Market Insights Digital Digital Media ePublishing

eBooks - South Africa

South Africa

The eBooks market in South Africa is projected to achieve a revenue of US$20.56m in 2024.
This revenue is estimated to experience an annual growth rate (CAGR 2024-2027) of 0.63%, resulting in a projected market volume of US$20.95m by 2027.
Furthermore, the number of readers in the eBooks market is expected to reach 5.4m users by 2027.
The user penetration rate is anticipated to be 8.5% in 2024 and is projected to increase to 8.4% by 2027.
Additionally, the average revenue per user (ARPU) is estimated to be US$3.91.
In a global comparison, United States is anticipated to generate the highest revenue, amounting to US$5,336.00m in 2024.
"South Africa's eBook market is experiencing significant growth, driven by the increasing popularity of digital reading among the tech-savvy population."

Key regions: United States, France, China, Asia, Europe

Market

Region

Region comparison

Currency

Analyst Opinion

In comparison to physical books, eBooks are often sold for quite high prices, and consumers do not actually benefit from the cost reduction that comes from low printing and distribution expenses. This circumstance curbs the eBooks market’s growth potential heavily, although the general adaption among consumers is still consistently growing.

Methodology

Data coverage:

The data encompasses B2C enterprises. Figures are based on the ePublishing market. ePublishing is defined as paid editorial/written content distributed over the internet, including eBooks (fiction, non-fiction, and academic publications), digital editions (replicas) of consumer and trade/business magazines (eMagazines), as well as daily or weekly newspapers (ePapers). All monetary figures refer to consumer spending on digital goods or subscriptions in the respective market. This spending factors in discounts, margins, and taxes.

Modeling approach / market size:

The market size is determined through a bottom-up approach. We use annual financial reports of the market-leading companies and industry associations, third-party studies and reports, survey results from our primary research (e.g., the Statista Global Consumer Survey), as well as performance factors (e.g., user penetration, price per product, usage) to analyze the markets. To estimate the market size for each country individually, we use relevant key market indicators and data from country-specific industry associations, such as various macroeconomic indicators, historical developments, current trends, and reported performance indicators of key market players. In particular, we consider average prices and annual purchase frequencies.

Forecasts:

We apply a variety of forecasting techniques, depending on the behavior of the relevant market. For instance, the S-curve function and exponential trend smoothing are well suited for forecasting digital products and services due to the non-linear growth of technology adoption. The main drivers are GDP per capita, consumer spending per capita, and 4G coverage.

Additional notes:

The data is modeled using current exchange rates. The market is updated twice a year in case market dynamics change. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is considered at a country-specific level. The data is modeled using current exchange rates. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war are considered at a country-specific level. The market is updated twice a year. In some cases, the data is updated on an ad hoc basis (e.g., when new, relevant data has been released or significant changes within the market have an impact on the projected development). GCS data is reweighted for representativeness.