Italian market
The book market and bookstores in Italy
A bookstore is defined as any business whose main activity is the sale of books. This activity is identified with ATECO code 47.61, which includes "retail trade in books in specialized establishments." In this definition we can also include the trade and sale of cultural products in large-scale distribution (supermarkets, hypermarkets etc.).
- Price
- €99 excl. VAT
- Written by industry experts
- Data unavailable to general-purpose AI
- Press sources
Intelligent search
Sectoria
Explore the Businesscoot corpus to take your study further.
The Businesscoot team
A question about this study?Market overview
Identify industry dynamics, opportunities and market participants to inform your project.
- Understand the market scope
- Identify demand drivers
- Understand market participants and their challenges
A bookstore is defined as any business whose main activity is the sale of books. This activity is identified with ATECO code 47.61, which includes "retail trade in books in specialized establishments." In this definition we can also include the trade and sale of cultural products in large-scale distribution (supermarkets, hypermarkets etc.).
We can distinguish the book market into two macro-categories :
- Paper books, including atlases, dictionaries, encyclopedias, textbooks, guidebooks, sheet music, maps, fiction and non-fiction;
- E-Books, including all electronic books that can be read on computers, tablets, e-readers or other electronic devices.
The value of the global book market have been estimated at 138.35 billion euros in 2021 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 1.9 percent from 2022 to 2030.
Key factors stimulating the market include increased spending on books supported by rising incomes and interest, as well as continued innovations in format that have improved the overall reading experience. The market has been dominated by academic publishers, with non-academic publishing or trade publishing accounting for a rather minuscule share in comparison. Academic publishers have a symbiotic relationship with the educational system. Most of these publishing houses cater directly to schools, colleges, universities and research institutes covering technical, medical and vocational education.
With the introduction of e-books with the advent of digital media and new technologies, the market has adapted in various forms such as e-books and audiobooks. Thus, since reading has moved to screens, it has expanded the scope of opportunities for publishers and readers in the market.
In Italy, the value of the book market is 3.429 billion euros (up 10.7 percent from 2020). Publishing is the first cultural industry in Italy and the fourth in Europe. More than 85 thousand new books published per year with a growth of 15.6% over 2020, a growing catalog of available titles, now at 1.3 million.(Italian Publishers Association)
Study contents
Chapters connecting customer needs, advisory services and the economics of industry professionals.
- Understand customers and uses
- Connect products, businesses and distribution channels
- Compare market participants and their models
Market Overview
Demand analysis
Market structure
Supply analysis
Regulations
Positioning of actors
Our expertise
Sources to support your analysis
Base your analysis on identified sources, with clear dates and definitions for each figure.
- Understand the scope of the data
- Find the cited publications
- Compare perspectives on the market
Produced by experts — Analysis backed by 35 years of experience in professional information. Our experts select sources, cross-check data and explain the issues shaping your market.
Beyond AI — Professional sources and expert analysis that go beyond ChatGPT or Claude answers based solely on the public web.
IndexPresse press database — Professional press articles covering market news, business strategies and industry developments. All articles are .
Open-access databases — Freely accessible data and publications to enrich the analysis and cross-check the information available on each market.
Official statistics databases — Economic and demographic indicators published by statistical agencies to measure trends and compare markets.
Specialist industry databases — Specialist data and reports to deepen your understanding of the players, segments and dynamics of each industry.
Trusted by professionals
Professionals share their experience of the clarity and usefulness of our studies and the Businesscoot service.
- Clear, structured analysis
- Insights for business projects
- Responsive customer service
As a business valuation expert, I need reliable strategic analysis of potential targets in their industries. For several years, I have relied on Businesscoot's industry analysis, where expertise and relevant data are essential.
David Jeanne
Managing director •
I am very satisfied with Businesscoot's market studies. The information is clear and well structured, making it easy to understand an industry's trends and key figures. Their catalogue is extensive and varied, and customer service is responsive. I recommend Businesscoot for reliable, accessible analysis.
Time Albouy
Business development expert •
Our team of industry experts
Talk to our team to check that the study's subject and scope match your project.
- Check the market scope
- Choose the right study for your project
- Ask a question before ordering
Guilhem Cournut
Food, retail and consumer goods
Denis Monnoyeur
Industry, energy and construction
Marie-Annick Cournède
Health, beauty and personal services
Arthur Lefeuvre
Digital, media and telecommunications
Related studies
Explore complementary studies to broaden your analysis.
- Explore related markets
- Compare market dynamics
- Refine your project
The book market and bookstores in France
A bookshop defines any business whose main activity is the sale of books. This can be studied in part using APE code 47.61Z "Retail sale of books in specialized stores", but not only, since it also includes the activities of certain superstores specialized in the
The comic book market in Italy
When we speak about a comic book, we intend a book which is characterized by a story told using drawings and words witted together in a dynamic way, the perfect meeting between a film and a book.
The school and university book market in Italy
A textbook is a particular book used for educational purposes within schools and universities. Thus, educational publishing refers to a segment of the publishing industry, consisting of all textbook publications.
