In an era dominated by screens and streaming, the allure of ink on paper continues to charm European readers.
According to fresh 2024 data, 14.7% of EU citizens purchased printed books, magazines, or newspapers online within three months of the survey—more than twice the number (6.8%) who opted for e-books or audiobooks.
Ireland emerged as Europe’s literary leader in print purchases, with 28.3% of its citizens ordering physical publications online.
The Netherlands (23.5%) and Luxembourg (22.7%) followed closely. In contrast, Cyprus (2.0%), Latvia (3.8%), and Romania (5.3%) saw the lowest engagement in print buying.
When it comes to digital formats, Ireland again topped the chart with 22.3% buying e-books or audiobooks, ahead of Denmark (19.7%) and Luxembourg (13.3%).
But in countries like Bulgaria, Latvia, and Romania, digital adoption remained in the low single digits.
Interestingly, in Denmark, Cyprus, and Finland, digital edged out print—hinting at a slow but notable shift in a few corners of the continent.