Poland's book market: religious titles drop one‑third while self‑publishing soars

Data from the National Library of Poland show that submissions of religious books fell from nearly 2,400 titles in 2017 to about 1,650 in 2024, a drop of almost one‑third over seven years. Religious titles still made up 7% of all titles received in 2024, matching the share of history books, even as overall publishing output fell by 3,231 titles to 30,662.

At the same time, reading habits remain low: only 41% of Poles reported reading at least one book in 2025, while 59% did not read any. However, the number of self‑published books on Empik Selfpublishing rose 86% year‑on‑year, with a total catalogue of over 13,000 titles and 6,000 new releases in 2025, reflecting a growing DIY publishing trend among hobbyists.