case.

Read more about the reading habits of Gen Alpha here.

What Is the Average Lifespan Of a Printed Book Compared To an E-Book?

The average lifespan of a printed book is 30-100 years, while the lifespan of an e-book is potentially indefinite.

Physical book copies are vulnerable to time, but as long as e-books are stored in the cloud they’ll always be available for reading.

What Is the Average Lifespan Of a Printed Book Compared To an E-Book?
What Is the Average Lifespan Of a Printed Book Compared To an E-Book?

What Percentage Of College Students Prefer Print Textbooks Over Digital Versions?

62% of college students prefer print textbooks over digital versions.

This is partly tradition and partly because not all colleges have switched to digital teaching format. Most offer mixed education with a prevalence of physical educational material, i.e., textbooks.

Colleges that have partially adopted online learning usually deliver online lessons in microlearning format.

What Percentage Of Self-Published Titles Are Digital?

The self-publishing market is dominated by e-books, with 85% of self-published titles being electronic publishing books.

A large part of this is because of the fact that through internet new authors have potentially the entire world as their audience.

Plus it’s easier to publish an e-book vs a traditional hardcover volume.

How Do Completion Rates Compare Between Print Books And E-Books?

Physical books have a higher completion rate, with readers finishing 72% of print books they start versus 61% of e-books.

People tend to take print book more seriously than an e-book and so the completion rate is higher because of it.

What Percentage Of E-Book Readers Say They Read More Reviews Before Purchasing Compared To Print Books?

48% of e-book readers say they read more reviews before purchasing compared to when they buy print books. It’s because both reading and purchasing an e-book is done online and usually you can do both on the same page.

Whereas for physical hardcopy books you need to search Google separately for trustworthy reviews and that takes extra 15m, 15m which many people don’t have to waste.

What Percentage Of E-Book Readers Say They Read More Reviews Before Purchasing Compared To Print Books?
What Percentage Of E-Book Readers Say They Read More Reviews Before Purchasing Compared To Print Books?
Physical books have a higher completion rate, with readers finishing 72% of print books they start versus 61% of e-books. #ebooks #physicalbooks #ebooksvsphysicalbooksstatistics #statistics #nikolaroza Share on X

How Many Books Does the Average American Household Own, And How Is This Changing?

The average American household owns 114 books, but the number of physical books owned is decreasing among younger generations.

Conversely, the number of e-books owned in American households is increasing at a rough ratio of 1:1. Meaning, the average American household still owns 114 books, but it’s a healthy mix between paper books and e-books.

Also, the average American reads 12 books per year, with 4 of those being e-books.

Finally, nearly all American households own at least one Bible.

Note: the average person globally owns 85 books, with people from developed countries owning more books than people from poorer areas of the world. Women also tend to own an average of 15% more books than men.

What Is Amazon Kindle’s Market Share In the E-book Reader Market?

Amazon’s Kindle holds about 68% of the e-book reader market share. E-books make up 36% of adult fiction sales, but only 14% of children’s and young adult book sales. 48% of e-book readers are under the age of 35.

Physical hardcopy books retain about 50% of their original value when resold.

Physical Books or Kindle — Which is Best?

Physical Books vs E-Books Statistics, Facts and Trends for 2024 (FAQ)


Physical books vs e-books: statistics, facts and trends for 2024 (FAQ)
Physical books vs e-books: statistics, facts and trends for 2024 (FAQ)

What are the Benefits of Reading Physical Books vs E-Books?

According to this study, there are several tangible benefits to reading physical books instead of e-books.

First, readers of print books absorb and retain more of the plot than readers of e-books do.

Second, print reader also score higher in empathy, book immersion and understanding of the narrative.

Paper book readers also sleep much better compared to e-book readers and this is probably because e-reader devices emit a lot of blue light which confuses the brain and makes it alert when it should be preparing to go to bed.

What are the Benefits of Reading Physical Books vs E-Books?
What are the Benefits of Reading Physical Books vs E-Books?

What are the Disadvantages of Reading Physical Books vs E-Books?

There are some noticeable disadvantage of physical books compared to e-books.

Physical books are often large and difficult to store and transport. You’ll often find your back and hands aching if you like to read for longer periods of time.

Physical books can easily be lost, damaged, or even destroyed. Physical books are not available via the internet so yo have to carry them around with you.

They are not environmentally friendly as the process of printing and transportation of books has a significant impact on the environment and they can’t be easily edited or updated. Once printed, physical book can only be scribbled upon, but it can’t be (easily reprinted).

