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Software Publishing in Europe - Market Size, Industry Analysis, Trends and Forecasts (2024-2029)

ISIC 582 March 2024 Spotlight Report

Revenue

€57.8bn

2019-2024 1.6 %
2024-2029 X.X %

Employees

274k

2019-2024 6.1 %
2024-2029 X.X %

Businesses

31,744

2019-2024 3.2 %
2024-2029 X.X %

Wages

€XX.Xbn

2019-2024 X.X %
2024-2029 X.X %

Software Publishing in Europe industry analysis

European software publishers' revenue is forecast to deline at a compound annual rate of 1.6% over the five years through 2024 to reach €57.8 billion. Software sales have been driven up by rising digitalisation and technological developments across the continent. The software publishing market has been characterised by acquisitions, with global publishers looking to remain on top of market trends and protect their competitive positions by acquiring smaller, niche publishers. While internal research and development remains crucial, acquisitions have become the go-to method for many large software companies to find new products.

European coverage with a localised twist

  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Detailed reports analysing industry performance, market dynamics and company data, compared across countries
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Software Publishing in Europe key trends

Demand for cloud-based software surges.

 

The growing popularity of working from home since COVID-19 has boosted demand for cloud-based software, as this technology helps businesses manage operations remotely.

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 2011-2029. Includes 5-year outlook.

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Software Publishing in Europe market size (2019-2024)

Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 1.6 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated €57.8bn in 2024.

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 (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Demand for cloud computing surges

  • The regular collection of statistics about cloud uptake by businesses published by Eurostat show that 41% of EU enterprises used cloud computing in 2021, claiming it provided them with improved quality of service, business resilience and reduced costs.

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Revenue

€57.8bn

2019-2024 1.6 %
2024-2029 X.X %

Employees

274k

2019-2024 6.1 %
2024-2029 X.X %

Wages

€XX.Xbn

2019-2024 X.X %
2024-2029 X.X %

European Leaders & Laggards

Europe Job Growth CAGR: 6.1 % *
  • Job Growth

Top 5 Countries

  1. Switzerland +32.8%
  2. Estonia +16.1%
  3. Serbia +10.6%
  4. Romania +10.3%
  5. France +9.4%

Bottom 5 Countries

  1. Malta -14.4%
  2. Cyprus -9.8%
  3. Netherlands -7.7%
  4. Slovakia -5.8%
  5. Czechia -5.7%

* CAGR values are for the years 2019-2024.

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Biggest companies in the Software Publishing in Europe

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue (€m)
2024
Profit (€m)
2024
Profit Margin (%)
2024
Microsoft Corporation
242,300.0
95,000.0
39.2
SAP SE
34,000.0
8,900.0
26.2
Oracle Corporation
53,000.0
14,500.0
27.4

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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 2024?

The market size of the Software Publishing industry in Europe is €57.8bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Software Publishing in Europe industry in 2024?

There are 31,744 businesses in the Software Publishing industry in Europe, which has grown at a CAGR of 3.2 % between 2019 and 2024.

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 declining at a CAGR of 1.6 % between 2019 and 2024.

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 in Europe include?

Operating systems and Web- and cloud-based software are part of the Software Publishing industry.

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

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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 SERVICE

What's included in this industry?

Operating systemsWeb- and cloud-based softwareDesktop applicationsSoftware adaptationEmbedded software

Companies

Microsoft CorporationSAP SEOracle Corporation

Industry Code

ISIC 2006

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
  • 2024 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 (2011 -2029)
  • Employees in the Software Publishing in Europe industry (2011 -2029)
  • Business in the Software Publishing in Europe industry (2011 -2029)
  • Profit in the Software Publishing in Europe industry (2011 -2029)
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.

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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 (2024)

Geographic Breakdown

Business Locations

Heat maps
  • Share of Total Industry Revenue by Region (2024)
  • Share of Total Industry Enterprises by Region (2024)
  • Share of Total Industry Employment by Region (2024)
  • Share of Total Industry Wages by Region (2024)

Industry Geographic Breakdown

Data Tables

Values and annual change provided for 37 European countries:

  • Revenue (2024)
  • IVA (2024)
  • Enterprises (2024)
  • Employment (2024)
  • Exports (2024)
  • Imports (2024)

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.

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Supply Chain

Charts

Buyer and supply industries

Companies

Market Share

Charts
  • Industry Market Share by Company (2019-2024)

Companies

Data Tables

Top 10 companies by market share:

  • Market share (2024)
  • Revenue (2024)
  • Profit (2024)
  • Profit Margin (2024)

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.

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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.

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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 (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)

Country Benchmarks

European Leaders & Laggards

Data Tables

Top and boottom five countries listed for each:

  • Revenue Growth (2024)
  • Business Growth (2024)
  • Job Growth (2024)

European Country Performance

Data Tables

Rankings available for 37 countries. Statistics ranked include:

  • IVA/Revenue (2024)
  • Imports/Demand (2024)
  • Exports/Revenue (2024)
  • Revenue per Employee (2024)
  • Wages/Revenue (2024)
  • Employees per Establishment (2024)
  • Average Wage (2024)

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 (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

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. 

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools.

To learn more about specific data sources used by IBISWorld's analysts globally, including how industry data forecasts are produced, visit our Help Center.