Skip to content
Spin & Win — Food and drink — wealth-management — Harnessing the Power of Cloud Computing

Audiobooks surge in 2025 as print sales dip slightly across demographics

The way we read is changing fast. Younger women are fueling an audiobook boom, while men under 45 cling to print—discover the surprising shifts.

,   and  Administrator
1 min read
The image shows an old book with a lot of numbers on it. The book is open, revealing text and...
The image shows an old book with a lot of numbers on it. The book is open, revealing text and numbers written on its pages.

Audiobooks surge in 2025 as print sales dip slightly across demographics

Book-buying habits shifted in 2025, with audiobooks hitting record growth while overall purchases dipped slightly. Women under 45 drove much of the change, increasing their non-fiction audiobook listening, while men in the same age group turned more to print and e-books.

The latest data covers sales from January to November 2025, revealing both declines and growth across different formats and genres. Total book purchases fell by around 2% compared to the same period in 2024. Despite this, certain categories saw a rise, including pre-school and activity books, general fiction, fantasy, and self-help titles.

Audiobooks stood out as the fastest-growing format, on track to reach their highest-ever sales in 2025. Both men and women, regardless of age, contributed to this trend. Men under and over 45 bought more fiction audiobooks, with younger men showing the sharpest increase.

Women aged 13 to 44 remained the biggest book-buying group, making up 35% of all purchases. Within this demographic, non-fiction audiobook listening rose significantly. Meanwhile, women over 45 boosted sales of children’s and young adult audiobooks more than any other group.

Crime and thriller books stayed the nation’s favourite genre, particularly among readers aged 45 and older. Men under 45, however, bought fewer non-fiction audiobooks in 2025, instead opting for more print and e-books. The 2025 figures highlight a clear preference for audiobooks, especially among women and younger listeners. While overall sales declined slightly, specific genres and formats thrived, reflecting changing reading habits. Audiobooks are now set to achieve their strongest year yet, driven by broad interest across age groups and genders.

Read also:

Related

Latest