Lai Lin Thomala
Research expert covering Greater China
Book market in China - statistics & facts
China's book industry stands at the intersection of tradition and modernity, with a rich literary history evolving alongside the rapid technological advancements. Driven by its ever-expanding middle class and urbanization, the nation’s appetite for knowledge and storytelling is growing. On average, Chinese children and teens read about 11.1 printed and digital books per year, whereas adults consumed about 8.2 books annually, compared to 6.7 books in a decade ago. The readership preferences are diverse.
On the other hand, book import statistics have revealed the country’s resilient demand for a wide range of publications. In 2022, China imported 332 million U.S. dollars of books, almost triple that of a decade ago.
China’s literary export-import disparity
Despite China's prominence as a major producer and exporter of various commodities, the export of literature is subject to numerous obstacles, including language barriers, censorship restrictions, limited international marketing efforts, and competition from internationally recognized publishing houses. These factors explain why China’s book export value fell below the 33 million U.S. dollars mark in 2022, despite peaking in 2012 and 2017 when values exceeded 60 million U.S. dollars.On the other hand, book import statistics have revealed the country’s resilient demand for a wide range of publications. In 2022, China imported 332 million U.S. dollars of books, almost triple that of a decade ago.
