eMagazines - South Africa | Statista Market Forecast

The eMagazines market in South Africa is projected to experience significant growth in the coming years.
By 2024, the revenue in this market is expected to reach US$17.69m South_African Rand.
This growth is anticipated to continue with an annual growth rate (CAGR 2024-2027) of 1.45%, resulting in a projected market volume of US$18.47m South_African Rand by 2027.
As the market expands, the number of readers is also expected to increase.
It is projected that by 2027, there will be approximately 2.9m users readers of eMagazines market in South AfriThis indicates a growing interest and demand for digital publications in the country.
When looking at user penetration, which refers to the percentage of the population using eMagazines market, it is estimated to be 4.6% in 2024.
This figure is expected to rise slightly to 4.6% by 2027, indicating a gradual increase in the adoption of eMagazines market among the population.
In terms of average revenue per user (ARPU), it is projected to amount to US$6.17 South_African Rand.
This metric provides insight into the average amount spent by each user on eMagazines market, highlighting the potential revenue-generating capacity of the market.
It is worth noting that, in global comparison, United States is expected to generate the most revenue in the eMagazines market.
In 2024, the projected revenue United States is estimated to be US$1.62bn US Dollars.
This highlights the dominance of the US market in the global eMagazines market industry.
Overall, the eMagazines market in South Africa is poised for growth in the coming years.
With increasing revenue, a growing number of readers, and a steady rise in user penetration, it presents opportunities for both publishers and consumers in the country.
Despite the growing popularity of eMagazines in South Africa, print magazines still dominate the market due to limited internet access in rural areas.

eMagazines are defined as digital replicas of printed consumer, trade or business magazines. eMagazines can be accessed through various devices such as specific eReaders (e.g. Kindle) as well as tablets, smartphones or computers. eMagazines are typically purchased as a subscription, but can also be downloaded as single editions. The following are not covered in the definition of eMagazines: digital paid content on websites of magazines and academic journals (non-replica), and print or bundled magazine subscriptions with digital editions as a free extra.

Paid downloads of digital replicas of printed consumer, trade or business magazines
Single paid downloads or subscriptions
Included subscription-based services like Readly.com

Digital paid content on websites of magazines and academic journals (non-replica)
Bundled subscriptions where digital editions come as a free extra

Despite the steady growth in the eMagazines market, the product will likely stay a niche product. Attempts to transfer subscription-based business models to the eMagazines market have not yet reached the anticipated impact on sales. By analogy to Video Streaming services, eMagazines subscription services often struggle with a limited portfolio of available content. Currently, the business’s hope of a breakthrough lies – again – with Apple and its new service called Apple News+.

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.

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