Europe E-Book Market Size

Study Period | 2018 - 2028 |
Base Year For Estimation | 2022 |
Market Size (2023) | USD 8.88 Billion |
Market Size (2028) | USD 11.03 Billion |
CAGR (2023 - 2028) | 4.43 % |
Market Concentration | Low |
Major Players![]() *Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order |
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Europe E-Book Market Analysis
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.

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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.

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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.
Europe E-Book Market Leaders
Kindle Direct Publishing (Amazon.com)
Rakuten Kobo Inc.
Barnes & Noble Inc.
Lulu Press Inc.
Georg von Holtzbrinck GmbH & Co. KG
*Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order

Europe E-Book Market News
- March 2023: Koji launched a tool for selling e-books. The tool will also assist users in selling audiobooks and e-books on social media platforms and the web. Readers can download their purchase and view it on Koji’s native reader, audio player, and other apps like Amazon kindle.
- February 2023: Spotify launched its audiobook service in UK and Ireland. Consumers in these markets will have access to around 0.3 million titles like those in the US market. The key features will include downloading titles for offline listening, rating titles, adjusting the playback speed, and listening across devices.
- January 2023: Europe Comics announced its exit from online publicity presence, which means the publisher will no longer be active on the website, social media, newsletters, and events. The book release will continue and be available to consumers through preferred online retailers.
- October 2022: BootBeat, the provider of e-books in Europe, expanded its services in Italy and Spain. For further business expansion, Boot beat is looking forward to collaborating with local publishers so that users can access a constantly expanding catalog of front and backlist titles.
Europe E-Book Market Report - Table of Contents
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 Study Assumptions and Market Definition
1.2 Scope of the Study
2. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
4. MARKET INSIGHTS
4.1 Europe E-book Market Overview
4.2 Industry Stakeholder Analysis
4.3 Publishing Regulations and Pricing Analysis
4.4 Industry Attractiveness - Porter's Five Forces Analysis
4.4.1 Bargaining Power of Suppliers
4.4.2 Bargaining Power of Buyers
4.4.3 Threat of New Entrants
4.4.4 Threat of Substitute Products
4.4.5 Intensity of Competitive Rivalry
4.5 Assessment of the Impact of COVID-19 on the Market
5. MARKET DYNAMICS
5.1 Market Drivers
5.1.1 Increasing Internet Penetration Levels And Content Consumption Through Mobile Devices
5.1.2 Recent Changes in Consumer Lifestyles has Lead to Increased Consumption through Nonphysical Means
5.2 Market Challenges
5.2.1 Increasing Piracy of e-books, Increasing Acceptance of Audible Content, etc.
5.3 E-books Ecosystem
5.4 Regulatory Landscape
6. MARKET SEGMENTATION
6.1 By Content
6.1.1 Professional
6.1.2 Educational
6.1.3 General
6.2 By device type
6.2.1 Smartphone
6.2.2 Tablet
6.3 Geography
6.3.1 Germany
6.3.2 United Kingdom
6.3.3 France
6.3.4 Spain
6.3.5 Russia
6.3.6 Italy
6.3.7 Netherlands
6.3.8 Poland
6.3.9 Rest of the Europe
7. COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE
7.1 Company Profiles
7.1.1 Kindle Direct Publishing (amazon.com)
7.1.2 Rakuten Kobo Inc.
7.1.3 Barnes & Noble Inc.
7.1.4 Lulu Press Inc.
7.1.5 Georg Von Holtzbrinck Gmbh & Co. Kg
7.1.6 Hachette Livre
7.1.7 Harpercollins Publishers LLC
7.1.8 Usborne Publishing
7.1.9 Pearson Publishing
7.1.10 Penguin Random House LLC
- *List Not Exhaustive
8. INVESTMENT ANALYSIS AND MARKET OUTLOOK
8.1 Investment Analysis
8.2 Market Outlook
Europe E-Book Industry Segmentation
An E-Book, or electronic book, is a text that is presented in digital format. This text remains non-editable, and the user needs an electronic device like a smartphone, tablet, or desktop to read this displayed text. These e-books can be accessed through multiple devices, most downloadable. From the author's perspective, e-books reduce production costs as they are not required to be printed. Portability and surging internet demand are favoring the e-books business.
The Europe e-books market is segmented by content type (professional, educational, general), by device type (smartphone, tablet). The market sizes and forecasts are provided in terms of value (USD million).
By Content | |
Professional | |
Educational | |
General |
By device type | |
Smartphone | |
Tablet |
Geography | |
Germany | |
United Kingdom | |
France | |
Spain | |
Russia | |
Italy | |
Netherlands | |
Poland | |
Rest of the Europe |
Europe E-Book Market Research FAQs
How big is the Europe E-Book Market?
The Europe E-Book Market size is expected to reach USD 8.88 billion in 2023 and grow at a CAGR of 4.43% to reach USD 11.03 billion by 2028.
What is the current Europe E-Book Market size?
In 2023, the Europe E-Book Market size is expected to reach USD 8.88 billion.
Who are the key players in Europe E-Book Market?
Kindle Direct Publishing (Amazon.com), Rakuten Kobo Inc., Barnes & Noble Inc., Lulu Press Inc. and Georg von Holtzbrinck GmbH & Co. KG are the major companies operating in the Europe E-Book Market.
Europe E-Book Industry Report
Statistics for the 2023 Europe E-Book market share, size and revenue growth rate, created by Mordor Intelligence™ Industry Reports. Europe E-Book analysis includes a market forecast outlook to 2028 and historical overview. Get a sample of this industry analysis as a free report PDF download.