While digital platforms dominate our attention, staggering figures like AARP The Magazine's 22 million total circulation prove that in print, a powerful story can still move millions.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, AARP The Magazine had an average total paid circulation of 3,567,000 copies per issue
- Time magazine's average print circulation in 2021 was 1,240,000 copies
- People magazine reported 3,100,000 average print circulation in 2022
- In Q1 2023, AARP Bulletin print circulation reached 21.5 million copies
- Time magazine digital replicas averaged 1,800,000 in 2022
- People digital edition circulation 2,500,000 avg in 2023
- Total US magazine paid circulation (print + digital) was 145.5 million in 2022
- Global magazine circulation totaled 7.2 billion copies in 2021
- AARP The Magazine total avg circulation 22 million in 2023
- US magazine print circulation declined 8% from 2019 to 2022
- Total paid magazine circulation dropped 12% between 2015 and 2020
- Print ad pages in magazines fell 20% from 2019 to 2023
- UK's Total magazine circulation fell 15% 2018-2022
- Japan magazine market circulation 500 million copies annually in 2022
- India magazine circulation grew 10% YoY to 100 million in 2023
Despite dramatic print declines, magazines maintain large audiences through digital growth.
Digital Circulation
1In Q1 2023, AARP Bulletin print circulation reached 21.5 million copies
Verified2Time magazine digital replicas averaged 1,800,000 in 2022
Verified3People digital edition circulation 2,500,000 avg in 2023
Verified4The New Yorker app and digital subs contributed 1,200,000 to circulation in 2022
Directional5Better Homes & Gardens digital circulation 1,000,000 in 2023
Single source6National Geographic digital paid circulation exceeded 2.5 million in 2022
Verified7Sports Illustrated digital circulation 1,100,000 post-2020
Verified8Cosmopolitan digital replicas 800,000 avg in 2022
Verified9Reader's Digest digital circulation 1,500,000 globally in 2023
Directional10Good Housekeeping digital edition 1,200,000 in 2022
Single source11Vogue digital circulation US 900,000 in 2023
Verified12Wired digital paid circulation 500,000 in 2022
Verified13Forbes digital magazine circulation 1,000,000 avg monthly in 2023
Verified14The Economist digital subs 1.7 million total in 2022
Directional15Martha Stewart Living digital 1,000,000 in 2021
Single source16Southern Living digital circulation 800,000 in 2023
Verified17Prevention digital edition 1,500,000 avg in 2022
Verified18Woman's Day digital circulation 1,200,000 in 2023
Verified19GQ digital replicas 600,000 in 2022
Directional20Esquire digital circulation 400,000 avg in 2023
Single source21Bon Appétit digital 700,000 in 2022
Verified22Travel + Leisure digital 600,000 in 2023
Verified23Vanity Fair digital circulation 800,000 in 2022
Verified24New York Magazine digital avg 300,000 in 2023
Directional25The Atlantic digital subs over 1 million in 2023
Single source26Harper's digital circulation 150,000 in 2022
Verified27Discover digital edition 600,000 avg in 2023
Verified28Popular Science digital-only reach 800,000 post-print in 2021
Verified29US Weekly digital circulation 1,000,000 in 2022
DirectionalDigital Circulation Interpretation
The data reveals a stubbornly geriatric media landscape where AARP's print mammoth dwarfs the digital herds, though the younger, trendier publications are clearly breeding faster online.
Historical Trends
1US magazine print circulation declined 8% from 2019 to 2022
Verified2Total paid magazine circulation dropped 12% between 2015 and 2020
Verified3Print ad pages in magazines fell 20% from 2019 to 2023
Verified4Digital magazine circulation grew 15% YoY from 2020-2022
Directional5US consumer magazine circulation halved since 2000 peak of 300 million
Single source6Time magazine circulation down 50% since 2008 peak
Verified7People print circulation decreased 10% from 2018-2022
Verified8Newsweek print circulation plummeted 95% since 2007
Verified9National Geographic print down 30% from 2010-2020
Directional10Sports Illustrated print fell 40% 2015-2020
Single source11Cosmopolitan print circulation declined 25% decade to 2022
Verified12Reader's Digest US print down 70% since 1990s
Verified13Vogue print circulation stable but down 15% from 2015
Verified14Wired print dropped 60% from 2008 peak
Directional15Forbes print circulation halved since 2010
Single source16The Economist print US up 5% but digital surged 50% 2018-2023
Verified17Magazine industry revenue from circ up 5% due to digital 2020-2023
Verified18Print single-copy sales down 80% since 1990
Verified19Subscription circulation rose 20% for top mags 2019-2023
Directional20Overall US mag circ from 350M in 2007 to 150M in 2022
Single sourceHistorical Trends Interpretation
The magazine industry's obituary is currently being written in digital ink, as print's precipitous decline is only partially offset by a subscription-driven, last-minute rewrite for a few surviving titles.
