Number of books sold in the UK 2009-2021

The number of books sold in the United Kingdom reached more than 212 million in 2021, the highest on record since 2012. The year 2020 marked the first time since 2012 that book sales in the UK surpassed 200 million, with 202 million books sold nationwide that year. This growth was attributed mostly to the coronavirus outbreak, which saw many consumers increase their media consumption during various local and national lockdowns. This growth continued in 2021, with sales that year up by five percent from 2020.

Book consumption and COVID-19

In March 2020 when countries across the world implemented measures to stem the spread of the coronavirus, consumers upped their in-home media usage to keep themselves occupied during lockdown. Close to 20 percent of UK internet users who participated in a survey in March 2020 reported reading more books or listening to more audiobooks at home during that time, and later waves of the survey held in May saw that figure climb above 30 percent.

By the summer of 2020, despite the gradual reopening of society as infection rates declined, a survey held in July showed that consumers expected in-home media consumption changes even after the pandemic came to an end. Book consumption, both physical and digital, ranked among the top ten media formats UK consumers planned to spend more time with in the future.

Digital book market

Digital books are growing more and more popular in the United Kingdom, with e-book download frequency having increased in the last few years along with general e-book access. Audiobooks are also carving a path for themselves in the market, and consumer audiobook download sales revenue was close to one billion GBP in 2019. In the same year, book publishing houses reported 710 million British pounds in revenue generated through digital books sales, up from 126 million a decade earlier.