While the world's biggest print newspaper still sells an astonishing 6.8 million copies a day in Japan, a stark global portrait emerges from the latest data, revealing a relentless decline in circulation, revenue, and readership across most major markets, with only rare exceptions like India showing any signs of print vitality.
Key Takeaways
- In 2023, global print newspaper circulation declined by 7.2% year-over-year to approximately 144 million copies daily
- U.S. daily newspaper print circulation dropped 5% in 2022 to 17.5 million copies from 18.4 million in 2021
- The New York Times print circulation stood at 315,000 copies per day in Q4 2023, down 8% from the previous year
- Global print advertising revenue in newspapers reached $68 billion in 2022, down 8.5% from 2021
- U.S. newspaper print ad revenue fell to $8.1 billion in 2022, a 7.9% YoY decline
- UK's print ad spend on newspapers was £1.2 billion in 2023, dropping 10.2% YoY
- U.S. newspaper industry employed 31,000 journalists in 2022, down 26% since 2008
- Global print media workforce declined to 2.1 million in 2023 from 2.4 million in 2019
- UK newspaper employment fell to 25,000 in 2023, a 15% drop since 2020
- Global print media market size was $210 billion in 2023, down 6.8% YoY
- U.S. print media industry revenue fell to $25 billion in 2022, a 9.1% decline
- UK print media market contracted 11.5% to £4.2 billion in 2023
- 62% of U.S. adults aged 65+ prefer print newspapers over digital in 2023 surveys
- Globally, 45% of print readers are over 55 years old in 2023
- UK print readership among 18-24 year-olds fell to 8% in 2023 from 12% in 2020
Global print media continues its steep decline despite a few regional exceptions like India.
Advertising Revenue
- Global print advertising revenue in newspapers reached $68 billion in 2022, down 8.5% from 2021
- U.S. newspaper print ad revenue fell to $8.1 billion in 2022, a 7.9% YoY decline
- UK's print ad spend on newspapers was £1.2 billion in 2023, dropping 10.2% YoY
- Japan's newspaper print ads generated ¥1.1 trillion in 2023, down 4.3%
- India's print media ad revenue hit ₹35,000 crore in 2023, up 12% YoY
- Australia's newspaper print ad revenue was AUD 450 million in 2023, falling 14.5%
- France print newspaper ad spend totaled €1.8 billion in 2023, down 6.7%
- Germany's print ad revenue for newspapers reached €4.2 billion in 2023, declining 5.1%
- Brazil's print ad market for newspapers was BRL 2.5 billion in 2022, down 9.8%
- Canada's print newspaper ad revenue fell to CAD 1.1 billion in 2023, a 11.3% drop
- Italy print ad spend on dailies was €1.4 billion in 2023, down 8.2%
- South Korea newspaper print ads generated KRW 3.2 trillion in 2023, falling 3.6%
- Spain's print newspaper ad revenue was €650 million in 2023, down 10.9%
- Mexico print ad revenue for newspapers totaled MXN 12 billion in 2022, declining 7.7%
- Turkey's print ad spend reached TRY 5 billion in 2023, down 4.2%
- Argentina newspaper print ads generated ARS 15 billion in 2023, falling 13.4%
- Sweden print ad revenue was SEK 2.5 billion in 2023, down 9.1%
- Netherlands newspaper print ads totaled €450 million in 2023, declining 7.4%
- Poland's print ad revenue for newspapers was PLN 1.2 billion in 2023, down 5.7%
- Russia's print newspaper ad spend reached RUB 45 billion in 2023, falling 3.8%
- Thailand print ad revenue was THB 20 billion in 2022, down 8.1%
- South Africa newspaper print ads generated ZAR 3.5 billion in 2023, declining 12.6%
- New Zealand print ad spend totaled NZD 120 million in 2023, down 11.2%
- Norway's newspaper print ad revenue was NOK 2.8 billion in 2023, falling 9.3%
- Denmark print ad revenue reached DKK 1.5 billion in 2023, down 10.8%
- Finland newspaper print ads generated €250 million in 2023, declining 6.4%
- Belgium print ad spend was €800 million in 2023, down 8.9%
- Switzerland's print newspaper ad revenue totaled CHF 650 million in 2023, falling 5.2%
- Austria print ads for newspapers reached €450 million in 2023, down 7.1%
Advertising Revenue Interpretation
Print media advertising is a universal patient in long-term decline, albeit with a single, stubbornly chipper Indian organ shouting "Look at me grow!" while the rest of the body withers year by year.
