ZAGREB, 23 March (Hina) – The global audiobook market is expected to grow at a compound annual rate of 25.7% until 2033, while Croatia’s market remains in its early stages, though expanding in both production and users, according to industry figures.

Audio Store Transonica’s book&zvook platform, launched in 2018 with 10 titles, has grown to around 200, accelerating production over the past 18 months. The app has recorded about 60,000 downloads and 35,000 active users in 2025.

By comparison, around 5,000 printed books are published annually in Croatia, with fiction accounting for roughly 40% of the output.

The platform’s co-founder Ljubica Letinić said contacts established at the London Book Fair last week include potential cooperation with Audible and Penguin Random House Audio, highlighting growing interest in smaller languages.

She said major markets are saturated, driving demand for less represented languages and opening opportunities for Croatian audiobooks globally. The platform aims to produce at least 60, and up to 100, new titles annually.

Audiobook production is complex and labour-intensive, involving voice selection, text adaptation and extensive recording and post-production, often requiring up to 40 hours of studio work for a 20-hour book.

Beyond production, audiobooks are creating new opportunities for actors and sound professionals. Among foreign authors, Gabriel García Márquez is the most listened-to author, while Miljenko Jergović is among the most popular domestic authors.

Publishers say audiobooks complement rather than compete with printed books, expanding access to literature, particularly for young people, the visually impaired and people listening while driving.