The Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) has released its annual report on the Daily and Periodical Press for the year 2024, revealing a continuing decline in print media consumption across the country. Both newspapers and magazines saw significant drops in sales, continuing a multi-year downward trend that reflects changing media habits and broader challenges facing the print industry.
According to the survey, total newspaper sales fell by 12.4% in 2024 compared to the previous year, marking a sharper decline than the 10.2% drop recorded in 2023. Overall, Greek newspapers sold 24.7 million copies in 2024, down from 28.2 million in 2023, representing a loss of nearly 3.5 million copies year-over-year.
The decline affected all newspaper categories:
- Political newspapers: down 12.9%
- Economic newspapers: down 13.8%
- Sports newspapers: down 9.3%
- Other categories: down a staggering 29.2%
The long-term trend paints an even clearer picture of the challenges facing the sector. Since 2019, total newspaper sales have plummeted by nearly 47%, from over 46.7 million sheets to just under 24.7 million in 2024.
Magazines have fared little better. ELSTAT reports a 14.9% decline in magazine sales in 2024 compared to 2023, amounting to a loss of 1.85 million issues. All major magazine categories reported declines—except for sports magazines, which bucked the trend with a surprising 41% increase in sales.
Among the hardest-hit segments:
- Television magazines fell by 14.1%
- “Other” magazine categories saw a steep 33.3% drop
The 2024 figures follow a 20.7% drop in total magazine sales recorded between 2022 and 2023.
Industry analysts point to the increasing shift toward digital platforms, changing consumer preferences, and economic pressures as key factors driving the continued contraction of the print media market in Greece.
