The data exposes a clear divide. Over 90% of US public libraries offer e-books, yet 37% of American adults read only print. An e-reader's manufacturing footprint equals roughly 30 printed books.
Key Takeaways
- Self-published e-books account for 31% of total e-book sales on the Amazon Kindle store
- 4.5 million public domain books are available for free download on Project Gutenberg for digital users
- Over 90% of US public libraries offer e-book lending services to the public
- Readers retain 15% more information from complex narratives when reading on physical paper vs digital screens
- 92% of college students surveyed preferred physical textbooks over digital versions for intensive study
- Reading on a backlit e-reader before bed can suppress melatonin production by 50%
- 37% of American adults claim they only read print books, compared to 7% who say they only read digital formats
- 68% of young adult readers aged 18-29 read a print book in the past 12 months
- Roughly 33% of Americans stated they read both print and e-books interchangeably
- Production of a single print book requires approximately 2 kilowatt-hours of fossil fuels
- An e-reader requires approximately 100 kilowatt-hours of fossil fuels for its initial manufacture
- One e-reader is equivalent to the carbon footprint of roughly 30 printed books over its lifecycle
- Revenues from printed books reached $14.7 billion in the US during 2021
- E-book sales in the US generated $1.1 billion in revenue in 2021, a 5% decrease from the previous year
- Hardcover book sales saw a growth of 11.3% in 2021 compared to 2020
E-books are faster and easier to access, but print still leads in sales, space, and reader loyalty.
Related reading
01 · Category
Accessibility and Availability29 stats
01
Self-published e-books account for 31% of total e-book sales on the Amazon Kindle store
02
4.5 million public domain books are available for free download on Project Gutenberg for digital users
03
Over 90% of US public libraries offer e-book lending services to the public
04
40% of readers claim the ability to carry multiple books in one device is the primary reason for choosing e-books
05
Physical book shelving requires 30% more space in homes compared to digital storage options
06
14% of readers use e-books specifically for the "font enlargement" feature for better accessibility
07
56% of total book sales in the US are made through Amazon, combining print and digital
08
Physical books can last over 500 years if stored correctly, while digital files often become obsolete in 10-20 years
09
Kindle devices account for 72% of the dedicated e-reader market share in the US
10
E-books allow for instant delivery in under 60 seconds, which 45% of users cite as a top benefit
11
The average e-book file size is 2MB, meaning a 32GB device can hold 16,000 books
12
30% of readers say they use e-books primarily when commuting or traveling
13
Audio and e-books are used by 45% of visually impaired readers to customize text size
14
Large print physical books make up 10% of library print inventories for aging populations
15
Most e-books are locked with DRM (Digital Rights Management), preventing 100% of legal resale
16
Printed books are considered "re-shared" on average 2.5 times, whereas e-books are rarely shared
17
5% of e-book users report difficulty with device battery life during long reading sessions
18
Text-to-speech features in e-books allow 100% of digital texts to be accessible for the blind
19
48% of readers believe physical books are better for sharing with friends
20
10% of teachers use e-books to provide real-time translations for ESL students
21
E-books are accessible to 90% of the Earth's population via smartphones
22
The average e-book takes 0.05 seconds to flip a page vs 1.5 seconds for a print book
23
Digital e-books can be updated instantly, fixing 100% of typos without a new print run
24
22% of US libraries switched to "Digital First" acquisition during 2021
25
Printed books occupy 90% of the shelf space in US households with more than 50 books
26
Digital library loans save consumers an average of $150per year in book costs
27
E-books allow for font styles to be changed to OpenDyslexic to help 10% of the population
28
Printed books do not require electricity to operate, making them 100% reliable in outages
29
Global literacy rates could rise 10% by 2030 through ubiquitous mobile e-book access
Interpretation
Accessibility and Availability Interpretation
While our digital libraries have collapsed entire bookshelves into our pockets and granted instant access to literary universes, our steadfast loyalty to printed pages persists as a quiet rebellion against the ephemeral nature of technology, proving that the soul of reading thrives in both the tangible heirloom and the infinite, weightless cloud.
