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According to a recent survey by Edison Research and the Audio Publishers Association, 51% of Americans 18+ have ever listened to an audiobook, accounting for approximately 134 million people.
While audiobook listening is an established habit for many Americans, interest among non-listeners is also increasing. In 2024, 32% of those who listen to spoken word content but who have yet to try audiobooks said they were interested in listening to audiobooks. This increased to 38% in 2025, with the number of those “very interested” nearly doubling from 10% to 18%.
The 2025 survey also focused on what current listeners enjoy about the medium, consumption and interest in AI-narrated audiobooks, as well as barriers to listening for those who do not engage with audiobooks. Learn more about this research and our findings here.
