Industry Statistics and Trends
Market size and recent performance (2015-2030)
Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 4.8 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated €714.3m in 2025.
Trends and Insights
Newspaper and magazines transform amid the growth of digital media and the ubiquity of the internet
- In the past, publishers gained a major competitive edge from their exclusive coverage of local, regional, and national news. The rise of the internet has weakened that advantage by giving people quick, free access to online content. The widespread use of smartphones and tablets has further accelerated this shift. According to Reuters’ 2025 Digital News Report Ireland, 77% of Irish people now use smartphones to access news - far more than any other device. This change has sharply reduced reliance on newspapers and magazines, leading to a significant decline in revenue.
- Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Source: IBISWorld
Industry outlook (2025-2030)
Market size is projected to decline over the next five years.
Trends and Insights
A higher tax rate could spur problems for publishers
- Ireland’s tech growth can be attributed to its low corporation tax of 1.25%. However, on 5 June 2021, the G7 announced a minimum global corporate tax agreement to make the world's largest multinationals pay a corporate tax rate of at least 15%, known as the OECD Pillar Two reforms. 138 OECD members agreed that the minimum tax in 2021 would be implemented in 2023, which it was. Since the minimum global tax rate is enforced, this could boost costs for Irish book, newspaper and magazine publishers, hurting profit.
Biggest companies in the Book, Newspaper and Magazine Publishing in Ireland
| Company | Market Share (%)
2025 | Revenue (€m)
2025 |
|---|---|---|
Mediahuis Ireland Group Ltd | 221.9 | |
The Irish Times DAC | 123.6 | |
Associated Newspapers (Ireland) Ltd | 16.3 |
To view the market share and analysis for all 4 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.
Products & Services Segmentation
Source: IBISWorld
Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Books, Newspapers and Magazines. Books is the largest segment of the Book, Newspaper and Magazine Publishing in Ireland.
Trends and Insights
Print newspapers are seeing reduction as online news and subscriptions take over
- Newspapers include advertising newspapers, which appear at least four times a week, and those newspapers that circulate fewer than four times a week. The publishing of newspapers can be done in print or electronic form, which also includes the internet.
- More insights available in the full report
Table of Contents
About this industry
Industry definition
Businesses in this industry publish books, newspapers, magazines, periodicals, leaflets, atlases, maps and other products. The industry’s products can be published in print or electronic form, including on the internet.
What's included in this industry?
Products and services covered in the Book, Newspaper and Magazine Publishing industry in Ireland include Newspapers, Books, Magazines, Journals, Databases, Mailing lists, Telephone books, Catalogues, Posters and Greetings cards.Companies
Companies covered in the Book, Newspaper and Magazine Publishing industry in Ireland include Mediahuis Ireland Group Ltd, The Irish Times DAC and Associated Newspapers (Ireland) Ltd.Purchase this report to view all 4 major companies in this industry.
Related Terms
Related terms covered in the Book, Newspaper and Magazine Publishing industry in Ireland include blue-chip advertiser, circulation and readership.Industry Code
SIC 58.1 - Book, Newspaper and Magazine Publishing in Ireland
Performance
Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.
Analyst insights
Publishers fall into long-term decline. Print circulation has been falling for some time for magazine and newspaper publishers. They continue to struggle in the face of growi...
In this chapter (4)
- Current Performance
- Outlook
- Volatility
- Life Cycle
Key metrics
- Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
- Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
- Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
- Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business
Charts
- Revenue, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
- Employees, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
- Businesses, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
- Profit, including historical (2015-2025)
- Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
- Industry Life Cycle
Detailed analysis
- Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
- Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
- Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
- How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.
Products and Markets
Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.
Analyst insight
Print sales fall but stay on top. They still make up a significant proportion of publishers’ revenue, even in the face of falling circulations and a growing preference for di...
In this chapter
- Products & Services
- Major Markets
Key metrics
- Largest market segment and value in 2025
- Product innovation level
Charts
- Products & services segmentation in 2025
- Major market segmentation in 2025
Detailed analysis
- Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
- Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
- Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
- Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services
Geographic Breakdown
Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.
Analyst insights
Cork’s lively culture drives a thriving publishing scene in Ireland’s South-West. With strong literary traditions, an engaged local audience, and solid government backing, th...
In this chapter (1)
- Business Locations
Charts
- Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
- Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2025
Tables
- Number and share of establishments in each region in 2025
- Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2025
- Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2025
- Number and share of employees in each region in 2025
Detailed analysis
- Geographic spread of the industry across Europe, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
- Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage
Competitive Forces
Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.
Analyst insights
Maximising circulation is key. The more people a newspaper or magazine reaches, the more attractive it is to advertisers, which are an important source of revenue for publish...
In this chapter (4)
- Concentration
- Barriers to Entry
- Substitutes
- Buyer & Supplier Analysis
Key metrics
- Industry concentration level
- Industry competition level and trend
- Barriers to entry level and trend
- Substitutes level and trend
- Buyer power level and trend
- Supplier power level and trend
Charts
- Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2020-2025
- Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart
Detailed analysis
- Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
- Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
- Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
- Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
- Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
- Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
- Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
- Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
- Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.
