Overview
- The Börsenverein reported on July 9 that total industry revenue fell to €9.62 billion in 2025, a 2.7% decline, and that sales dropped further in the first half of 2026 by about 4.1% compared with the prior year.
- The steepest losses are among children and young adults, with the share of 10–15‑year‑old book buyers down about 30.6% in 2025 and buyers aged 20–29 nearly 18% lower, while total book buyers fell roughly 4.9%.
- Publishers released nearly 10% fewer new titles in 2025 (52,644) and relied more on backlist books, which made up about 57% of sales, even as audiobooks grew by more than 13% and streaming subscriptions expanded.
- Brick‑and‑mortar sales slid roughly 3.7–4% in 2025 while online sales remained stable, and social platforms like BookTok amplified backlist hits but did not stop the overall downturn.
- Börsenverein leaders called the figures a wake‑up call for politicians, highlighting long‑term declines in reading competence, cuts to early reading programs such as Lesestart, and rising pressure on local bookshops and future reader supply.