Industry Statistics and Trends
Software Publishing in Europe key trends
Software sales continue to surge.
More and more businesses, especially European SMEs, are realising the money it can save and the value it adds to operations, keeping publishers’ sales strong.
SaaS applications boost revenue.
Rather than purchasing software upfront and installing it on a computer, SaaS users subscribe to the software. The SaaS model requires no additional setup and can be accessed anywhere, making it attractive.
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Software Publishing in Europe
Industry Revenue
Total value and annual change from 2012-2030. Includes 5-year outlook.
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Software Publishing in Europe market size (2020-2025)
Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 5.0 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated €70.6bn in 2025.
Trends and Insights
Growing digitalisation across Europe fuels demand for software
- Demand for software is driven by the level of telecommunications adoption and use of apps among businesses and consumers.
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Software Publishing in Europe outlook (2025-2030)
Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.
Demand for cloud computing will continue surging
- Cloud platforms provide the foundation for a wide range of software applications, from enterprise resource planning and customer relationship management to data analytics and machine learning. According to Eurostat, 45.2% of businesses in the EU used cloud computing services in 2023, up 4.2 percentage points from 2021. This indicates that while European businesses are progressively integrating cloud solutions, there’s still substantial room for growth. While European software publishers have benefitted from an uptick in sales of cloud-based software solutions, there’s much more revenue to be captured as more businesses realise the strength of cloud-based software.
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Revenue
€70.6bn
Employees
253k
Wages
€XX.Xbn
European Leaders & Laggards
Top 5 Countries
- Estonia +14.8%
- Serbia +12.3%
- Bosnia & Herzegovina +11.0%
- Russia +10.0%
- Romania +8.2%
Bottom 5 Countries
- Switzerland -7.1%
- Slovakia -3.3%
- Croatia -2.3%
- Iceland -2.0%
- Bulgaria -1.9%
* CAGR values are for the years 2020-2025.
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Biggest companies in the Software Publishing in Europe
| Company | Market Share (%)
2025 | Revenue (€m)
2025 | Profit (€m)
2025 | Profit Margin (%)
2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Microsoft Corporation | 253,642.0 | 111,370.0 | 43.9 | |
SAP SE | 38,243.0 | 9,290.0 | 24.3 | |
Oracle Corporation | 52,676.5 | 15,664.8 | 29.7 |
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Software Publishing in Europe
Products & Services Segmentation
Industry revenue broken down by key product and services lines.
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Top Questions Answered in this Report
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What is the market size of the Software Publishing industry in Europe in 2025?
The market size of the Software Publishing industry in Europe is €70.6bn in 2025.
How many businesses are there in the Software Publishing industry in Europe in 2025?
There are 34,844 businesses in the Software Publishing industry in Europe, which has grown at a CAGR of 5.0 % between 2020 and 2025.
Has the Software Publishing industry in Europe grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Software Publishing industry in Europe has been growing at a CAGR of 5.0 % between 2020 and 2025.
What is the forecast growth of the Software Publishing industry in Europe over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Software Publishing industry in Europe is expected to grow.
What does the Software Publishing industry in Europe include?
Operating systems and Web- and cloud-based software are part of the Software Publishing industry in Europe.
Which countries have the most businesses in the Software Publishing industry in Europe?
The European country with the most businesses in the Software Publishing industry is France.
How competitive is the Software Publishing industry in Europe?
The level of competition is moderate and increasing in the Software Publishing industry in Europe.
Related Industries
This industry is covered in 37 countries
- Software Publishing in Austria
- Software Publishing in France
- Software Publishing in Italy
- Software Publishing in the UK
- Software Publishing in Norway
- Software Publishing in Germany
- Software Publishing in Sweden
- Software Publishing in Latvia
- Software Publishing in Croatia
- Computer Game Publishing in the UK
- Software Publishing in the UK
- Software Publishing in Germany
- Software Publishing in Luxembourg
- Software Publishing in Serbia
- Software Publishing in Czechia
- Software Publishing in Turkey
- Software Publishing in Cyprus
- Software Publishing in Finland
- Software Publishing in Bulgaria
- Software Publishing in Spain
- Software Publishing in Portugal
- Software Publishing in the Netherlands
- Software Publishing in Belgium
- Software Publishing in Estonia
- Software Publishing in Lithuania
- Software Publishing in Bosnia & Herzegovina
- Software Publishing in Iceland
- Software Publishing in Europe
- Software Publishing in Greece
- Software Publishing in Romania
- Software Publishing in Hungary
- Software Publishing in Poland
- Software Publishing in Slovakia
- Software Publishing in Slovenia
- Software Publishing in Switzerland
- Software Publishing in Denmark
- Software Publishing in Malta
Table of Contents
About this industry
Industry definition
This industry is made up of companies that publish ready-made non-customised software, engaging in activities such as marketing, translation, technical support and the design of packaging and documentation.
Related Terms
CLOUD COMPUTINGENTERPRISE SOFTWAREFIRMWARESOFTWARE AS A SERVICEWhat's included in this industry?
Operating systemsWeb- and cloud-based softwareDesktop applicationsSoftware adaptationEmbedded softwareCompanies
Microsoft CorporationSAP SEOracle CorporationIndustry Code
582 - Software publishing in Europe
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Performance
Key Takeaways
Growing digitalisation across Europe fuels demand for software
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Revenue Highlights
Trends
- Revenue
- 2025 Revenue Growth
- Revenue Volatility
Employment Highlights
Trends
- Employees
- Employees per Business
- Revenue per Employee
Business Highlights
Trends
- Businesses
- Employees per Business
- Revenue per Business
Profit Highlights
Trends
- Total Profit
- Profit Margin
- Profit per Business
Current Performance
Charts
- Revenue in the Software Publishing in Europe industry (2012 -2030)
- Employees in the Software Publishing in Europe industry (2012 -2030)
- Business in the Software Publishing in Europe industry (2012 -2030)
- Profit in the Software Publishing in Europe industry (2012 -2030)
Analysis
What's driving current industry performance in the Software Publishing in Europe industry?
