On World Book and Copyright Day, recent statistics reveal a major trend among EU residents, showing a persistent preference for print books over their digital counterparts.
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Data from 2023 indicates that 13.4% of EU residents purchased print books online in the previous three months, a slight uptick from 12.7% in 2022 but still below the 14.5% recorded in 2021. In contrast, ebook purchases lagged behind at 7.2% in 2023, though this still marked an increase from 6.6% in the previous year.
The Netherlands boasted the highest percentage of residents purchasing printed books online at 23.5%, closely followed by Luxembourg at 22.2%, and Ireland at 21.1%. On the lower end, Cyprus, Latvia, and Bulgaria reported the least engagement, with figures standing at 1.4%, 2.9%, and 3.7% respectively.
For ebooks, Denmark and the Netherlands led the pack, with 22.0% and 21.6% of their populations respectively making purchases in this format. Denmark and Finland stood out as the only countries where ebook purchases surpassed those of printed books during the same period. Of course, it’s worth noting that countries that provided the highest salaries fared better.
World Book and Copyright Day, celebrated each year on April 23, aims to promote the joy of reading worldwide. The day commemorates the anniversary of the deaths of renowned authors such as William Shakespeare and Miguel de Cervantes, making it a symbolic date in world literature since its establishment by UNESCO in 1995.
Celebrating World Book and Copyright Day with diverse books
In her message for the day, Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO, spoke about the importance of books as bridges between cultures and generations. She noted, “Books are invitations to travel and to encountering others: with each new page turned, another world appears before our eyes.”
Azoulay also highlighted UNESCO’s ongoing initiatives to support linguistic diversity and the book industry globally. Among these, the publication of “What Makes Us Human” in 14 languages, including indigenous ones, and the “Bintou & Issa” series aimed at young audiences in Africa. She further noted the selection of Strasbourg, France, as the World Book Capital of 2024, underlining its commitment to literacy and the protection of copyright and freedom of expression.
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“Finally, we are committed to supporting the fair remuneration of all those involved in the book industry, beginning with the authors. After all, behind every book there is an entire chain of know-how and skills which has led to its creation,” Azoulay added.