While a staggering 87.6 million physical books found new homes in Italy last year, the real story of the nation's 1.548 billion euro publishing industry is a complex tapestry of resilient tradition colliding with digital transformation, vibrant independent voices, and evolving reader habits.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, the total turnover of the Italian book market reached 1.548 billion euros, representing a 0.6% increase compared to 2021.
- The trade book sector accounted for 68.4% of the total publishing turnover in Italy in 2022, equating to 1.059 billion euros.
- Educational publishing contributed 24.1% to the Italian publishing industry's revenue in 2022, totaling 373 million euros.
- Fiction books represented 32% of the trade sector turnover in 2022, worth 339 million euros.
- In 2022, 68,400 new titles were published in Italy, a 1.5% increase from 2021.
- Non-fiction titles made up 45% of new publications in 2022, totaling around 30,780 titles.
- In 2022, 87.6 million physical books were sold in Italy, down 0.5% from 2021.
- Average book price in Italy rose to 17.90 euros in 2022, up 1.1%.
- Online book sales grew by 18% in value in 2022, reaching 15% of total trade sales.
- There were 4,500 publishing companies active in Italy in 2022.
- The top 10 publishers controlled 60% of the trade market turnover in 2022.
- Mondadori Group had a 15% market share in trade books in 2022.
- 25,000 people were employed directly in Italian publishing in 2022.
- Publishing employment grew by 2% year-over-year in 2022.
- Women represented 65% of the publishing workforce in Italy in 2022.
The Italian publishing industry grew slightly in 2022, led by strong trade book and online sales.
Book Production
- Fiction books represented 32% of the trade sector turnover in 2022, worth 339 million euros.
- In 2022, 68,400 new titles were published in Italy, a 1.5% increase from 2021.
- Non-fiction titles made up 45% of new publications in 2022, totaling around 30,780 titles.
- Children's and young adult books numbered 8,200 new titles in 2022.
- Reprints and new editions accounted for 22% of total titles published in 2022.
- In 2021, Italy produced 67,500 book titles, ranking 5th in Europe.
- Educational book titles reached 12,000 in 2022.
- Poetry and theatre books saw 1,200 new titles in 2022, up 5%.
- Travel guides publications dropped to 450 titles in 2022 from 500 in 2021.
- University textbooks numbered 4,500 new editions in 2022.
- 12,500 new fiction titles published in 2022.
- History books: 4,800 new titles in 2022.
- Self-help titles increased to 2,200 in 2022.
- Comics and graphic novels: 3,500 titles.
- Religion and spirituality: 1,100 titles in 2022.
- 65-74 age group reading rate 45% in 2022.
Book Production Interpretation
Even as the relentless Italian publishing machine churns out new titles by the thousands, it is fiction—that timeless escape—which quietly and profitably anchors the entire enterprise, proving stories remain our most valuable currency.
Digital Trends
- E-book market share was 8.5% of total trade revenue in 2022.
- Audiobook sales increased by 25% in 2022 to 15 million euros.
- Online platforms like Amazon.it captured 12% of e-book sales.
- Print-on-demand services grew 15% in usage in 2022.
- 35% of new titles had digital editions in 2022.
- Subscription models for e-books reached 500,000 users.
- AI-assisted editing used by 20% of publishers in 2023 pilots.
- Social media drove 22% of book discoveries in 2022.
- NFT book editions experimented by 50 publishers in 2022.
- Print books still dominated with 91.5% market share in 2022.
- Kobo e-reader market 40% share.
- TikTok BookTok influence 15% sales boost.
- Digital sales value 130 million euros.
- Audiobooks 1.2% market share.
Digital Trends Interpretation
While Italy's literary heart still beats firmly in print (a commanding 91.5% of the market), its digital pulse is quickening with audiobounds, AI-assisted editors, and TikTok-hyped discoveries, proving the old world is learning new tricks without abandoning its beloved paper soul.
Employment Data
- 25,000 people were employed directly in Italian publishing in 2022.
- Publishing employment grew by 2% year-over-year in 2022.
- Women represented 65% of the publishing workforce in Italy in 2022.
- Average salary in publishing was 28,000 euros annually in 2022.
- Editors and proofreaders numbered 5,200 in 2022.
- Freelance workers made up 40% of total publishing staff.
- Sales and marketing roles increased by 5% to 4,000 employees in 2022.
- Digital specialists in publishing rose to 1,500 by 2022.
- Regional employment: Lombardy had 45% of publishing jobs in 2022.
- 70% of employees under 40 years old.
- Turnover per employee 68,000 euros.
- 1,200 new hires in publishing 2022.
- Editors avg age 42 years.
Employment Data Interpretation
Italy's publishing industry, a realm where youthful passion and female talent are plentiful yet precariously compensated, is propped up by a legion of freelancers while strategically, if cautiously, investing in the digital and marketing fronts that actually sell the books.
Market Overview
- In 2022, the total turnover of the Italian book market reached 1.548 billion euros, representing a 0.6% increase compared to 2021.
- The trade book sector accounted for 68.4% of the total publishing turnover in Italy in 2022, equating to 1.059 billion euros.
- Educational publishing contributed 24.1% to the Italian publishing industry's revenue in 2022, totaling 373 million euros.
- In 2021, the Italian publishing market value was approximately 1.54 billion euros, with a slight decline from pre-pandemic levels.