Outlook
Analysis
What's driving the Software Publishing in Europe industry outlook?
Volatility
Analysis
What influences volatility in the Software Publishing in Europe industry?
Charts
- Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth Matrix
Life Cycle
Analysis
What determines the industry life cycle stage in the Software Publishing in Europe industry?
Charts
- Industry Life Cycle Matrix
Products and Markets
Highlights
Trends
- Largest Market
- Product Innovation
Key Takeaways
Desktop applications stay on top. They’ve long been software publishers’ largest source of revenue, given they’re the foundation of the industry, but other services are gaining ground, especially with cloud computing becoming more commonplace.
Products and Services
Charts
- Products and Services Segmentation
Analysis
How are the Software Publishing in Europe industry's products and services performing?
Analysis
What are innovations in the Software Publishing in Europe industry's products and services?
Major Markets
Charts
- Major Market Segmentation
Analysis
What influences demand in the Software Publishing in Europe industry?
International Trade
Highlights
- Largest Importer
- Smallest Importer
- Total Imports into Europe
- Largest Exporter
- Smallest Exporter
- Total Exports into Europe
Heat maps
- Industry Concentration of Imports by Country
- Industry Concentration of Exports by Country
Data Tables
Value and annual change (%) included
- Number of Imports and Exports by European Country (2025)
Geographic Breakdown
Business Locations
Heat maps
- Share of Total Industry Revenue by Region (2025)
- Share of Total Industry Enterprises by Region (2025)
- Share of Total Industry Employment by Region (2025)
- Share of Total Industry Wages by Region (2025)
Industry Geographic Breakdown
Data Tables
Values and annual change provided for 37 European countries:
- Revenue (2025)
- IVA (2025)
- Enterprises (2025)
- Employment (2025)
- Exports (2025)
- Imports (2025)
Competitive Forces
Highlights
Trends
- Concentration
- Competition
- Barriers to Entry
- Substitutes
- Buyer Power
- Supplier Power
Key Takeaways
A saturated market keeps concentration low. This reflects the fragmented nature of the software market outside of the global powerhouses. However, concentration does vary depending on the type of software.
Supply Chain
Charts
Buyer and supply industries
Companies
Market Share
Charts
- Industry Market Share by Company (2020-2025)
Companies
Data Tables
Top 10 companies by market share:
- Market share (2025)
- Revenue (2025)
- Profit (2025)
- Profit Margin (2025)
Data Tables
- Countries of operation for Microsoft Corporation
- Countries of operation for SAP SE
- Countries of operation for Oracle Corporation
- Countries of operation for Adobe Inc
- Countries of operation for Dassault Systèmes SE
- Countries of operation for Amadeus IT Group SA
- Countries of operation for Alphabet Inc
- Countries of operation for International Business Machines Corporation
- Countries of operation for The Sage Group plc
- Countries of operation for Software AG
External Environment
Highlights
Trends
- Regulation & Policy
- Assistance
Key Takeaways
Data protection laws rule the market. Software publishers are privy to a huge amount of confidential data, so they have to ensure tight compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation.
External Drivers
Analysis
What demographic and macroeconomic factors impact the Software Publishing in Europe industry?
Financial Benchmarks
Highlights
Trends
- Profit Margin
- Average Wage
- Largest Cost
Key Takeaways
Software publishers’ profit potential is huge. This is because software is protected under intellectual property laws and investment in software publishing is front-loaded. Online delivery of software also inflates profitability.
Cost Structure
Charts
- Share of Economy vs. Investment Matrix
-
Industry Cost Structure Benchmarks:
- Marketing
- Depreciation
- Profit
- Purchases
- Wages
- Rent
- Utilities
- Other
Analysis
What trends impact cost in the Software Publishing in Europe industry?
Key Ratios
Data tables
- IVA/Revenue (2015-2030)
- Imports/Demand (2015-2030)
- Exports/Revenue (2015-2030)
- Revenue per Employee (2015-2030)
- Wages/Revenue (2015-2030)
- Employees per Establishment (2015-2030)
- Average Wage (2015-2030)
Country Benchmarks
European Leaders & Laggards
Data Tables
Top and bottom five countries listed for each:
- Revenue Growth (2025)
- Business Growth (2025)
- Job Growth (2025)
European Country Performance
Data Tables
Rankings available for 37 countries. Statistics ranked include:
- IVA/Revenue (2025)
- Imports/Demand (2025)
- Exports/Revenue (2025)
- Revenue per Employee (2025)
- Wages/Revenue (2025)
- Employees per Establishment (2025)
- Average Wage (2025)
Structural Comparison
Data Tables
Trends in 37 countries benchmarked against trends in Europe
- Concentration
- Competition
- Barriers to Entry
- Buyer Power
- Supplier Power
- Volatility
- Capital Intensity
- Innovation
- Life Cycle
Key Statistics
Industry Data
Data Tables
Including values and annual change:
- Revenue (2015-2030)
- IVA (2015-2030)
- Establishments (2015-2030)
- Enterprises (2015-2030)
- Employment (2015-2030)
- Exports (2015-2030)
- Imports (2015-2030)
- Wages (2015-2030)
Methodology
Where does IBISWorld source its data?
IBISWorld is a world-leading provider of business information, with reports on 5,000+ industries in Australia, New Zealand, North America, Europe and China. Our expert industry analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build an accurate picture of each industry.
Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and IBISWorld's proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.
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