Magazines are still a popular choice for those perusing print media, even if the industry is dealing with the continued issues of falling circulation figures and the effects of digitalization on media consumption in general. But for some reading a
, travelers in particular might reach for a magazine in an airport or train station in order to pass time and take a break from their phone.
Popular magazines
The number of
consumer magazines, meaning those sold to the general public, published in Germany began to drop after 2018. These types of magazines aim to include a wide consumer audience, compared to trade journals, which usually focus on a specific industry or profession. Consumer magazines therefore include diverse media genres. The
magazines with the highest reach in Germany were ADAC Motorwelt (formally known as Das aktuelle Clubmagazin), a magazine focusing mainly on cars and travel, Prisma, the TV magazine supplement, and Bild am Sonntag.
Falling circulation figures
While dwindling circulation affected all magazines across the board, some were still
printed more than others by far. In fact, among the leaders were TV guides TV 14 and nurTV plus. Consumer magazine
sales volume in Germany decreased significantly since the 1990s. In 1996 almost 124.8 million copies were sold, however, in 2022 figures dropped to 51 million. Most Germans
read magazines for leisure either several times a week or several times a month. The number of readers strongly
willing to spend money on magazines and newspapers has decreased in recent years.
Magazine advertising
Magazines increasingly rely on
advertising to continue existing. However, this too is changing, as the advertising industry also turns to digital media, where growing consumer and audience numbers are to be found. In 2004
net advertising revenue for consumer magazines amounted to roughly 1.84 billion euros, but by 2022 figures fell to 633 million euros. That same year, the Der Spiegel, Die Zeit, and Bild am Sonntag recorded the
highest gross ad revenue on the German magazine market. Forecasts predict
magazine advertising revenue in Germany will amount to 801 million euros in 2025 and continue to decrease.
This text provides general information. Statista assumes no
liability for the information given being complete or correct.
Due to varying update cycles, statistics can display more up-to-date
data than referenced in the text.
