Audiobook industry size in the U.S. 2018-2022

Data on the size of the audiobook industry in the United States in 2022 showed that audiobook sales amounted to 1.8 billion U.S. dollars. The source calculated this figure based on data from 28 publishers, including Audible Inc., Hachette Audio, HarperCollins, Macmillan, Penguin Random House, and Simon & Schuster.

In 2018, the source altered its reporting to better reflect the industry and align its figures more closely with other reports, meaning that numbers gathered prior to 2018 differed considerably from those provided since. In its 2021 report, the source also noted that audiobooks had seen a nine-year trend of double-digit revenue growth.

The growing popularity of audiobooks

Between 2010 and 2020, the number of audiobook titles published in the United States climbed from just over six thousand to more than 71 thousand. Meanwhile, surveys show that audiobook listenership is also growing. The average number of audiobooks listened to in the last year increased consistently between 2018 and 2020, and although the COVID-19 outbreak impacted media consumption in general, trends showed that growth was happening even before the pandemic took hold.

Listening habits

The home was the most popular audiobook listening location in 2020, which is unsurprising given the amount of time spent indoors during COVID-19 shutdowns. However, listening at home was appealing before the outbreak as well. Unlike e-books and print books, audiobooks can be enjoyed whilst on the move and when performing other tasks, whether this be household chores or during a commute to work. The format has also made books more accessible to those who struggle with reading, and a survey revealed that consumers cited many other reasons for listening to audiobooks, among which were companionship, educational purposes, and entertainment.