02 · Category
Cognitive Impact and Learning26 stats
01
Readers retain 15% more information from complex narratives when reading on physical paper vs digital screens
02
92% of college students surveyed preferred physical textbooks over digital versions for intensive study
03
Reading on a backlit e-reader before bed can suppress melatonin production by 50%
04
Digital reading comprehension scores for children aged 7-11 are 10% lower than print reading scores
05
Using an e-reader for 10 minutes before bed delays the onset of REM sleep by an average of 20 minutes
06
Schools that transitioned to 100% digital materials reported an 8% increase in student eye-strain complaints
07
Reading print books has been shown to reduce heart rate and ease muscle tension by 68% within 6 minutes
08
22% of readers find digital screens too distracting due to notifications and internet access
09
Multi-tasking occurs 3x more frequently when reading on a digital device compared to a physical book
10
Students using print textbooks scored 10% higher in recall tests than those using PDFs
11
15% of heavy readers develop "digital eye strain" after more than 2 hours of e-book usage daily
12
Using physical books in early childhood is linked to a 20% high vocabulary range compared to screen-only
13
Reading on paper results in a 10% higher score on chronological sequencing tests
14
Readers of print books sleep an average of 15 minutes longer than those who use backlit devices
15
Literacy rates in developing nations increased by 7% when digital e-readers were introduced in schools
16
Digital note-taking is 20% faster, but retention is 30% lower than handwriting in physical margins
17
Literacy levels for kids with ADHD are 15% better with physical books due to fewer digital distractions
18
High-resolution e-ink screens have 300 PPI, matching the quality of high-end print
19
Readers on digital screens tend to "skip" or "scan" text 25% more than print readers
20
Night-mode settings on e-readers reduce blue light emission by up to 90%
21
Readers score 20% higher on empathy tests after reading long-form fiction in print
22
Readers of print books engage in "deep reading" 30% more effectively than when on digital apps
23
7% of e-reader users report "screen fatigue" within 30 minutes of reading
24
Reading on paper is 10-30% faster than reading on a screen for most adults
25
Spatial memory (remembering where on a page info was) is 25% higher in print
26
E-book reading is correlated with a 5% increase in evening light exposure
Interpretation
Cognitive Impact and Learning Interpretation
Despite glowing statistics on digital literacy tools, it seems our brains and bodies stubbornly prefer print, offering better retention, deeper focus, and even more restful sleep, as if to remind us that sometimes the best upgrade is the one that doesn't need a charger.
03 · Category
Consumer Behavior30 stats
01
37% of American adults claim they only read print books, compared to 7% who say they only read digital formats
02
68% of young adult readers aged 18-29 read a print book in the past 12 months
03
Roughly 33% of Americans stated they read both print and e-books interchangeably
04
75% of parents believe it is important for children to read physical books rather than digital ones for development
05
Readers spend an average of 10-15 minutes longer reading a physical book per session than an e-book
06
25% of adult readers in the UK admit to buying a physical book because they liked the cover design
07
50% of people who read more than 50 books a year prefer e-books for travel and print for home
08
19% of adults in the US listened to an audiobook in 2021, reducing demand for print
09
72% of readers aged 65 and older prefer print books over any digital format
10
80% of students say they are more likely to re-read a physical book than a digital one
11
Only 12% of readers consider themselves "digital-only" readers
12
High-income households are 20% more likely to own an e-reader than low-income households
13
65% of US adults have read a print book in the last 12 months
14
28% of e-book readers say they read more often now that they have digital access
15
The "tactile experience" is the #1 reason cited by 40% of print enthusiasts for their preference
16
Readers are 2.5x more likely to be distracted by other apps when reading on a tablet vs an e-reader
17
25% of the content on e-readers is never finished by the consumer
18
Kindle Unlimited subscribers read an average of 40% more books per year than non-subscribers
19
20% of readers say they buy a print copy after reading the e-book if they liked it
20
12% of readers listen to audiobooks while doing chores, a category growth that competes with e-books
21
18% of US readers used a tablet to read a book in 2021
22
9% of people surveyed say they prefer the "old book smell" (caused by chemical breakdown)
23
Kindle users highlight an average of 3 passages per book
24
Over 50% of people who read an e-book in the last year also read a print book
25
3% of readers use e-book reading apps on their smartphones as their primary reading device
26
Physical books have a "collectability" factor that increases their value by 5% annually for first editions
27
Digital bookmarks are used by 85% of e-reader users
28
35% of readers say physical books are the only way they can "unplug" from technology
29
40% of college students still buy physical books even when digital versions are free
30
55% of readers aged 18-24 prefer reading print books to learn a new skill
Interpretation
Consumer Behavior Interpretation
The data reveals a world where print books remain the beloved bedrock of reading for their tangible presence and focus, while digital formats are the adaptable newcomers carving out niches in convenience, travel, and boosting overall book consumption.