Companies
Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.
Analyst insights
Mediahuis’ large portfolio protects its revenue. The company’s sales continue to edge upwards, protected by the huge number of titles it publishes – most notably the Irish In...
In this chapter
- Market Share Concentration
- Companies
- Company Spotlights
Charts
- Industry market share by company in 2021 through 2025
- Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2025
- Overview of Mediahuis Ireland Group Ltd's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025
- Overview of The Irish Times DAC's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025
- Overview of Associated Newspapers (Ireland) Ltd's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025
- Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for one additional company
Detailed analysis
- Description and key data for Mediahuis Ireland Group Ltd, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for The Irish Times DAC, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for Associated Newspapers (Ireland) Ltd, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description, key data and performance trends for one additional company
External Environment
Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.
Analyst insights
Publishers need to play close attention to copyright laws. They have to be careful not to infringe on anyone’s copyright or publish libellous or malicious claims, or they ris...
In this chapter
- External Drivers
- Regulation & Policy
- Assistance
Key metrics
- Regulation & policy level and trend
- Assistance level and trend
Charts
- Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2015-2030)
- Assistance historical data and forecast (2015-2030)
Detailed analysis
- Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
- Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
- Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.
Financial Benchmarks
View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time.
Analyst insights
Profitability in publishing is being fuelled by a digital shift. As major publishers move from print to online content, they're slashing traditional costs and unlocking new g...
In this chapter
- Cost Structure
- Financial Ratios
- Key Ratios
Key metrics
- Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
- Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
- Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
- Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio
Charts
- Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2025
- Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2025
- Investment vs. share of economy
Data tables
- Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2015-2030)
- Revenue per Employee (2015-2030)
- Revenue per Enterprise (2015-2030)
- Employees per Establishment (2015-2030)
- Employees per Enterprise (2015-2030)
- Average Wage (2015-2030)
- Wages/Revenue (2015-2030)
- Establishments per Enterprise (2015-2030)
- IVA/Revenue (2015-2030)
- Imports/Demand (2015-2030)
- Exports/Revenue (2015-2030)
Detailed analysis
- Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability
Key Statistics
Industry Data
Data Tables
Including values and annual change:
- Revenue (2015-2030)
- IVA (2015-2030)
- Establishments (2015-2030)
- Enterprises (2015-2030)
- Employment (2015-2030)
- Exports (2015-2030)
- Imports (2015-2030)
- Wages (2015-2030)
Top Questions Answered
Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.
What is the market size of the Book, Newspaper and Magazine Publishing industry in Ireland in 2025?
The market size of the Book, Newspaper and Magazine Publishing industry in Ireland is €714.3m in 2025.
How many businesses are there in the Book, Newspaper and Magazine Publishing industry in Ireland in 2025?
There are 247 businesses in the Book, Newspaper and Magazine Publishing industry in Ireland, which has declined at a CAGR of 2.9 % between 2020 and 2025.
How may import tariffs affect the Book, Newspaper and Magazine Publishing industry in Ireland?
The Book, Newspaper and Magazine Publishing industry in Ireland is unlikely to be materially impacted by import tariffs with imports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.
How may export tariffs affect the Book, Newspaper and Magazine Publishing industry in Ireland?
The Book, Newspaper and Magazine Publishing industry in Ireland is unlikely to be materially impacted by export tariffs with exports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.
Has the Book, Newspaper and Magazine Publishing industry in Ireland grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Book, Newspaper and Magazine Publishing industry in Ireland has been declining at a CAGR of 4.8 % between 2020 and 2025.
What is the forecast growth of the Book, Newspaper and Magazine Publishing industry in Ireland over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Book, Newspaper and Magazine Publishing industry in Ireland is expected to decline.
What are the biggest companies in the Book, Newspaper and Magazine Publishing industry in Ireland?
The biggest companies operating in the Book, Newspaper and Magazine Publishing industry in Ireland are Mediahuis Ireland Group Ltd, The Irish Times DAC and Associated Newspapers (Ireland) Ltd
What does the Book, Newspaper and Magazine Publishing industry in Ireland include?
Newspapers and Books are part of the Book, Newspaper and Magazine Publishing industry in Ireland.
Which companies have the highest market share in the Book, Newspaper and Magazine Publishing industry in Ireland?
The company holding the most market share in the Book, Newspaper and Magazine Publishing industry in Ireland is Mediahuis Ireland Group Ltd.
How competitive is the Book, Newspaper and Magazine Publishing industry in Ireland?
The level of competition is high and increasing in the Book, Newspaper and Magazine Publishing industry in Ireland.
Methodology
How are IBISWorld reports created?
IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.
Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.
IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.
What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?
Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.
Key data sources in Ireland include:
- Central Statistics Office
- Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
- Irish Tax & Customs
Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.
These sources include:
- Industry and trade associations
- Industry federations or regulators
- Major industry players annual or quarterly filings
Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.
How does IBISWorld forecast its data?
IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.
IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.
Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.
