Print still reigns: EU readers prefer physical books over digital in 2024

In 2024, online shoppers across the European Union continued to show a strong preference for printed reading materials over digital formats. According to a recent survey, 14.7% of EU residents reported purchasing printed books, magazines, or newspapers online during the three months prior to the survey—more than double the 6.8% who opted to download e-books or audiobooks.

Ireland led the way with the highest proportion of residents buying printed publications online at 28.3%, followed by the Netherlands at 23.5% and Luxembourg at 22.7%. On the other end of the spectrum, the lowest shares were observed in Cyprus (2.0%), Latvia (3.8%), and Romania (5.3%).

When it came to digital formats like e-books and audiobooks, the highest uptake was seen in Ireland again, with 22.3% of its population downloading these formats, trailed by Denmark at 19.7% and Luxembourg at 13.3%. The smallest proportions of digital purchases were recorded in Bulgaria (1.8%), Latvia (2.5%), and Romania (2.6%).

Interestingly, in three EU countries—Denmark, Cyprus, and Finland—digital purchases surpassed those of printed books, marking a notable shift in reading habits within these regions.

Source: Eurostat