The United Kingdom audiobooks market reached a value of around USD 282.83 Million in 2024. During the forecast period of 2025 and 2034, the market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 10.30% to reach around USD 753.84 Million by 2034.
Base Year
Historical Year
Forecast Year
The United Kingdom’s publishing industry recorded a 3% increase in total revenue generation between 2022-2023, where digital publishing accounted for half of the increase.
A changing reading pattern and preference for audiobooks among young readers has driven the growth of the United Kingdom audiobooks market.
The entrance of Spotify, a music steaming giant, and startups like books.org in the market can provide lucrative opportunities for high-end publishers and independent bookshops.
Value in USD Million
2025-2034
United Kingdom Audiobooks Market Outlook
*this image is indicative*
The audiobooks market in United Kingdom is driven by its huge publishing industry and English-speaking population. According to the “Vision for Publishing 2023” report by the UK’s Publisher’s Association, the industry contributed EUR 11 billion to the country’s overall economy by exporting highest number of books globally. Furthermore, it generated a total revenue of EUR 7.1 billion, out of which digital publishing with e-books and audiobooks accounted for EUR 3.2 billion.
The market is also being driven by a change in people’s reading habits as audiobooks are being preferred over e-books and hard copies. A recent survey conducted by the National Literacy Trust in 2021 affirmed that over 2 in every 5 UK adults listened to audiobooks in their spare time while nearly 3 in 10 read them at least once every week. This high inclination towards audiobooks can be attributed to the flexibility of reading and multi-tasking provided by them, further enhancing United Kingdom audiobooks market value. Furthermore, audiobooks have not only made reading accessible but also more captivating for the growing Gen-Z and millennial population. Social media reviews on bestsellers, convenient use of smartphone devices, and efficient narrations by well-known celebrities have been a major factor in driving the adoption of audiobooks among young readers.
Additionally, the market has so far witnessed organic growth, yet both public as well as private sector are actively participating to support the audiobooks demand growth in United Kingdom. For instance, the government’s elimination of Value Added Tax (VAT) from audio books has made them cost-friendly, which has driven their sales. Similarly, the entry of music streaming platforms such as Spotify in the UK market has made audiobooks accessible to many subscribers. Additionally, the introduction of startups such as books.org has opened new opportunities for independent bookshops to feature their audiobooks with full profit margin on every sale. These efforts have positively impacted the market growth.
Growing publishing industry, shifting preference towards audiobooks, emergence of startups, and AI-based narration are increasing the United Kingdom audiobooks market revenue.
The demand for audiobooks in the country is the direct impact of its robust publishing Industry. The region houses some of the largest and most reputed publishing houses in the world. According to the UK’s Publishers Association, the total revenue generated by UK publishing industry in 2023 was EUR 7.1 million, a 3% increase from 2022, where digital publishing (e-books and audiobooks) held a major share. Audiobooks downloads alone created a revenue of EUR 206 million during this period, a 24% year on year rise.
With a working population as high as 74.5%, consumers in the country are having a hard time contributing to reading the hard and soft copies of their preferred published materials. Audiobooks, on the other hand, completely rule out the challenge of time constraints. Consumers can listen to the audio versions of published materials while multitasking or travelling, and this flexibility is the key trend of United Kingdom audiobooks market.
The market is witnessing the rise of startups which are garnering huge investment from industry leaders. For instance, Xigxag, a startup recently launched in the United Kingdom with a unique listen-and-read audiobook product had garnered an investment worth EUR 500,000 from Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Investment Fund (CIOSIF) in the year 2022 after raising EUR 250,000 worth of investment through crowdfunding in the preceding year. The growth of such innovative startups is leading to growth of United Kingdom audiobooks market.
AI is increasingly being used by major industry players to enhance the quality of narration in audiobooks and translate the same into multiple languages, resulting in a wider reach. Following this trend, major publishing houses are partnering with product-based AI companies or investing in them for desired results. For instance, Harper Collins UK has announced a partnership with Elevenlas in May 2024, an AI research and tech company based in New York, to produce audiobooks in major non-English languages.
