Paper Books vs eBooks Statistics, Trends and Facts [2022] – Toner Buzz

statistics for paper vs. ebooks show that print is here to stay!

dead tree edits just won’t die!

Like the monster in a horror movie, printed books won’t die. The latest statistics, research, and surveys on paper and e-books back this up.

Printed books are here to stay!

You are reading: Ebooks vs.print books statistics

Let’s take a look at the most important statistics for e-books and print books, the key differences between print and e-books, and where US publishers are taking the industry.

popularity contest: electronic books versus printed books

Are printed books still popular? you better believe it!

According to a survey conducted by the Pew Research Center on Book Consumption and Book Formats, traditional print remains the most popular reading format for both adults and children.

the survey says:

  • 72% of adults in the United States read a book in some format in the past year
  • 65% of respondents said they read a book in the past 12 months
  • 37% of Americans say they only read print books
  • 28% say they read both print and e-books
  • 7% say they only read e-books

Ebook vs print book statistics

other interesting e-books vs print book stats

  • print books outsell ebooks 4 to 1
  • 191 million ebooks were sold in the US in 2020
  • print book sales amounted to 750.89 million units in 2020
  • print book sales increased 13.2% between 2020 and 2021, and 21% between 2019 and 2021
  • ebook sales grew by 22% in 2020
  • the e-book sales are down 8% in 2021 but are still 8% higher than in 2019
  • in 2020, 19% of adult readers had an e-reader, a decrease of 32% of adult readers who had e-readers in 2014

kindle vs book stats

By far the most popular e-reader on the market is Amazon’s Kindle.

the kindle comes in a variety of formats (color, non-reflective, etc), but they all use the azw ebook format. most other electronic readers, such as barnes & noble nook and apple books, use the more ubiquitous epub format for ebooks.

  • 72% of the e-reader market belongs to amazon kindle
  • 10% of the e-reader market belongs to barnes & noble corner
  • 18% of e-readers use an alternative application for digital reading

A more recent study from Pew Research suggests that more people are reading on their smartphones and tablets, leading to a recent decline in e-reader sales.

A 2012 report from NewZoo found 17.4 million active Kindle Fire users and 30.5 million iPad users in the United States. In 2018, Amazon reported selling close to 90 million e-readers. statista projects that the number of e-reader users will grow 950.5 million in 2019 to 1.11 billion in 2023.

check also ➜ how many books are published each year?

demographics: reader vs. e-reader

Book reading demographics vary by education and income level.

College graduates make up 90% of book readers, while only 61% of high school graduates read books.

Those who dropped out of school have an even lower rate of readers: a mere 32%.

The economy goes hand in hand with education. People earning more than $75,000 a year represent 86% of readers, while those earning less than $30,000 a year represent only 62% .

Physical books continue to be the main generators of money for publishers.

the investigation of the publishing market shows the economic giant of traditional books. Although publishers are experimenting with different media formats, especially audiobooks, they are still spending most of their marketing efforts on selling physical books.

and they should…there’s still a lot of money in old fashioned publishing!

  • book sales revenue in 2019 was 26 billion dollars
  • physical books generated 74.7% of total revenue
  • ebooks represented only 7.48% of revenue
  • the remaining portion of revenue was generated by other formats such as audiobooks

Book sales statistics

Printed books more popular than eBooks worldwide

source: the association of american publishers (aap)

canada’s book market is similar to that of the united states

Canadian booksellers see the same trends as those in the United States: people prefer to print when it comes to long readings.

a 2020 toronto star survey supports these findings:

  • 80% of Ontarians read a book in 2019
  • 70% of those who read print books
  • 28% read e-books
  • 56% of respondents said they only read print books
  • 14% prefer e-books
  • 7% prefer audiobooks
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And this trend is not just limited to North America. the same thing happens in a dozen different countries.

