Book Translations Volume Statistics

In this post, we explore a wide array of fascinating statistics revolving around the translation of books worldwide. From the dominance of English literature in translations to the staggering number of books published in various languages, these statistics shed light on the global landscape of book translations. Join us as we delve into the numbers that shape the world of literary translations.

Statistic 1

"As per 2013 data, UNESCO reported that English literature was translated into other languages at double the rate of others."

Statistic 2

"Over 50% of all translated books are originally written in English."

Statistic 3

"The most translated book globally is the Bible."

Statistic 4

"The second most translated book in the world is "The Little Prince" by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry (available in over 300 languages)."

Statistic 5

"In 2016, the British Council reported that almost 30% of literary translations into English were from French books."

Statistic 6

"As of 2018, around 10,000 books were translated into German per year."

Statistic 7

"Over 3270 books were translated from various languages into English in 2016 in the US."

Statistic 8

"Only 3% of books published in the United States are translated from other languages."

Statistic 9

"Just 1.5% of all books published in the UK are translations."

Statistic 10

"As of 2013, there were over 300 translations of Shakespeare's books available."

Statistic 11

"Around 60% of translations are made from books originally written in English, German, or French."

Statistic 12

"China has the highest number of translation book publications in the world with over 37,500 translated books being published in 2016."

Statistic 13

"Portuguese is the sixth language with more translations of its books into foreign languages."

Statistic 14

"As of 2018, Estonia had around 1,500 book translations published per million inhabitants - the highest in the world."

Statistic 15

"India, one of the biggest book markets in the world, witnesses less than 1% of books translated into different Indian languages."

Statistic 16

"Japanese literature accounts for 12% of all literary translations published in English."

Statistic 17

"Literature from Norway saw a 72% increase in English-language translation between 2001 and 2015."

In conclusion, the statistics presented reveal a complex and dynamic landscape of book translations globally. English literature continues to dominate the translation market, with the Bible and “The Little Prince” being the most translated works. However, there is also a significant amount of translation activity from French, German, and other languages into English. The data highlights disparities in translation rates across countries, with notable examples such as Estonia leading in translations per capita and India experiencing a low rate of books being translated into different Indian languages. The varied trends in translation preferences and volumes underscore the rich diversity and global interconnectedness within the literary world.