Print Circulation
1In 2022, AARP The Magazine had an average total paid circulation of 3,567,000 copies per issue
Verified2Time magazine's average print circulation in 2021 was 1,240,000 copies
Verified3People magazine reported 3,100,000 average print circulation in 2022
Verified4In Q4 2023, The New Yorker had 1,050,000 print copies circulated on average
Directional5Better Homes & Gardens averaged 3,500,000 print copies in 2022
Single source6National Geographic print circulation stood at 2,100,000 in 2021
Verified7Sports Illustrated print avg circulation 1,800,000 in 2020
Verified8Cosmopolitan print circulation averaged 1,500,000 in 2022
Verified9Reader's Digest print copies averaged 2,900,000 globally in 2021
Directional10Good Housekeeping had 2,400,000 average print circulation in 2023
Single source11Vogue US print circulation 1,200,000 in 2022
Verified12Wired magazine print avg 700,000 copies in 2021
Verified13Forbes print circulation 800,000 in 2022
Verified14The Economist print US circulation 200,000 in 2023
Directional15Martha Stewart Living print avg 1,900,000 in 2020
Single source16Southern Living magazine print circulation 2,600,000 in 2022
Verified17Family Circle print copies 4,000,000 avg before closure in 2019
Verified18O, The Oprah Magazine print 2,300,000 in 2020 final year
Verified19Prevention magazine print circulation 3,100,000 in 2021
Directional20Woman's Day print avg 2,700,000 in 2022
Single source21GQ magazine print circulation 900,000 in 2021
Verified22Esquire print avg 600,000 copies in 2022
Verified23Bon Appétit print circulation 1,100,000 in 2020
Verified24Travel + Leisure print 900,000 avg in 2022
Directional25Vanity Fair print circulation 1,000,000 in 2021
Single source26New York Magazine print avg 400,000 in 2023
Verified27Atlantic Monthly print 450,000 in 2022
Verified28Harper's Magazine print circulation 200,000 avg in 2021
Verified29Discover magazine print 1,000,000 in 2020
Directional30Popular Science print avg 1,200,000 before digital shift in 2020
Single source31US Weekly print circulation 1,500,000 in 2022
VerifiedPrint Circulation Interpretation
While one might expect the nation's cultural pulse to be taken by its elite literary journals, the cold, hard truth is that America, in print, is far more preoccupied with home improvements, celebrity gossip, and especially, the concerns of its powerful, coupon-clipping retirees than with the lofty analyses of pundits and critics.
Regional Circulation
1UK's Total magazine circulation fell 15% 2018-2022
Verified2Japan magazine market circulation 500 million copies annually in 2022
Verified3India magazine circulation grew 10% YoY to 100 million in 2023
Verified4China's magazine circulation over 2 billion copies yearly 2021
Directional5France top magazine circulation TV Magazine 2.5M weekly 2022
Single source6Germany Bild der Frau circulation 1.8M in 2023
Verified7Australia Woman's Day circulation 300,000 weekly 2022
Verified8Brazil Veja magazine 1.2M circulation in 2023
Verified9Canada Chatelaine magazine 250,000 total circ 2022
Directional10Mexico TVNotas circulation 1.5M biweekly 2023
Single sourceRegional Circulation Interpretation
In a stunning reversal of media fortunes, while the UK’s magazine market is drying up, China’s remains a continent-sized titan, and France’s beloved TV guides soldier on with a Gallic shrug, proving that glossy paper can still compete with glowing screens where the content is either culturally essential or deliciously trivial.
Total Circulation
1Total US magazine paid circulation (print + digital) was 145.5 million in 2022
Verified2Global magazine circulation totaled 7.2 billion copies in 2021
Verified3AARP The Magazine total avg circulation 22 million in 2023
Verified4Time total circulation 2.5 million in 2022
Directional5People total paid circulation 3.6 million in 2023
Single source6The New Yorker total circulation 1.3 million in 2022
Verified7Better Homes & Gardens total 4.5 million avg in 2022
Verified8National Geographic total paid 4.6 million in 2023
Verified9Sports Illustrated total circulation 2.9 million in 2021
Directional10Cosmopolitan total US circulation 2.3 million in 2022
Single source11Reader's Digest total global 10 million in 2022
Verified12Good Housekeeping total 3.6 million in 2023
Verified13Vogue total circulation 1.2 million US in 2022
Verified14Wired total paid 850,000 in 2023
Directional15Forbes total magazine circulation 1.8 million in 2022
Single source16The Economist total circulation 2 million weekly in 2023
Verified17Southern Living total 3.4 million in 2022
Verified18Prevention total circulation 4.6 million in 2023
Verified19Woman's Day total 3.9 million avg in 2022
Directional20GQ total US circulation 1.5 million in 2023
Single source21Travel + Leisure total 5 million in 2022
Verified22Vanity Fair total 1.1 million in 2023
Verified23The Atlantic total circulation 1.4 million in 2022
Verified24US Weekly total 2.5 million in 2023
Directional25Discover total paid 1.6 million in 2022
Single sourceTotal Circulation Interpretation
AARP’s senior readership is so commanding that if it were a country’s army, nearly every other magazine combined would still be a platoon trying to keep up with its numbers.
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