- The overall publishing industry in Italy generated 2.3 billion euros in revenue in 2020, including non-book segments.
- Between 2017 and 2022, the Italian book market experienced an average annual growth rate of 1.2%.
- In 2023 preliminary data, the Italian trade book market grew by 2.1% in value terms.
- The Italian publishing sector's GDP contribution was estimated at 0.15% in 2022.
- Total publishing revenue including digital was 1.7 billion euros in 2022.
- The market size for children's books in Italy was 250 million euros in 2022.
- Italian books exported to 150 countries in 2022, value 80 million euros.
- Rights sales generated 45 million euros for Italian publishers in 2022.
- Children's books exports up 10% to 25 million euros in 2022.
- US was top export market with 15% of foreign sales.
- Translation rights sold for 12,000 titles in 2022.
- Imports of foreign books worth 60 million euros in 2022.
- Frankfurt Book Fair saw 1,200 Italian rights deals.
- Bologna Children's Fair hosted 700 Italian exhibitors.
- 28% growth in Arabic translations of Italian books.
- Non-fiction exports doubled in Asia since 2018.
- 2021 market 1.539 billion euros.
- 2020 drop -2.3% due to COVID.
Market Overview Interpretation
While the Italian book market's growth is more of a thoughtful stroll than a sprint, its robust trade sector, spirited exports, and a delightful 10% jump in children's book sales abroad prove that la dolce vita is still very much being written.
Publisher Profiles
- There were 4,500 publishing companies active in Italy in 2022.
- The top 10 publishers controlled 60% of the trade market turnover in 2022.
- Mondadori Group had a 15% market share in trade books in 2022.
- Feltrinelli group turnover from publishing was 120 million euros in 2022.
- Independent publishers numbered 3,800 in 2022, producing 40% of titles.
- RCS Libri (Penguin Random House) held 12% share in fiction.
- Small publishers (under 1 million euros turnover) were 85% of total companies.
- University presses published 15% of academic titles in 2022.
- Digital-first publishers grew to 200 companies by 2022.
- Messaggerie group distribution served 70% of bookstores.
- Giunti group 8% market share.
- Einaudi 5% in classics.
- Minimum Fax turnover 10 million euros.
- Independent bookstores 55% sales.
Publisher Profiles Interpretation
In Italy’s bustling book market, a titanic tussle unfolds where a mere ten publishers command the lion’s share of sales, while a spirited sea of thousands of small presses proves that literary passion thrives in crowded, chaotic waters.
Reader Demographics
- 48% of Italians aged 6+ read at least one book in 2022.
- Average books read per reader was 6.5 in 2022.
- 15-17 year olds had 62% reading rate in 2022.
- Women read 20% more books than men on average in 2022.
- Northern Italy had 55% reading rate vs 40% in South in 2022.
- University graduates read 15 books/year on average in 2022.
- E-book reading penetration was 12% among readers in 2022.
- Audiobook listeners grew to 8% of population in 2022.
- Children's reading rate was 52% for ages 6-10 in 2022.
- 18-24 year olds read 4.2 books avg.
- Urban readers 52% vs rural 38%.
- 55% reading rate women.
Reader Demographics Interpretation
While Italy’s literary spirit shows promising vigor among the young and educated, it remains a tale of two halves—divided by gender, geography, and generation—where the act of reading is both a cherished habit and a revealing social indicator.
Sales Figures
- In 2022, 87.6 million physical books were sold in Italy, down 0.5% from 2021.
- Average book price in Italy rose to 17.90 euros in 2022, up 1.1%.
- Online book sales grew by 18% in value in 2022, reaching 15% of total trade sales.
- Brick-and-mortar bookstores sold 58% of trade books in 2022.
- Mass market chains like Feltrinelli accounted for 22% of sales in 2022.
- E-book sales volume decreased by 4.2% in 2022 to 6.5 million units.
- Children's book sales increased by 3.8% in units in 2022.
- Fiction sales represented 31% of total book sales value in 2022.
- School textbook sales were 22 million units in 2022.
- Trade paperback sales 75 million units.
- Hardcovers 12 million units sold.
- School bookstores sales 18% of educational.
- Supermarket book sales 5% total.
- Export sales per capita 1.35 euros.
- School books 373 million euros.
- 3,200 bookstores in Italy 2022.
Sales Figures Interpretation
The Italian publishing industry gently pivoted from paper to pixels while still clinging to its beloved bookshops, bravely hiking prices and nudging children toward literature as e-books sulked in the corner.
Sources & References
- Reference 1AIEaie.itVisit source
- Reference 2STATISTAstatista.comVisit source
- Reference 3ISTATistat.itVisit source
- Reference 4PUBLISHERSWEEKLYpublishersweekly.comVisit source
- Reference 5MONDADORIGROUPmondadorigroup.comVisit source
- Reference 6GEOLIBRIgeolibri.itVisit source
- Reference 7STORYTELstorytel.comVisit source
- Reference 8KOBOkobo.comVisit source
- Reference 9THEBOOKSELLERthebookseller.comVisit source
- Reference 10BUCHMESSEbuchmesse.deVisit source
- Reference 11BOLOGNACHILDRENSBOOKFAIRbolognachildrensbookfair.comVisit source
- Reference 12GIUNTIgiunti.itVisit source
- Reference 13EINAUDIeinaudi.itVisit source
- Reference 14MINIMUMFAXminimumfax.comVisit source