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    Statistical presentation

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    Science, Technology and Culture, Business Statistics
    Christian Max Gustaf Törnfelt
    +45 21 63 60 20

    CHT@dst.dk

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    Book sales

    Book Sales is an annual compilation of the number of physical books, e-books and audiobooks sold by Danish retailers. The statistics cover sales through physical retail outlets, including bookstores and the largest supermarket chains, as well as online sales channels. Sales of used books (e.g. from second-hand bookstores, thrift stores, and flea markets) are not included. The statistics are categorized by genre, format/media, publication language, original language and binding type. The data is published in the newsletter Nyt fra Danmarks Statistik (in Danish only) and in Statbank Denmark. Data sources and coverage are still under development, and the figures are therefore preliminary. Future revisions may occur.

    Data description

    The statistics illustrate the development of book sales by Danish retailers by genre, format/media, publication language, original language and binding type. A sale corresponds to a single copy of a book with a 13-digit ISBN starting with 978 or 979, sold through physical retail outlets or online sales channels. For example, if 10 copies of a book are sold in one transaction, this counts as 10 sold books. Each book corresponds to a unique edition. Typically, the same title has a separate ISBN for each edition, with the physical edition having a different ISBN from the e-book or audiobook edition. Additionally, a second edition of a given title may have a different ISBN from the first.

    Currently, the statistics do not include sales via streaming services, meaning books accessed through subscription-based platforms. This includes, for instance, 30-day subscription plans that allow unlimited reading or listening to books via a digital platform during the subscription period.

    The statistics will be continuously expanded with additional sources and content. Efforts are underway to establish a robust data foundation for book streaming, aiming to cover all forms of book sales in the market.

    Classification system

    The genre classification in these statistics is based on Thema codes, which are part of the international classification system: THEMA, used by the commercial book industry.

    Main Genres

    • Non-fiction
    • Fiction
    • Children's and Young Adult Literature
    • Not Specified

    Subgenres for Non-fiction

    • Biographies, True Stories, and Non-Fiction Prose
    • History
    • Art and Culture
    • Food and Drink
    • Nature, Environment, and Geoscience
    • Personal Development, Relationships, and Health
    • Travel Guides
    • Religion, Spirituality, and Philosophy
    • Society, Social Sciences, and Debate
    • Economics & Business
    • Hobbies and Lifestyle: Miscellaneous
    • Other Non-fiction

    Subgenres for Fiction

    • Poetry
    • Graphic Novels
    • Historical Novels
    • Crime, Thrillers, and Suspense Novels
    • Romance and Erotica
    • Science Fiction, Fantasy, etc.
    • Other Fiction

    Subgenres for Children's and Young Adult Literature

    • Books for Toddlers, Picture Books, Activity Books, etc.
    • Non-fiction for Children and Young Adults
    • Fiction for Children and Young Adults
    • Educational Material for Children and Young Adults
    • Miscellaneous for Children and Young Adults

    The statistics also include information about media/format, publication language, original language, and binding type.

    Media/Format

    • Physical Books
    • E-Books
    • Audiobooks

    Published language

    • Danish
    • English
    • Swedish
    • Norwegian
    • German
    • French
    • Other or Multiple Languages

    Original Language

    • Danish
    • English
    • Swedish
    • Norwegian
    • German
    • French
    • Other or Multiple Languages
    • Not Specified

    Binding

    • Hardcover or Paperback (Bound)
    • Paperback and Pocket Books
    • Other physical Formats (for example, cardboard books, spiral-bound books, occasion albums, etc.)
    • Unknown physical formats
    • Digital Format

    Sector coverage

    Culture.

    Statistical concepts and definitions

    ISBN: Stands for International Standard Book Number. It is a 13-digit identifier for a book, an edition of a book or another monographic publication by a particular publisher. Before January 1, 2007, ISBNs consisted of 10 digits.

    Statistical unit

    Unit sales measured in the number of books sold.

    Statistical population

    The population consists of books sold by booksellers, either in physical stores or through online sales.

    Reference area

    Denmark

    Time coverage

    These statistics cover the time period from third quarter of 2022 onwards.

    Base period

    Not relevant for these statistics.

    Unit of measure

    Number of books sold.

    Reference period

    Quarter and months.

    Frequency of dissemination

    Yearly.

    Legal acts and other agreements

    There is no EU regulation for statistics on book production.

    Cost and burden

    These statistics are based on administrative data. There is thus no direct response burden in relation to the compilation of these statistics.

    Comment

    Further information can be obtained by contacting Statistics Denmark directly.

    Statistical processing