UK E-Books Market

UK E-Books Market Overview:

The UK e-books market size reached USD 740.34 Million in 2024. Looking forward, IMARC Group expects the market to reach USD 1,100.21 Million by 2033, exhibiting a growth rate (CAGR) of 4.50% during 2025-2033. The market is primarily driven by technological advancements that made tablets more affordable and easily accessible, increased digital literacy and internet usage, and widespread adoption of e-books in the educational sector as e-books can be adjusted for font size and reading speed, benefiting those with visual impairments.

UK E-Books Market Trends:

Increased Digital Literacy and Internet Usage

Increased digital literacy and widespread internet use are significant catalysts for the e-book market growth in the United Kingdom. According to the Office for National Statistics, in 2020, 92% of UK adults were active internet users. In the same year, 99% of UK adults between 16 and 44 years old accessed the internet recently, whereas only 54% of those aged 75 and older did so. Moreover, the percentage of internet users aged 75 and above has significantly increased, nearly doubling from 29% in 2013 to 54% in 2020, showing minimal changes in the younger age group. Furthermore, London boasted the highest rate of recent internet use at 95% in 2020, while Northern Ireland had the lowest at 88%, showcasing robust digital engagement across various age groups. This high level of digital literacy has democratized access to digital platforms and content, including e-books. Besides this, with more individuals comfortable navigating digital spaces, e-book publishers and platforms have seen a surge in user engagement. This trend has encouraged publishers to diversify their offerings and invest in digital infrastructure to cater to the growing demand across the UK.

Educational Sector Adoption

The UK's educational sector has significantly influenced the growth of the e-book market through substantial investments in digital learning. According to the UK Department for Education, the government has allocated more than £100 Million to enhance remote education by supplying devices and internet connectivity to those most in need. This initiative ensures that every interested school can access free expert technical support from platforms like Google for Education or Microsoft’s Office 365 Education. Additionally, it facilitates peer support from schools and colleges that are at the forefront of utilizing educational technology. This funding has facilitated the broader adoption of e-books in schools and universities, providing students and educators with easier access to a wide array of educational materials. As digital resources become more entrenched in the curriculum, e-books are becoming a fundamental part of learning, offering interactive and up-to-date content that enhances the educational experience. This shift supports diverse learning styles and ensures that resources are easily available, reducing the physical burdens of traditional textbooks, while simultaneously driving the expansion of the e-book market in the United Kingdom.

UK E-Books Market Segmentation:

IMARC Group provides an analysis of the key trends in each segment of the market, along with forecasts at the region level for 2025-2033. Our report has categorized the market based on platform and industry.

Platform Insights:

• Smartphones
• Tablets and Laptops

The report has provided a detailed breakup and analysis of the market based on the platform. This includes smartphones and tablets and laptops.

Industry Insights:

• Educational
• Entertainment
• Manufacturing

A detailed breakup and analysis of the market based on the industry have also been provided in the report. This includes educational, entertainment and manufacturing.

Regional Insights:

• London
• South East
• North West
• East of England
• South West
• Scotland
• West Midlands
• Yorkshire and The Humber
• East Midlands
• Others

The report has also provided a comprehensive analysis of all the major regional markets, which include London, South East, North West, East of England, South West, Scotland, West Midlands, Yorkshire and The Humber, East Midlands and others.

Competitive Landscape:

The market research report has also provided a comprehensive analysis of the competitive landscape. Competitive analysis such as market structure, key player positioning, top winning strategies, competitive dashboard, and company evaluation quadrant has been covered in the report. Also, detailed profiles of all major companies have been provided.

UK E-Books Market News:

• In January 2024, OverDrive announced that UK librarians made remarkable strides in 2023 by expanding their digital services to include a variety of download and streaming options that cater to different preferences and demographics. Public libraries in the UK recorded a total of 16.5 million checkouts of ebooks, audiobooks, and digital magazines via OverDrive and its Libby app, reflecting a 21% increase compared to the previous year. This growth outpaced the 19% rise noted across the OverDrive global network. OverDrive serves as the main digital content provider for 92,000 libraries and schools in 115 countries and is the creator of the widely-used Libby library reading app, from which this data was compiled.
• In March 2023, Bookshop.org raised $1.8 million to introduce e-books and audiobooks in the UK enabling independent bookshops to sell digital formats for the first time. A private beta will launch in late 2023, with a full rollout in 2024, providing a competitive alternative to Amazon for indie retailers.

UK E-Books Market Report Coverage:

Key Questions Answered in This Report:

• How has the UK e-books market performed so far and how will it perform in the coming years?
• What is the breakup of the UK e-books market on the basis of platform?
• What is the breakup of the UK e-books market on the basis of industries?
• What is the breakup of the UK e-books market on the basis of region?
• What are the various stages in the value chain of the UK e-books market? 
• What are the key driving factors and challenges in the UK e-books market?
• What is the structure of the UK e-books market and who are the key players?
• What is the degree of competition in the UK e-books market? 

Key Benefits for Stakeholders:

• IMARC’s industry report offers a comprehensive quantitative analysis of various market segments, historical and current market trends, market forecasts, and dynamics of the UK e-books market from 2019-2033.
• The research report provides the latest information on the market drivers, challenges, and opportunities in the UK e-books market.
• Porter's five forces analysis assist stakeholders in assessing the impact of new entrants, competitive rivalry, supplier power, buyer power, and the threat of substitution. It helps stakeholders to analyze the level of competition within the UK e-books industry and its attractiveness.
• Competitive landscape allows stakeholders to understand their competitive environment and provides an insight into the current positions of key players in the market.