Number of magazines in the U.S. 2002 to 2020

There were 7,416 print consumer magazines in the United States in 2020, up from 7,357 in the previous year. The number of magazines in the United States was formerly at its highest in 2012, when 7,390 consumer magazines circulated throughout the American market. In the modern age, magazines are now available in both printed and electronic formats. As of 2018, the printed magazine industry remained popular with consumers, although the daily time spent with print media was just 21 minutes, whereas several hours were spent watching television or using the internet. Nevertheless, an increase in the number of magazines available is a welcome change from the gradual decline which had previously been ongoing since 2015.

The success of a magazine can be measured in a variety of ways such as circulation, digital replica circulation, revenue and annual growth. Single copy sales are also a key indicator of a magazine’s performance. Some of the most popular magazines in the United States based on their total reach include ESPN The Magazine, People magazine, and National Geographic.