Books versus ebooks - college graduates prefer a variety of formats

Reader vs. E-Reader Statistics: Educational Levels

college graduates:

  • 90% read a book last year
  • 81% read a print book
  • 41% read an ebook
  • 34% listened to an audiobook

high school graduates:

  • 61% read a book in the past year
  • 55% read a print book
  • 15% read an ebook
  • 12% listened to an audiobook

The Christmas Pig eBook vs Hardcover

Reader vs. E-Reader Statistics: Income Levels

  • 86% of people earning more than $75,000 per year read a book in the past year.
  • 78% of people earning between $50,000 and $75,000 per year read a book in the past year.
  • 67% of people earning between $30,000 and $49,000 per year read a book in the past year.
  • 62% of people earning less than $30,000 per year read a book in the past year.

Monthly eBook sales 2018-2021

printed book youth movement

one of the main reasons that physical books are here to stay is because the next generation of readers have already adopted them.

Studies conducted by the Pew Research Center show that the most avid readers are young adults, with 81% responding that they read a book in some format in 2019.

Data collected from surveys and studies help shape market trends:

  • 81% of 18-29 year olds read a book in the past year
  • 72% of 30 year olds 49-year-olds read a book in the past year
  • 67% of 50-64-year-olds read a book in the past year
  • 68% of 65 and older read a book in the past year
  • 62% of 16-24 year olds preferred print to e-book
  • 74% of 18-29 year olds preferred physical books to e-books
  • only 4% of children’s fiction was published in digital format last year

ebooks vs print books: costs & savings

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In the early days of e-book publishing, digital versions of books were much cheaper than print versions.

this made sense.

There were no printing, paper, or shipping costs involved, so a digital book should naturally cost less. A decade ago, it wasn’t uncommon to see a hardcover bestseller priced at $25 with a digital edition priced at about half that.

Physical book prices are much closer today, especially when it comes to new releases and popular authors.

the cost of the latest susanne collins or stephen king book will be about the same in hardcover and ebook editions.

The real ebook savings come with older works and background titles. digital editions of books that have been available for a while are down significantly. you can get e-book editions of classic literature very cheaply (even for free).

Freelance authors also offer a wide variety of e-books that are priced lower than books from traditional publishers.

There are offer books both in the physical and digital spheres. you can find plenty of dollar e-books online, enough to max out your e-reader. you can also find a table full of $5 hardcovers at your local department store.

In general, e-books will save avid readers money, but not as much as you might expect.

Look at current bestseller lists and you’ll find hardcover books less expensive than their kindle counterparts.

Readers still prefer printed books over eBooks

books versus ebooks on amazon

incredible list of best sellers 10/12/21:

  • “the christmas pig” by jk rowlings costs $12.49 hardcover and $14.24 ebook – $1.75 difference in favor of hardcover
  • “midnight in washington” by adam schiff costs $25.49 hardcover and $14.99 ebook – $10.50 difference
  • “the storyteller” by dave grohl costs $19.49 hardcover and $14.99 ebook – $4.50 difference
  • ron and clint howard’s “the boys” costs $20.49 hardcover and $14.99 ebook – $5.50 difference
  • nicholas sparks “the wish” is $15.99 hardcover and $14.99 ebook – $1.00 difference
  • “cloud cuckoo land” by anthony doerr is $18.57 hardcover and $14.99 ebook – $3.58 difference

Based on the information above, new hardcover bestsellers sell for an average price of $19.30, while their electronic equivalents sell for around $15 .

So if you like to read the latest blockbusters, choosing e-books over physical books will save you about $4 per title…and lots of shelf space!

It will be interesting to see how the book shortage anticipated for next year will affect e-book sales. supply chain delays around the world have already postponed many physical book shipments to fall 2021 and delays are expected to last well into 2022.

But e-book sales should experience none of these interruptions.

There’s no paper, ink, printing, binding, or shipping to slow down the process of getting book titles into the hands of consumers. this should benefit e-book sales in the coming months.

don’t forget your local library

You can’t get cheaper than free. Public libraries across the country allow you to borrow print and digital editions of books for a selected period of time, usually a week or two.

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As long as you return your borrowed books on time and in good condition, your local library offers free reading for life

In addition, libraries are one of the largest buyers of books. let them make the investment while you reap the rewards of reading!

the benefits of electronic books

a book is not paper or binding. they are the words and ideas contained between the covers.

