Book publishing industry, 2024

Released: 2026-02-05

Rising costs and lower margins mark a costly new chapter for Canadian book publishers in 2024

Operating revenue in the Canadian book publishers industry increased by 3.1% (+$51.6 million) from 2022 to $1.7 billion in 2024. However, growth was moderate compared with the strong gains seen from 2020 to 2022 (+8.5%; +$129.8 million) during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2024, the book publishers industry continued to benefit from sustained interest in digital reading formats and the influence of social media and the "BookTok" reading community.

Operating expenses increased 6.8% (+$101.7 million) from 2022 to $1.6 billion in 2024. This growth was over double that of revenue, reflecting the continued pressure of rising costs on the industry. Among operating expenses, the cost of goods sold showed the largest increase in dollar terms, rising $31.5 million to $353.9 million in 2024, as the cost of inputs, such as packaging materials, shipping, pulp and paper, and warehousing, continued to climb throughout the year.

As a result of rising expenses, the operating profit margin fell from 9.1% in 2022 to 5.8% in 2024, the lowest profit margin since comparable data became available in 2014.

Total book sales increased 3.3% to $1.4 billion in 2024, with digital formats continuing to drive growth. The sale of e-books rose 15.0% from 2022 to $376.0 million in 2024 and continued to bolster sales growth overall, while Internet sales of print titles edged up 1.0% to $178.6 million.

Although sales of print titles not purchased online remained the largest category of books sold (59.6% of total book sales), it was the lone category to decline in 2024, edging down 0.9% to $817.0 million.

Book sales essentially unchanged

Total book sales in Canada were little changed, edging down 0.3% from 2022 to $999.3 million in 2024. Brick-and-mortar store sales remained an essential type of sale for book publishers, with sales of print books in bookstores increasing 1.4% to $358.2 million. Their share of Canadian print sales grew to 53.4%. Among bookstores, major chain bookstores (+6.8%) saw the largest increase in sales, while independent bookstores (-0.3%) saw little change.

E-book sales in Canada saw marginal growth in 2024, edging up 0.6% from 2022, while online sales of print books grew 1.4% in 2024.

Foreign authors top the charts

Foreign authors had a larger share of sales in 2024, with sales by foreign authors increasing 9.9% to $702.8 million, representing over half (51.2%) of total book sales for the first time since 2018. This growth was driven by export sales by foreign authors, which rose 25.3% from 2022 to 2024. Conversely, sales by Canadian authors declined 2.9% from 2022 to $668.8 million in 2024.

Foreign authors also drove growth in new titles published in 2024, increasing by just over one-quarter (+26.2%) from 2022 to 3,764 new titles in 2024. This growth stemmed from an increase in the number of new trade book titles released (+31.5%) in 2024.

Looking ahead: Turning the page on 2024

Expense pressures continue to weigh on the book publishers industry. With input costs rising and stress mounting across the supply chain, publishers are facing renewed strain on profitability.

With the growing expense of producing print books, the industry may increasingly shift toward digital titles. This adjustment could reduce cost pressures but may weigh on revenues in the years ahead.

Detailed financial statistics for the book publishers industry in 2026 will be provided following survey data collection in 2027.

Contact information

For more information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact us (toll-free 1-800-263-1136; 514-283-8300; infostats@statcan.gc.ca) or Media Relations (statcan.mediahotline-ligneinfomedias.statcan@statcan.gc.ca).