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Since 2016, Share of Ear® from Edison Research has captured what percent of Americans 13+ spend any daily time listening to audiobooks. While not as dominant as other audio platforms, audiobook popularity has steadily grown over time. 2025 year end data from Share of Ear shows Audiobook reach is at its highest point.

Back in 2016, 3% of Americans 13+ spent any of their daily audio time with audiobooks . As of 2025, that reach number grew to 8% of the American 13+ population. This accounts for a 167% increase in people listening to audiobooks. While we’re not able to say definitively what has caused this growth, one possible factor is broader access to audiobooks through popular streaming platforms and subscription services.

Edison Research has partnered with the Audio Publishers Association for several years now to further understand audiobook consumption, preferences, and barriers. According to the Audio Publishers Association 2025 Consumer Survey, 51% of Americans 18+ have ever listened to an audiobook, equating to approximately 134 million people. Interest in audiobooks has also grown among spoken word listeners who have yet to try audiobooks, with 38% saying they are interested in audiobooks, an increase from 32% in 2024.

Our work with Share of Ear, the Audio Publishers Association, and other custom research projects allows Edison to be at the forefront of audiobook consumption measurement and understanding. Brand new Share of Ear data from Q4 2025 is now available to subscribers. Contact us to learn more about a Share of Ear subscription or to conduct a custom research study.

The Evolving Ear: How New Listeners are Shaping Podcasting’s Next Chapter

Registration is now open for Edison Research’s newest webinar; The Evolving Ear: How New Listeners are Shaping Podcasting’s Next Chapter. Edison Research’s Senior Director, Gabriel Soto, will draw upon over 20 years of podcasting data to investigate how the medium might evolve. This session will cover who these incoming consumers are, the topics capturing their attention, what they think about AI, and more.