For the first time since the global pandemic, publishing sales in Spain topped €3 billion, reaching €3.037 billion in domestic sales during 2024, according to data released by the Federation of Publishers' Guilds of Spain. However, when adjusted for inflation, the industry has not yet returned to pre-pandemic purchasing power levels.
In 2024, the industry recorded its 11th consecutive year of revenue growth, with domestic market sales increasing 6.3% compared to 2023. (Though, when adjusted for Spain's 2024 inflation rate of 2.8%, this represents real growth of 3.4%.) Since 2014, the sector has accumulated a 39.2% increase, totaling €855.54 million in additional revenue.
"The continued growth in sales over the last decade has led our European colleagues to speak of the 'Spanish phenomenon,'" Daniel Fernández, president of the Federation of Publishers' Guilds of Spain, said. "These figures also reflect the data we're seeing year after year in the Reading Habits Barometer, which shows the growing interest in reading and books."
While the industry has surpassed its €3 billion pre-crisis revenue target, adjusting for inflation reveals a more complex picture. The €3 billion generated in 2008 would equate to approximately €4.05 billion in 2024 purchasing power, meaning the current revenue represents about 25% less real value than pre-pandemic levels. The reported 39.2% growth since 2014, adjusted for inflation, translates to approximately 8.7% real growth over the decade. While this represents positive momentum, it demonstrates more moderate real growth than top-line figures suggest.
Digital growth outpaces print
The sales increase for the past year was primarily driven by higher unit sales, with 194.50 million copies sold, representing a 5.6% increase from the previous year. The average book price remained relatively stable at €14.69, an increase of only €0.03 from 2023. In real terms, book prices decreased by approximately 2.5% when adjusted for inflation, indicating publishers have absorbed inflationary pressures rather than passing them to consumers.
Audiobooks led the sales increase, with sales up 40% over 2023, driven by a 14.9% rise to €165.5 million, surpassing the growth rate recorded between 2020 and 2023. Digital downloads reached 18.4 million units, a 23.9% increase, with an average price of €9, down 7.3% from the previous year.
Publishing output reached 87,542 titles in 2024, including 59,758 print titles and 27,784 digital titles. The digital segment grew 8.7% year-over-year, while print titles increased 0.4%. Average print runs declined 1.9% to 3,517 copies per title.
Most publishing categories recorded growth, with adult fiction increasing 14% to €709.3 million and children's literature rising 10.9% to €551.5 million. Contemporary novels continued to account for the largest revenue share within fiction, generating €348 million. Nonfiction books recorded a 7% increase to €909.3 million, while comics grew 5% to €70.2 million.
Distribution and export markets
Bookstores and bookstore chains maintained their position as the primary distribution channels, accounting for 58.2% of total sales. Independent bookstores generated €1.101 million in revenue, an 8% increase, while bookstore chains recorded €559.21 million, up 2.2%.
Export sales reached €381.1 million, a 1.2% increase from 2023. Latin America remained the primary export market with €191.4 million in sales, followed by the European Union at €130.6 million. Mexico led individual country exports at €63.6 million, followed by France at €62.4million.
The trade balance remained positive at €273.4 million, with imports totaling €107.63 million. Children's and young adult literature accounted for 18.9% of book exports, followed by adult literature at 17%.