Circulation and Subscriptions
- In 2023, global print newspaper circulation declined by 7.2% year-over-year to approximately 144 million copies daily
- U.S. daily newspaper print circulation dropped 5% in 2022 to 17.5 million copies from 18.4 million in 2021
- The New York Times print circulation stood at 315,000 copies per day in Q4 2023, down 8% from the previous year
- UK's national newspaper print sales fell to 5.3 million copies weekly in 2023, a 12% decline from 2022
- Japan's Yomiuri Shimbun maintains the world's highest print circulation at 6.8 million copies daily as of 2023
- Indian print newspaper circulation reached 38.2 million copies daily in 2022, growing 2.5% annually
- Australia's major newspaper print circulation totaled 2.1 million copies weekly in 2023, down 15% YoY
- French print newspaper sales declined to 3.4 million copies daily in 2023, a 6.8% drop
- German print dailies circulated 15.2 million copies in 2023, falling 4.3% from 2022
- Brazil's print newspaper circulation was 4.7 million daily in 2022, down 9% YoY
- Canadian print newspaper circulation fell to 4.8 million weekly in 2023, a 10.5% decline
- Italy's print press sold 2.9 million copies daily in 2023, dropping 7.1%
- South Korea's print newspapers circulated 11.5 million copies daily in 2023, down 3.2%
- Spain's print newspaper sales reached 1.2 million daily in 2023, a 11% YoY decline
- Mexico's print media circulation totaled 3.1 million daily in 2022, falling 8.4%
- Turkey's print newspapers sold 2.4 million copies daily in 2023, down 5.6%
- Argentina's print circulation was 1.8 million daily in 2023, declining 12.3% YoY
- Sweden's print newspaper circulation fell to 1.1 million daily in 2023, a 9.2% drop
- Netherlands print dailies circulated 800,000 copies daily in 2023, down 6.7%
- Poland's print newspaper sales were 1.5 million daily in 2023, falling 4.8%
- Russia's print circulation totaled 7.2 million daily in 2023, down 2.9%
- Thailand's print newspapers circulated 2.8 million copies daily in 2022, declining 7.5%
- South Africa's print sales fell to 1.6 million weekly in 2023, a 13% drop
- New Zealand's print circulation was 500,000 daily in 2023, down 10.1%
- Norway's print newspapers sold 700,000 copies daily in 2023, falling 8.4%
- Denmark print circulation declined to 400,000 daily in 2023, a 11.2% YoY drop
- Finland's print sales were 1.2 million daily in 2023, down 5.9%
- Belgium's print newspaper circulation totaled 900,000 daily in 2023, falling 7.3%
- Switzerland print dailies circulated 1.4 million copies in 2023, down 4.1%
- Austria's print sales fell to 1.0 million daily in 2023, a 6.5% decline
Circulation and Subscriptions Interpretation
The global patient, print news, continues its steady decline in nearly every ward, proving it's not dead but is certainly writing its will in India while Japan stubbornly refuses to sign as a witness.
Consumer Behavior
- 62% of U.S. adults aged 65+ prefer print newspapers over digital in 2023 surveys
- Globally, 45% of print readers are over 55 years old in 2023
- UK print readership among 18-24 year-olds fell to 8% in 2023 from 12% in 2020
- Japan's print readers average age is 58 in 2023, up from 55 in 2018
- India has 70% of print readers in rural areas consuming daily newspapers in 2023
- Australia print readership declined to 25% of population in 2023, down 5% YoY
- France 52% of seniors read print daily vs 18% of under-30s in 2023
- Germany print readership penetration is 28% in 2023, mostly over 50s
- Brazil urban print readers make up 35% of adults in 2022 surveys
- Canada print newspaper reach fell to 22% weekly in 2023
- Italy print readership is 19% daily among adults in 2023
- South Korea 40% of print readers are loyal subscribers over 60 in 2023
- Spain print consumption averages 25 minutes daily per reader in 2023
- Mexico 55% of print readers prefer weekend editions in 2022
- Turkey print readership gender split is 55% male in 2023
- Argentina print readers spend 30 minutes daily, mostly broadsheets, in 2023
- Sweden print loyalty among over-65s is 68% in 2023 surveys
- Netherlands print readers average 42 years old, down 3% youth engagement in 2023
- Poland 31% of adults read print weekly in 2023
- Russia print readership is 42% among urban population in 2023
- Thailand 48% of print readers are in Bangkok metro in 2022
- South Africa print reach is 18% daily, skewed to affluent demographics in 2023
- New Zealand print readership fell to 15% in 2023
- Norway print preference among seniors is 75% in 2023
- Denmark print readers engage 28 minutes per issue in 2023
- Finland 35% of households subscribe to print newspapers in 2023
- Belgium print readership split 60% French-speaking vs 40% Dutch in 2023
- Switzerland print loyalty is 32% daily reach in German regions 2023
- Austria print readers 27% prefer tabloids over broadsheets in 2023
Consumer Behavior Interpretation
Across the globe, print newspapers are becoming a cherished ritual for the silver-haired while fading from the daily rhythms of the young, creating a generational divide as stark as ink on paper.
