Book Publishing in Bulgaria 2024: Data from NSI

A new publication by the National Statistical Institute (NSI) sheds light on the state of book publishing and printing in Bulgaria in 2024.

According to the data published on the "Facebook" page of the NSI, 8891 books with a total circulation of 5,297,385 copies and 1252 brochures with a circulation of 1,009,001 copies were published last year.

This impressive amount of printed material offers a wealth of information and works of art for Bulgarian readers.

Detailed analysis of production

The detailed analysis of the NSI reveals the diverse production.

• Scientific literature is represented by 2256 titles and a circulation of 364,000 copies, proving the activity in the field of scientific research and publications.
• Fiction for adults has the largest circulation – 3024 titles with a total of 1,464,000 copies, emphasizing the constant interest in Bulgarian and foreign authors.
• Popular literature also occupies a significant place – 1800 titles with a circulation of 875,000 copies, showing the demand for easily accessible and captivating reading material.
• Educational literature, essential for the educational process, reaches 1379 titles with a circulation of 2,362,000 copies.
• It is also important to note the significant amount of literature for children and young people – 1331 titles with a circulation of 1,100,000 copies, which shows commitment to young readers.

The data also shows the distribution of publications by language. 7545 books and brochures were published in the original language of writing, including Bulgarian, while translated titles number 2598. This highlights both the richness of Bulgarian literature and the interest in foreign authors and works.

In an earlier announcement from the end of August, the NSI presented data for Sofia. In the capital, 6015 books were published with an annual circulation of 4,557,000 copies and 898 brochures with an annual circulation of 828,000 copies. In comparison, the number of newspapers published was 77, with a total circulation of 85,832,000 copies.

Comparison with the previous year shows a slight increase in the number of books and brochures published - by 26 (0.4%), while the average circulation increases from 630 in 2023 to 779 in 2024 (23.7%). The number of newspapers published decreased by 5 (6.1%), but their circulation increased by 7,858,000 (10.1%), a fact that suggests changes in reader preferences and possibly in distribution channels.

This data offers valuable information for book market analysts and publishers, providing them with a clearer picture of trends and opportunities.