The global audiobooks market is expected to grow at a rate of 26.2% in the next 5 years, according to a study by Grand View Research.
The value of the audiobook market in 2025 is about USD $11 billion, with revenue expected to rise to USD $35 billion by 2030.
The growth of smartphones has contributed to the increased popularity of audiobooks, enabling on-demand access from any location at any time. Audio book consumption via smart speakers is also expected to grow significantly over the next 5 years.
The highest listnership to audiobooks is currently in North America, with steady growth expected in Europe as books are produced in more European languages. The Asia Pacific is predicted to be the fastest growing segment over the next 5 years, owing to the rising smartphone penetration, increasing internet access, and the growing acceptance of digital entertainment formats. There is rising demand for educational audiobooks, particularly in countries like China, Japan, and India.
Other factors driving increases in the audio book market include: AI engines recommending ‘you might also like’ titles on audiobook platforms, multi language publishing and integrating non-fiction audiobooks into e-learning platforms. Publishers are increasingly prioritising a broader range of voices, authors, and stories that reflect different cultures, backgrounds, and experiences.
The fiction segment dominated the market with a market share of over 64% in 2024, driven by the increasing demand for immersive storytelling and entertainment. The non-fiction segment is expected to experience the highest annual growth rate (CAGR) of over 27% between 2025 to 2030, driven by the increasing demand for educational and self-improvement content, according to the GVR study. 
Subscription book services such as Audible, Yoto and Scribd, or free library platforms all offer audio books. Free library platforms include: Libby, BorrowBox, Indy Reads, Story Box Library and Sora. Broadcaster platforms such as the ABC Listen App and BBC Sounds also publish audio books. More info in our earlier report here.
The adults segment registered the largest revenue share in 2024, driven by the wide variety of genres and titles designed for adult audiences and by the growth of non-fiction self education titles. The children’s market segment is expected to grow at the fastest rate between 2025 to 2030, due to the increasing use of audiobooks by school age children and the trend for story time listening in young children.