Employment and Jobs
- U.S. newspaper industry employed 31,000 journalists in 2022, down 26% since 2008
- Global print media workforce declined to 2.1 million in 2023 from 2.4 million in 2019
- UK newspaper employment fell to 25,000 in 2023, a 15% drop since 2020
- Japan's print media sector employed 45,000 journalists in 2023, down 8% YoY
- India's print industry workforce reached 1.2 million in 2023, up 5% annually
- Australia newspaper jobs totaled 8,500 in 2023, declining 12% from 2022
- France print media employed 38,000 in 2023, down 7.2% YoY
- Germany newspaper workforce was 55,000 in 2023, falling 4.5%
- Brazil's print journalism jobs dropped to 22,000 in 2022, a 10% decline
- Canada print media employment fell to 12,000 in 2023, down 13.1%
- Italy newspaper staff totaled 18,000 in 2023, declining 9.3%
- South Korea print media employed 28,000 journalists in 2023, down 3.9%
- Spain's print workforce was 15,000 in 2023, falling 11.4%
- Mexico newspaper jobs reached 9,500 in 2022, down 8.6%
- Turkey print media employment was 32,000 in 2023, declining 5.3%
- Argentina's print journalists numbered 7,200 in 2023, down 14.2%
- Sweden newspaper employment fell to 4,500 in 2023, a 10.2% drop
- Netherlands print media jobs totaled 6,800 in 2023, down 8.1%
- Poland's print workforce was 12,500 in 2023, falling 6.2%
- Russia newspaper employees reached 85,000 in 2023, down 4.1%
- Thailand print media employed 15,000 in 2022, declining 9.2%
- South Africa print journalism jobs fell to 5,200 in 2023, down 13.7%
- New Zealand newspaper staff totaled 2,100 in 2023, falling 12.3%
- Norway print media employment was 3,800 in 2023, down 10.5%
- Denmark's print workforce declined to 2,500 in 2023, a 11.9% drop
- Finland newspaper jobs totaled 4,200 in 2023, down 7.3%
- Belgium print employment fell to 5,600 in 2023, declining 9.6%
- Switzerland newspaper staff was 7,100 in 2023, down 5.8%
- Austria print media employed 4,800 in 2023, falling 7.4%
Employment and Jobs Interpretation
While newspapers continue their global diet of downsizing—shrinking everywhere except in India, where print appears to be bulking up while the rest of the world sheds staff like yesterday's headlines.
Market Trends
- Global print media market size was $210 billion in 2023, down 6.8% YoY
- U.S. print media industry revenue fell to $25 billion in 2022, a 9.1% decline
- UK print media market contracted 11.5% to £4.2 billion in 2023
- Japan's print sector value was ¥2.5 trillion in 2023, down 4.7%
- India print media market grew to ₹1.2 lakh crore in 2023, up 10.3%
- Australia print market size dropped to AUD 1.8 billion in 2023, falling 13.2%
- France print media revenue was €12 billion in 2023, down 7.9%
- Germany print industry totaled €18 billion in 2023, declining 5.4%
- Brazil print market fell to BRL 15 billion in 2022, down 10.6%
- Canada print media market was CAD 4.5 billion in 2023, dropping 12.4%
- Italy print sector revenue reached €6.8 billion in 2023, down 9.7%
- South Korea print market value was KRW 8 trillion in 2023, falling 4.2%
- Spain print media totaled €3.2 billion in 2023, down 12.1%
- Mexico print industry was MXN 45 billion in 2022, declining 8.9%
- Turkey print market reached TRY 25 billion in 2023, down 6.1%
- Argentina print sector fell to ARS 80 billion in 2023, dropping 14.8%
- Sweden print market was SEK 12 billion in 2023, down 10.7%
- Netherlands print revenue totaled €2.1 billion in 2023, falling 8.6%
- Poland print industry was PLN 5.5 billion in 2023, down 6.8%
- Russia print market reached RUB 200 billion in 2023, declining 4.6%
- Thailand print sector was THB 90 billion in 2022, down 9.5%
- South Africa print market totaled ZAR 18 billion in 2023, falling 14.1%
- New Zealand print revenue was NZD 650 million in 2023, down 12.7%
- Norway print market fell to NOK 9 billion in 2023, a 11.3% drop
- Denmark print industry totaled DKK 6 billion in 2023, down 12.9%
- Finland print market was €1.1 billion in 2023, falling 7.8%
- Belgium print revenue reached €3.5 billion in 2023, down 10.2%
- Switzerland print sector totaled CHF 2.8 billion in 2023, declining 6.3%
- Austria print market was €2.0 billion in 2023, falling 8.2%
Market Trends Interpretation
The world seems to be writing its print media eulogy in every currency, with India adding the only cheerful postscript while the rest of us are busy calculating the inheritance.
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