An e-book contains all the words and information of a print edition with a number of additional benefits:

  • The key difference between e-books and print books is this lack of a physical object.
  • For starters, one difference is that an e-book is more portable than a print book.
  • You can store an entire library of e-books on your phone or tablet and not take up an inch of physical shelf space. kindle libraries can be very large and contain content suitable for people of any age.
  • e-books take up very little data. Even if your data is limited, a dozen full editions won’t take up more than a megabyte of disk space. it’s hard for print to compete in this area of ​​books versus e-books. physical books take up a lot of physical space.
  • eBooks do not have a fixed font size. make those letters big and easy to read before bed. or change the color of the type or the background. the options are infinite and the comfort outstanding.
  • Embracing e-book technology can help you read better. your kindle will assess your ebook reading tastes and report suggestions based on titles with a related association.
  • Also, e-books have the advantage of a built-in dictionary. no more guessing the meanings of words based on their context. you can look up word definitions on the go. even search the web for deeper details about the ebook you’re reading.
  • ebooks also offer a great way to take notes on the text you were reading. digital notes can be exported to any text editor and is in the middle of your book report or online review.
  • like all digital files, e-books are also very convenient to share . Reader community apps like GoodReads allow you to share your reading progress with others, almost like a built-in book club that you can join or check back from time to time.
  • ebooks are also more environmentally friendly. Gone is the association with stinking paper mills and needless killing of trees. no glue, no expensive ink. Unlike paper books, e-books leave little to no carbon footprint.

Latest ebook sales numbers

Physical books vs ebooks vs audiobooks - traditional book is still the winner

the benefits of printed books

A printed book is a treat for the eyes!

the smell of freshly printed pages, the silky smooth feel of paper under your fingertips, the creak and crunch of a flowing story.

print offers a unique reading experience.

Digital e-readers don’t engage the senses like a physical book does. reading a printed book is a tactile experience.

You feel it, smell it and remember it.

This is one of the reasons why physical books are the most popular format among readers. printed books touch readers on a more primal emotional level.

Paper Books vs eBooks Statistics, Trends and Facts [2022] - Toner Buzz

physical vs. ebook stats that show why traditional books are better

  • 66% of readers believe that print books offer a more unique and satisfying reading experience than e-books.
  • majority of college students they say they retain information longer when read in print.
  • Traditional books don’t cause the eye strain inherent in e-readers. reading on an e-reader before bed disrupts sleep and affects overall health
  • children learn best from paper books. Nearly 90% of teachers and parents believe that reading 15 pages of paper every day improves a child’s memory and language development.
  • 64% of employees say they prefer paper agendas and memos to digital communication.
  • e-readers require more carbon to produce than physical books.
  • e-readers discarded generate toxic electronic waste. old books can be recycled with other paper products.

digital books purchased online generally cost less. While a new hardcover might cost $30, the same book might be as little as $15 on a Kindle e-reader. and that’s the maximum price of an e-book.

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Most of the above titles are available for less than five dollars. If you’re on a limited income, e-readers and e-books are a better deal when it comes to price.

In addition, reading a printed book offers an uninterrupted “low-tech” reading experience. e-readers and online reading in digital formats are at risk of pop-up ads, dead batteries, and power outages.

Paper Books vs eBooks Statistics, Trends and Facts [2022] - Toner Buzz

Despite its distribution limitations, print still reaches a wide demographic, especially among older readers.

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For example, 41% of Americans over the age of 65 are not Internet users. The number of e-reader owners is even lower among this demographic.

the future of printed books

Statistics and polls tell the story; Despite the growing popularity of e-books, traditional publishing is here to stay.

The publishing industry uses market research to determine which book format a reader will prefer. U.S. Libraries also provide valuable facts and figures about reader habits.

Another factor keeping traditional book publishing alive and well is the modern school system.

