While scientific, technical, and medical publishers continue their steady expansion, accounting for more than half of top-tier revenues, traditional consumer book publishers face a more complex landscape. Educational publishers are navigating a digital revolution that has created both spectacular winners and notable casualties, with Britain’s Pearson exemplifying the challenges of adapting century-old business models to the digital age.
Perhaps most striking is the cultural shift reshaping reading tastes worldwide: the explosive growth of Manga and graphic novels has not only transformed bestseller lists but has fundamentally altered translation patterns and challenged the dominance of literary fiction publishers. Meanwhile, emerging publishing models—from self-publishing to subscription services and serialized digital storytelling—increasingly defy traditional industry metrics, raising questions about whether conventional rankings can still capture the full scope of today’s publishing ecosystem.
Researched by Ruediger Wischenbart Content and Consulting, who also holds the copyright to the report, the Global Publishing Ranking includes the list of the companies ranked by their annual revenue, plus an analysis of related industry trends.
The white paper is co-published by Bookdao (PR China), DIGITAL PUBLISHING REPORT (Germany), Livres Hebdo (France) and Publishers’ Weekly (USA).
Table of Contents:
- About the Global 50 Publishing Ranking
- Global publishing giants hold steady as industry divides between winners and losers – the analysis
- World‘s biggest publishing companies – the ranking
- Growth, AI, and the resurgence of physical books. The 2025 Global 50 CEO Talk
- Publishing beyond publishers. A snapshot of non-traditional publishing platforms
- “Getting creative beyond just creative content”. Ralf Biesemeier (Zebralution Digital Publishing) on leadership and digital transformation
You can order the white paper free of charge by filling out the form below.
The white paper is sponsored by Zebralution Digital Publishing.