Are E-Books Cheaper than Print Books?

E-books are typically cheaper than print books due to lower production and distribution costs.

However, pricing varies based on publisher strategies, book type, and market conditions. You also need an e-reader to read e-books and that is a large upfront investment.

Are E-Books More Popular than Print Books?

Print books still outsell e-books overall, but e-book popularity has grown significantly, especially in the developed Western World. Preferences vary by genre, age group, and reading situation. Both formats coexist, serving different reader needs.

Currently, Print books still make up around 74% of the global book sales. By 2032 print books will make up around 54% of total global book sales.

What is the Difference Between Printed Textbooks and E-Textbooks for College Students?

The main difference between printed textbooks and e-textbooks is that printed textbooks can be damaged or lost, while e-textbooks are safe and sound in the cloud read to be used wherever the student needs to learn.

Reading Paper Books vs Listening to Audio E-Books? Which is Better?

Reading paper books has its advantages; so does listening to audio e-books.

Paper books require a person to be stationary while reading. That’s a clear drawback compared to audio books. However, reading physical books is intrapersonal learner’s favorite way to learn.

You can listen to audio e-books while doing other activities, such as driving or walking. In other words audio e-books are convenient for multitasking and also for two distinct types of learners- auditory learners and verbal learners.

Do People Buy Illustrated PDF E-Books?

People buy illustrated PDF e-books. These e-books are popular among students who want to learn something with the help of illustrations, diagrams, mind maps…

Illustrated PDF e-books are also popular among visual learners of all ages as these people learn best by seeing.

Physical, Printed Books vs E-Books Statistics, Facts and Trends for 2024 (Conclusion)


My updated guide for 2024 lists the best and latest statistics, facts and trends about physical printed books vs e-books and how they compare in usage in general population.

I hope you enjoyed it because the guide is now over.

References:

Nikola Roza

Nikola Roza is a blogger behind Nikola Roza- SEO for the Poor and Determined. He writes for bloggers who don't have huge marketing budget but still want to succeed. Nikola is passionate about precious metals IRAs and how to invest in gold and silver for a safer financial future. Learn about Nikola here.

5 thoughts on “Physical Books vs E-Books: Statistics, Facts and Trends You Need to Know!”

  1. Maybe it’s a generational thing Nikola but even at my age of 77 if I had normal sight I’d still prefer Ebooks to physical copies. And if you’re a digital nomad you can carry all the knowledge you’ll ever need in your laptop. Imagine how much The Complete Works Of Emile Zola (The Delphi Edition) would weigh (53 novels I think) in physical format alone? I think the days of physical books are slowly being numbered. I think also that Farenheit 401 is the temperature that paper starts to burn…..?
    Once again I’d like to thank you for the invaluable work you’ve done here, it gives me a much clearer outlook to approach my US Publicist with when I undertake my next step to achieving fame and fortune as a modern poet in the US…..?

    Reply
  2. I’m a severely sight impaired/legally blind writer born and bred in the UK; I’m 77 now. I can no longer read the printed page unless it’s in LARGE PRINT bold type format. The arrival of the ebook is a modern miracle for me (along with the back space button on my keyboard.) I’;m no good with tablets or Kindle readers and don’t have anyone to teach me how to use them properly.
    I did download Kindle for PC a long time ago and had quite a good selection of free to read ebooks including the complete works of Emile Zola but the gremlins got into the works and mucked it all up, the only reading I do now is on screen with my netbook screen close to my nose.
    My interest in ebooks stems from my attempts to make a niche name for myself in the US poetry market, my 2 latest books are both available as ebooks on Amazon. So far I’ve had good feedback but I need to keep up the momentum at my own expense. I’ve found your updated stats a great help. Thanks very much.

    Reply
    • Hi Phillip,
      thank you for complimenting my stats post and I’m happy you enjoyed it. Lot’s of success with your poetry in the US.

      Reply
      • I’ve mis-spelt poetry in the 2nd post, I’ve spotted I’ve written ‘ooetry’ this kind of typo really annoys me. Thanks for your encouragement Nikola. I hope more e-readers find their way to your very informative blog. Do you get paid for doing this? I sincerely hope so. You can’t live on fresh air can you?

        Reply
        • Hi Phillip,
          thanks again for your kind words. Yes, carrying 53 tomes of complete works of Emil Zola would be impossible for anyone. But you can carry a thousand ebooks on your Kindle. I earn from different blog posts on my site. I wrote this particular stats post out of passion and for free.

          Reply

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