Finding safety in numbers

Newspaper circulations worldwide rose 2.57 per cent in 2007, according to the World Association of Newspapers.

WAN said newspaper sales were up 9.39 per cent over the past five years, and that readership was being further boosted by growth in free newspapers and online platforms.

When distribution of free dailies is added to the mix, WAN said, global circulation was up 3.65 per cent past year and 14.3 per cent in the last five years.

The data, from WAN’s annual survey of world press trends in 2007, also showed:

Global sales to a new high of more than 532 million daily. Total daily circulation of 573 million, including frees.
Average worldwide newspaper readership is estimated to be more than 1.7 billion people each day.
The five largest markets for newspapers are: China, with 107 million; India, 99 million; Japan, 68 million; the United States, 51 million and Germany, 20.6 million.
Newspaper sales were down 1.87 per cent in Europe, down 2.14 per cent in North America and down 4.28 per cent in Australia and Oceania.
The number of paid-for newspaper titles increased everywhere but North America, where it was down 0.56 per cent. The number of newspaper titles grew 0.48 per cent in Europe.
In the European Union, paid-for daily newspapers saw a 2.37 per cent drop in 2007, for the UK the drop was 3.46 per cent.
Newspapers’ share of the world ad market in 2007 fell slightly to 27.5 per cent from 28.7 per cent a year in 2006.
All internet advertising was up 32.45 per cent over one year, and 200 per cent over five years.