By Brazil Stock Guide – Brazil’s publishing and bookselling industry posted steady growth over the past two years, with the number of active companies rising 13% between 2023 and 2025, according to an industry-wide survey released this year.
The sector counted more than 54,000 active companies and establishments in 2025, spanning publishers, bookstores, distributors, printers and integrated publishing firms. That compares with about 51,000 businesses a year earlier and reflects consistent expansion across all segments of the book value chain.
The data were compiled by the Brazilian Book Chamber (Câmara Brasileira do Livro, CBL) in partnership with Analytics Valuation Reporting Insights (AVRI). The survey estimates that the industry currently supports roughly 70,000 direct jobs across the country.
“For the first time, we have gathered data that show the true size of our sector,” CBL President Sevani Matos said. “This diagnosis gives us a foundation to advance public policies, strengthen professionals and expand access to books nationwide.”
Publishers and retail booksellers were the main drivers of growth from 2023 to 2025, according to the study. From 2024 to 2025 alone, every segment mapped by the survey showed an increase in the number of active establishments.
A structural breakdown based on 2024 data shows that the industry is dominated by small operators. Individual entrepreneurs account for 59% of all book-related businesses, while private companies represent 40% and non-profit organizations about 1%. Microenterprises make up 83% of the sector, followed by medium and large companies at 9% and small companies at 8%.
Retail bookselling is the largest employer within the industry, with a strong concentration in Brazil’s Southeast region, which holds 56% of total book-sector jobs. Wholesale distribution is largely located in regional logistics hubs, particularly in capital cities across the Southeast, Northeast and South.
Book publishing itself has the highest number of establishments, marked by a predominance of individual entrepreneurs, who represent 77% of publishers nationwide. Printing stands out as the segment with the highest average number of employees per company, at about nine workers per establishment, mainly in the Southeast and South.
The study also highlights the industry’s geographic reach. In 2025, at least 2,495 Brazilian municipalities had at least one business linked to the book sector, underscoring its national footprint. Among the 1,830 municipalities with bookstores, the Sustainable Development Index for Cities (IDSC) is 3% above the national average, suggesting a correlation between access to books and stronger social, educational and cultural indicators.