“United Kingdom Audiobooks Market Report and Forecast 2025-2034” offers a detailed analysis of the market based on the following segments:
Market Breakup by Genre:
Market Breakup by Preferred Device:
Market Breakup by Distribution Channel:
Market Breakup by Target Audience:
Market Breakup by Region:
According to the U.K.’s Publishers Association, audiobook downloads generated a revenue of around EUR 205 million in 2023. In terms of market share, non-fiction audiobooks witnessed the highest number of purchases, accounting for 12% of the total purchases. Furthermore, an independent survey by the Neilson books affirmed that audiobook consumers in the UK have reported listening to non-fiction more than fiction, with readership estimates recorded at 70% for non-fiction and 68% for fiction in 2023, respectively. The increased userbase for non-fiction books has significantly propelled the segment’s growth.
Market players are focused on diversifying their catalogues and enhancing the listening experience of readers by integrating AI features.
United Kingdom Audiobooks Market Size
United Kingdom Audiobooks Market Growth
*While we strive to always give you current and accurate information, the numbers depicted on the website are indicative and may differ from the actual numbers in the main report. At Expert Market Research, we aim to bring you the latest insights and trends in the market. Using our analyses and forecasts, stakeholders can understand the market dynamics, navigate challenges, and capitalize on opportunities to make data-driven strategic decisions.*
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In 2024, the market reached an approximate value of USD 282.83 Million.
The United Kingdom audiobooks market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 10.30% between 2025 and 2034.
The market is estimated to witness healthy growth in the forecast period of 2025-2034 to reach a value of USD 753.84 Million by 2034.
The growing publishing industry in UK, evolving reading habits of young readers, and flexibility of accessing audiobooks are the major drivers of the market.
Key trends aiding market expansion include the entry of music streaming platforms like Spotify and innovative startups like books.org, increasing number of book readers, and integration of AI in preparing customised audiobooks in multiple languages.
The countries included in report are England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Scotland.
Based on distribution channel, market segmentations are one-time and subscription-based downloads.
The major players in the market include Amazon.com Inc., Apple Inc., Barnes & Noble Booksellers, Inc., Google LLC, Blackstone Audio, Inc., Storytel AB, W. F. Howes Ltd., Penguin Random House Co., Storytec Ltd., and Bolinda Digital Pty Ltd., among others.
Explore our key highlights of the report and gain a concise overview of key findings, trends, and actionable insights that will empower your strategic decisions.
| REPORT FEATURES | DETAILS |
| Base Year | 2024 |
| Historical Period | 2018-2024 |
| Forecast Period | 2025-2034 |
| Scope of the Report |
Historical and Forecast Trends, Industry Drivers and Constraints, Historical and Forecast Market Analysis by Segment:
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| Breakup by Genre |
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| Breakup by Preferred Device |
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| Breakup by Distribution Channel |
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| Breakup by Target Audience |
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| Breakup by Region |
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| Market Dynamics |
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| Competitive Landscape |
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| Companies Covered |
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United States (Head Office)
30 North Gould Street, Sheridan, WY 82801
+1-415-325-5166
Australia
63 Fiona Drive, Tamworth, NSW
+61-448-061-727
India
C130 Sector 2 Noida, Uttar Pradesh 201301
+91-858-608-1494
Philippines
40th Floor, PBCom Tower, 6795 Ayala Avenue Cor V.A Rufino St. Makati City, 1226.
+63-287-899-028, +63-967-048-3306
United Kingdom
6 Gardner Place, Becketts Close, Feltham TW14 0BX, Greater London
+44-753-713-2163
Vietnam
193/26/4 St.no.6, Ward Binh Hung Hoa, Binh Tan District, Ho Chi Minh City
+84-865-399-124
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