UK publishing’s income was up, hitting £7.4 billion last year. This new record revenue shows that publishing is one of the UK’s strongest performing creative industries.
While the UK market was up overall, the new figures emphasise the importance of international trade for the publishing industry. The export market was up 4% in 2025 with the US, Australia and Germany being the largest markets for books across the combined academic, education and consumer publishing sectors.
The nation’s increasing appetite for digital audiobooks, as well as continued strong sales of fiction and children’s books, are among the key factors which drove publishing growth in 2025.
The audiobook market grew by 10% in 2025, meaning that audiobook book sales accounted for 10% of the consumer publishing market.
The overall growth (3%) in consumer publishing can be attributed to strong sales in fiction and children’s titles (up 8% and 7% respectively); while non-fiction declined 3% in 2025.
Another key area of growth was the UK’s academic publishing sector which continues to deliver for learners and researchers here and around the world with 5% growth across books and journals.
The education publishing sector had a more challenging 2025, down 4%.
Dan Conway, CEO of the Publishers Association, said: “It’s fantastic to see that 2025 was another strong, and indeed record-setting, year for UK publishing.
“In 2025 we were more likely to listen to a book, or to read content digitally, than ever before. This shows how right across our academic, education and consumer publishing sectors we are continuing to find ways to connect readers with content in the format that best suits them.
“These latest export figures are a reminder of the role of publishing and the wider creative industries as cultural ambassadors for the UK, and an important vehicle for sharing education, information, culture and ideas globally.”
Publishing in 2025
Total publishing revenue: £7.4 billion (up 3%)
Home market: £2.6 billion (up 3%)
Export market: £4.7 billion (up 4%)
Print: £3.8 billion (no change)
Digital: £3.6 billion (up 7%)
Consumer publishing in 2025
Exports, fiction, audio downloads and digital all did particularly well with strong growth. While digital has been growing faster it’s important to remember that print is still by far the preferred medium in the consumer market, accounting for 79% of revenue.
Total revenue consumer: £2.6 billion (up 3%)
Home market: £1.6 billion (up 3%)
Export market: £1.1 billion (up 3%)
Print: £2.1 billion (up 2%)
Digital: £558 million (up 7%)
Fiction: £1.1 billion (up 8%)
Digital audiobooks: £255 million (up 10%)
Non-fiction: £1.0 billion (down 3%)
Children’s: £493 million (up 7%)
Education publishing in 2025
Total revenue in the education market fell in 2025, with a decrease in the home market and flat export growth. Print exports were up in this sector, while overall demand in export markets for UK education publishing products remained flat. Domestic market conditions continue to be challenging, with both print and digital down. The squeeze on education budgets, as well as the fact that a new curriculum will be introduced in 2028, are likely to be key factors in spending decisions.
Total revenue education: £636 million (down 4%)
Home market: £167 million (down 13%)
Export market: £469 million (no change)
Print: £538 million (down 2%)
Academic publishing in 2025
Total revenue was up in the academic sector. Academic revenue is driven by export market growth, which demonstrates the esteem that UK research is held in globally and the key role academic publishing plays within the research ecosystem. Academic home revenue was also up, with book and journal sales up.
Total revenue academic: £3.7 billion (up 5%)
Home market: £860 million (up 7%)
Export market: £2.9 billion (up 5%)