Textbook publishers have yet to embrace digital media. heavy and expensive textbooks are still the norm for students. college students (and school boards) must buy the same textbooks year after year. hey, most of the information inside these textbooks hasn’t changed for centuries. shouldn’t knowledge be free online somewhere?

Although all the educational tools needed for academic success can be packed into a lightweight laptop or tablet, print textbooks are still an essential part of classrooms.

This is one of the main reasons readers prefer print to e-books: they grew up with print books all through school and carry that love of physical books into adulthood >.

the future of the ebook and the e-reader

A 2019 survey by Pew Research provides facts and figures that publishers use to determine which reading formats are the most popular. While e-books and e-readers weren’t the “print killers” some predicted they would be, digital books are still slowly gaining popularity.

Best-selling eBooks are genre fiction: romance, crime, science fiction, thriller, and related genres.

The popularity of digital fiction in the United States is expected to grow in the coming years. As the popularity of e-books increases, so do the sales of e-book readers.

  • Projected e-book sales in 2025 = $7.78 billion (vs. $5.91 billion in 2019)
  • Projected e-reader sales in 2025 = $98.95 million (vs. $77.94 million in 2019)

Paper Books vs eBooks Statistics, Trends and Facts [2022] - Toner Buzz

what about audiobooks?

We are in the midst of a “hearing revolution” the likes of which the world has not seen since the birth of radio.

The rise of podcasts and storytelling means more people than ever are listening to media.

However, these modern “books on tape” aren’t killing physical or e-book sales, they’re attracting new readers and giving seasoned readers a new way to enjoy the stories they love.

  • one in five Americans listened to a book in 2019
  • 100% of US publishers are creating audio

Paper Books vs eBooks Statistics, Trends and Facts [2022] - Toner Buzz

people still read books… and always will

From a social media post to a blog article, people today read short pieces of writing on smartphones and tablets. but when they want to read in longer formats they turn to books and, in most cases, they turn to the “dead tree” editions printed with paper and ink.

Printed books are not dying: they are evolving and offering more accessible ways for people to enjoy them.

Technology has expanded our reading options, allowing us to connect with books in different ways. In many ways, in terms of selection and availability, books are healthier than ever!

for more information on digital books compared to printed books, we contacted the author armand rosamillia.

rosamillia says her sales were split fairly evenly between print books, ebooks and audiobooks until the pandemic hit.

“Looking at my stats for the last 18 months, my sales are about 18% print, 27% audiobooks, and 55% ebooks,” Rosamillia reports. “Audio sales have almost doubled since covid, mainly affecting the printed part.”

In addition to writing books, Rosamillia also runs the Little Free Library, a take-a-book/drop-off public bookshelf, which is a hit with younger readers.

Print books continue to be preferred for nature magazines, cookbooks and children’s books. A recent Nielsen study found that parents and children want to hold books and turn pages together.

you can’t do that with an e-book.

The same goes for interactive books, such as coloring books, puzzles, and exercise books. you need traditional pages to get the most out of these books.

“Even though kids are comfortable with their tablets and technology (more than I ever will be), they still gravitate towards print books until they hit their teens, in my opinion,” says Rosamillia, “I have a little free library on my property and the kids go crazy every time I put a new stack of picture books in it.”

And that’s good news for bibliophiles of any age!

sources:

statista ndp paper and packaging board’s fourth annual report back to school: paper and productive learning the new york times olympic college hms.harvard.edu/news/e-readers-foil-good-nights-sleep pewresearch.org / internet/2015/10/29/the-demographics-of-device-ownership/ pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2019/09/25/one-in-five-americans-now-listen-to-audiobooks/ pewresearch .org/ internet/2014/04/03/older-adults-and-technology-use/publishers.org/news/aap-statshot-annual-report-book-publishing-revenues-up-slightly-to-25-93 -billion- in-2019/ thestar.com/business/opinion/2020/01/27/print-still-rules-when-it-comes-to-books-in-ontario.html voxburner.com/blog-source/ 2015/5 /18/16-24-prefer-books-as-physical-products newzoo.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/pressrelease_2012_kindle_newzoo_15042012_v4.pdf

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