Publishing activities - 2024

The National Statistical Institute annually publishes data for issued books and pamphlets, continued editions (newspapers, magazines, bulletins and periodicals) and electronic publications. Source of information is the ‘St. St. Cyril and Methodius’ National Library.

Published Books and Pamphlets

In 2024 were published 8 891 books with a circulation of 5 297 385 and 1 252 pamphlets with a circulation of 1 009 001 (Table 1).

1. Published books and pamphlets in 2024

 With the unique identification code ISBN (International Standard Book Number), in 2024, 8 883 books and 1 252 pamphlets were registered, or 99.9% of all editions.

Compared to the previous year, in 2024, the number of published books and pamphlets decreased by 218, or by 2.1% (Figure 1).

By thematic areas according to the characteristic 'Purpose of the literature'¹ the distribution of editions in 2024 was as follows (Figure 2):

• Scientific literature - 2 256 titles with a circulation of 364 thousand;
• Fiction for adults - 3 024 titles with a circulation of 1 464 thousand;
• Popular literature - 1 800 titles with a circulation of 875 thousand;
• Educational literature - 1 379 titles with a circulation of 2 362 thousand;
• Literature for children and juveniles - 1 331 titles with a circulation of 1 100 thousand, of which 828 titles were fiction literature for children with a circulation of 648 thousand;
• Other - 353 titles with a circulation of 142 thousand.

In 2024, the titles published in the original language in which they were written (including in Bulgarian) were 7 545, or 74.4% of the total number of published books and pamphlets.

The titles of translated publications were 2 598, with a circulation of 1 927 thousand. More than half of them were translated from English (51.3%), followed by the editions from French - 10.2%, Russian - 6.9%, and German - 6.1%.

The highest number of books and pamphlets being published was in Sofia (stolitsa) district - 6 913, followed by Plovdiv (892) and Varna (451) districts (Figure 3).

Figure 3. Books and pamphlets published (titles and circulation) by districts in 2024

Continuing editions being issued (Newspapers and Periodicals)

In 2024, 178 newspapers with an annual circulation of 95 623 thousand were published, and compared to the previous year, the number of titles decreased by 2 (Figure 4).

According to the periodicity of publication, the highest number of titles is issued once a week - 74 (Figure 5).

In 2024, the highest number of newspapers being published was in Sofia (stolitsa) district - 77 titles, or 43.3% of all titles being published in the country (Figure 6).

Figure 6. Newspapers being published (titles and circulation) by districts in 2024

In 2024, 434 magazines and 47 bulletins were published, and compared to 2023, the number of magazines increased by 1.4%, and the number of bulletins remains the same.

In 2024, were being published 68 magazines and bulletins in foreign languages. Of which the highest number were in English - 59 titles with a circulation of 133 thousand, followed by 3 editions in Romanian and 1 in Russian.

In 2024, 134 periodic collections with a circulation of 29 thousand were also published, and compared to the previous year, their number remains the same and their circulation increased by 15.5%.

The survey of publishing activity is annual and covers the activity of public and private publishers and editorials. Data are provided to the NSI by the ‘St. St. Cyril and Methodius’ National Library (all deposited publications for the year). The number of books and pamphlets does not include publications with close departmental purpose, with temporary and advertising character and content less than four pages.

Pamphlet is a non-periodical printed publication with at least five but not more than 48 pages, published in the country and made available to the public.

Book is a non-periodical issued printed document with at least 49 pages, published in the country and made available to the public.

Title - a word or set of words, usually marked on the document, for using identification and often (but not always) distinguishing it from other documents.

Volume - a physical unit of a printed document that contains a fixed number of pages bound together in one and represents a whole or part of a set.

Circulation is the total number of publications, printed from a single title.

Continuing edition (serial) - document in print or non-print form, issued in successive parts, usually having numerical or chronological designations, and intended to be continued indefinitely, whatever its periodicity.

New classification group for continuing editions - ‘Purpose of the literature’ has been applied since 2012.

Newspaper is a publication which contains news for current events of specific or general interests, the individual parts of which are listed chronologically or numerically and appear usually at least once per week.

Magazine is a serial, which is published under the same title at regular or irregular intervals, over an indefinite period; individual publications are consecutively numbered or dated.

Bulletin is a publication (in the form of a pamphlets or leaflet) which contains short formal and official materials (legal, information) related to the activities of the organization, which publishes it.

Periodical is a publication which contains research articles, reports and others and it is published usually on behalf of the scientific institution.

Official publications - reports and annual accounts of ministries, agencies and other state institutions.

Annual circulation of the periodical is the total number of copies of all appearances of one title per year.

Single circulation is the average circulation of circulations of all appearances of one title per year.

More information and data about publishing activities can be found at Information System INFOSTAT (https://infostat.nsi.bg/infostat/pages/module.jsf?x_2=214) and on the NSI website: (www.nsi.bg), Section ‘Culture’.

[1] Classification for distribution of books and pamphlets.