More related reading
04 · Category
Environmental Impact30 stats
01
Production of a single print book requires approximately 2 kilowatt-hours of fossil fuels
02
An e-reader requires approximately 100 kilowatt-hours of fossil fuels for its initial manufacture
03
One e-reader is equivalent to the carbon footprint of roughly 30 printed books over its lifecycle
04
Printing and distributing physical books accounts for 10% of the total carbon emissions of the global publishing industry
05
The recycling rate for printed books is estimated at less than 10% due to glue in bindings
06
E-books require no physical store space, reducing the real estate energy footprint of the industry by 12%
07
Producing e-readers involves the extraction of 33 pounds of minerals including copper and gold
08
The pulp and paper industry is the 4th largest industrial consumer of energy globally
09
Global production of paper for books results in the harvesting of 125 million trees annually
10
Digital e-reader screens (E-ink) use 90% less power than standard LCD tablet screens
11
Printed books emit 8.8 tons of CO2 per year for the average heavy reader
12
Water consumption for the production of one ton of paper averages 17,000 gallons
13
E-books remove the carbon emissions associated with "last-mile" truck delivery by 100%
14
E-readers account for only 1% of total global e-waste by weight
15
Printing books involves Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) that contribute to indoor air pollution
16
80% of the energy used during a book's lifecycle is in the paper manufacturing stage
17
50% of the world's paper production is for packaging, with book publishing using less than 5%
18
Printing one ton of paper generates 5,691 lbs of greenhouse gases
19
E-book readers use 0% paper, saving an estimated 500,000 trees annually in the US alone
20
A physical library can take up to 20x more energy to heat and cool than a digital server rack holding the same data
21
Digital delivery of a book uses 70 times less energy than shipping a physical book by mail
22
The average lifespan of a tablet battery is 3-5 years, which adds to e-waste regularly
23
E-books require about 5 gallons of water to produce (for the device), compared to 2 gallons for 1 print book
24
Producing one e-reader emits 66 pounds of CO2
25
Chlorine used for bleaching paper in books can contaminate local water supplies
26
15% of books printed are returned to the publisher and destroyed
27
The recycling rate for cardboard used in shipping books is 60%
28
2% of the world's carbon footprint comes from the ICT sector, which includes e-readers
29
Shipping 100 physical books releases 110 lbs of CO2 into the atmosphere
30
Cloud storage for e-books consumes roughly 0.005 kWh per book per year
Interpretation
Environmental Impact Interpretation
Choosing between a book and an e-reader is a devilishly green dilemma: do you want to slowly choke the planet with paper and glue, or swiftly bludgeon it with a single, resource-hungry slab of plastic and rare earth metals?
05 · Category
Market Size and Revenue30 stats
01
Revenues from printed books reached $14.7 billion in the US during 2021
02
E-book sales in the US generated $1.1 billion in revenue in 2021, a 5% decrease from the previous year
03
Hardcover book sales saw a growth of 11.3% in 2021 compared to 2020
04
The average price of a major publisher e-book is $9.99, while the average paperback is $15.95
05
Digital audiobook sales grew by 25% year-over-year in 2021, outpacing e-books
06
The global e-book market is projected to reach $17.7 billion by 2025
07
1.2 billion printed books were sold in China in the first half of 2022
08
60% of independent bookstore owners saw an increase in physical book sales since 2019
09
E-book piracy costs the US publishing industry approximately $300 million annually in lost revenue
10
Retail price of e-books is on average 40% lower than the list price of hardback editions
11
Paperback sales grew by 18.8% in the first half of 2021 in the US market
12
Independent authors earn 70% royalties on e-books vs 10-15% on physical copies
13
Print sales of Bible and religious texts rose by 22% during the 2020 pandemic
14
Libraries spent $5.4 billion on print materials in 2021 vs $2.3 billion on digital
15
Digital textbooks are 50-60% cheaper than new print textbooks on average
16
E-books represent 21% of total book sales in the United Kingdom
17
Digital comic book sales grew by 160% between 2020 and 2021
18
E-book sales in the "Children's" category are only 5% of total sales compared to 30% for adult fiction
19
Print book sales in the US hit 825 million units in 2021, the highest ever recorded by NPD BookScan
20
The used book market (exclusively print) is valued at $2.4 billion in the US
21
For every 100 print books sold, Amazon sells roughly 115 e-books including free downloads
22
E-book prices have increased by an average of 7% over the last 3 years due to agency pricing
23
Print books account for 76% of the total revenue in the publishing industry
24
Physical children's books see a 95% market share over digital versions
25
Trade paperback sales increased from $2.51 billion to $2.98 billion in one year
26
25% of all books sold in America are currently in digital formats
27
E-book market share is expected to level off at 25-30% of the total market
28
Subscription services like Scribd saw a 20% increase in monthly users in 2021
29
E-book sales for independent bookstores dropped 2% last year while print rose
30
60% of consumers believe digital books should cost no more than $5
Interpretation
Market Size and Revenue Interpretation
The printed book has not just stubbornly refused to die, but is staging a booming, high-margin comeback, even as the digital market carves out its own profitable and pirated niche.
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Rachel Svensson. (2026, February 13). Ebooks Vs Print Books Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/ebooks-vs-print-books-statistics
MLA
Rachel Svensson. "Ebooks Vs Print Books Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/ebooks-vs-print-books-statistics.
Chicago
Rachel Svensson. 2026. "Ebooks Vs Print Books Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/ebooks-vs-print-books-statistics.
Sources & references
50 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
kdp.amazon.comamazon.com