How Many Books Are Published Each Year? [2024 Statistics]

Book Publishing

Between 2024 and 2031, the books published statistics are growing surprisingly fast.

It’s estimated that about 500,000 to 1 million books are published annually through this traditional route. This wide range indicates the fluctuating market demand and the varying number of manuscripts that meet the publishers’ criteria for publication each year.

Traditionally, the book publishing industry is known for its rigorous selection process, where a publishing house must approve a manuscript. This route offers authors various support, including editing, marketing, and distribution services.

On the other hand, self-publishing has emerged as a powerful alternative, giving authors more control over the publishing process. With about 1.7 million titles self-published, this route underscores a significant shift in how books reach readers.

The self-publishing model allows authors to bypass traditional gatekeepers, offering a direct path to market through platforms like Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing, Smashwords, and Lulu.

This approach has democratized the publishing industry, enabling a more diverse array of voices and topics to be explored and shared with readers.

According to research, the book published statistics of sales in the US increased to 191 million in 2020, bringing in $1.1 billion from $983 million in 2019.

In 2024, these books will likely be the most popular: young adult, romance, fantasy, mystery and thriller, historical fiction, science fiction, self-help, and biography.

The Growing Popularity of Graphic Novels

Comics and graphic novels are expected to become more popular, especially since many new books will be coming out soon. This is another billion-dollar book published statistics that has grown quickly in recent years.

The “read anywhere” graphic novels coming out in June 2024 will be a huge source of comic book ideas.

In a book market dominated by men, the female-driven YA graphic novels are a strong series that make strong, heroic young women’s main characters with their own stories to tell. More than just a trend, these works show that women are the ones who make graphic novels and read them.

Visual storytelling has never been simpler for artists to disseminate. As a graphic novelist, you should broaden your character development horizons, work with different artists, and explore new genres. As per Ghostwriting Founder, this is the year to push yourself!

The Growth of Children’s Books

Industry Research predicts that the world market for children’s books will grow and reach $11.1 billion by 2027, a big jump from its value of $9.086 billion in 2020. The US’s market for children’s books was $3.3 billion in 2022.

Most children’s books are written on paper, and because they often have thick paperboard covers and bright paints, they need new ideas and content to compete in the market. But authors love writing for age groups.

Besides children’s books, education/textbooks, science and medical journals, and law reviews are other types of printing that depend on printed and bound books a lot.

Because of these specialized publications, old-fashioned printing presses and book binderies will stay in business for many years to come.

The Growth of Audiobooks

Audiobooks are undeniably huge in the book business, and sales and fame will only keep increasing in 2024. Over the next seven years, the US books published statistics are expected to grow at 20% to 25% per year. From 2023 to 2030, the world audiobook market is expected to grow at 26.3% annually.

Words Rated says that by 2027, audiobooks will make up more than 10% of the world’s publishing business. By 2030, audiobooks are expected to bring in more than 21.3% of all the money made by publishing books worldwide.

Five hundred seventy-seven per cent of audiobook listeners are between 18 and 44. The users between the ages of 18 and 24 have seen the most growth. The rise of podcasts should make you consider putting your work out in different digital forms. This could help you reach new readers who wouldn’t have picked up a paper copy otherwise.

As the audiobook market grows, you can look into Audible, Scribd, and Google Play Books as possible places to sell your audiobooks. Since only 1% of audiobooks on Audible are self-published, working with a publishing assistance agency or a professional producer could give you a much better chance of success in this tough market.

Direct-to-Consumer Sales

Direct-to-consumer (D2C) sales are emerging as a prominent trend in the book business, propelled by the rise in self-published book sales and the growing number of authors looking to take control of their works’ profitability. The focus for up-and-coming writers and artists has changed from using traditional distribution and marketing methods to building a personal connection with their audience.

It is a strategic investment in your brand rather than just considering book publishing cost as a burden, think as an opportunity to evolve. By giving your audience more opportunities to engage directly with your branding, you are fostering a relationship of trust with them. Selling books directly to your readers is easy, thanks to contemporary publishing channels like print-on-demand, which are becoming more affordable and adaptable.

You may create more of a personal connection with your audience, maintain more creative control, and increase your earning potential by switching to a direct-to-consumer (D2C) business model and selling your work via your channels (such as your website, social media accounts, email list, etc.) to fans. This innovative and empowering strategy is changing the publishing industry’s course.

Conclusion:

The publishing industry’s growth and resilience, as demonstrated by the 2024 books published statistics, assure us that despite the challenges of a digital age, books — in all their forms — continue to hold a special place in the cultural and intellectual life of societies worldwide.