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February 11, 2021updated 30 Sep 2022 10:01am

UK magazine circulations for 2020: Full breakdown shows average 6% year-on-year drop

By Charlotte Tobitt

UK magazine circulation figures fell by an average of 6% year-on-year in 2020, according to the latest ABC figures.

Newsstand sales of many magazines were hit by the Covid-19 lockdowns closing non-essential retail and restricting travel, but subscriptions for some brands soared.

The 6% average decline was worked out using every magazine title whose latest circulation was published in ABC’s biannual report on Thursday.

For some titles it uses full-year figures while others are July to December only. The figures include digital editions where applicable and some include non-UK circulations where specified.

[Read more about the news and current affairs magazine ABCs: The Week Junior thrives under lockdown]

Among the hardest-hit were ES Magazine, the Evening Standard’s free weekly lifestyle title which paused publication for six months and returned in September. It returned with a weekly distribution of under 200,000 compared to 357,606 in the second half of 2019.

Slimming World Magazine saw its circulation fall by 36% between July and December while Bauer’s Heat and Closer saw decline of 35% and 32% respectively. Bauer pointed to 40% year-on-year subscription growth at Closer and digital growth of 42%, adding that Heat had digital growth of 86%.

[Read more about how women’s, men’s, tech and entertainment magazines fared in 2020]

Chris Duncan, Bauer Media UK’s chief executive of UK publishing, noted that these ABC results “cover a period of extraordinary disruption” for both readers and retailers.

Meanwhile in the second half of the year The Week Junior, published by Dennis, grew by 37% – potentially down to need for home schooling during lockdown.

The home and food genres performed well in general, with Garden Answers growing by 35%, BBC Gardeners’ World by 31%, Landscape by 28%, food magazine Olive by a quarter, and Garden News by 18%.

In current affairs, The Big Issue and The Spectator grew by 13% and 11% respectively – the former despite having to change business model when its vendors were stopped from selling it on the streets.

UK magazine circulation 2020: News & current affairs

Publication Publisher UK and ROI total ABC total Year-on-year % change Free copies Months in audit period
Private Eye Pressdram Ltd                    224,937 -1% 6
The Economist The Economist Newspaper Ltd                    126,535 -20% 6
The Week Dennis Publishing Limited                    126,055 -7% 3,676 6
The Week Junior Dennis Publishing Limited                       94,687 37% 6,814 6
The Spectator Spectator (1828) Ltd                       79,723 11% 2,579 12
New Scientist New Scientist Limited                       51,559 -21% 246 12
The Oldie Oldie Publications Ltd                       44,208 0% 1 6
London Review of Books LRB Limited                       41,873 11% 4,154 12
Time Magazine Time Magazine UK Ltd                       31,934 -40% 6,367 12
MoneyWeek Dennis Publishing Limited                       31,573 -11% 1,401 6
New Statesman New Statesman Ltd                       30,333 -7% 5,055 12
Prospect Prospect Publishing Ltd                       27,375 -30% 1,556 12
The Critic Locomotive 6960 Ltd                       19,422 10,704 2
BBC Sky at Night Immediate Media Company                       17,011 9% 12
What Franchise Aceville Publications Ltd                       13,346 6% 13,307 12

* The Economist and The Week digital publications are counted separately: The Economist is 150,421 in the UK and The Week is 29,827.

[Read more: New Statesman celebrates 40-year paid-for sales record]

UK magazine circulation: Entertainment/tech/men’s lifestyle

Publication Publisher UK and ROI total ABC total Year-on-year % change Free copies Months in audit period
Time Out Time Out Magazine Ltd 310,736 1% 310,254 6
GQ Conde Nast Publications Ltd 89,189 0% 30,821 12
Men’s Health Hearst UK 88,023 -20% 6,573 12
Empire Bauer Media 61,422 -13% 1,275 12
The Big Issue Big Issue Ltd 47,973 13% 12
Viz Comic Dennis Publishing Limited 40,244 -5% 18 12
Wired Conde Nast Publications Ltd 37,191 2% 11,920 12
Mojo Bauer Media 32,224 3% 927 12
BBC Science Focus Immediate Media Company 30,430 -16% 12
Classic Rock Future Publishing Ltd 23,421 -8% 12
Total Film Future Publishing Ltd 20,148 -21% 12
What Hi-Fi Sound & Vision Future Publishing Ltd 19,033 -6% 1,127 12
T3 Future Publishing Ltd 18,386 -21% 12
BBC Music Magazine Immediate Media Company 12,724 -8% 12
Doctor Who Magazine Panini UK 12,624 -6% 136 12
Fortean Times Dennis Publishing Limited 11,158 -1% 47 12
The Big Issue South West The Big Issue South West Ltd 9,970 -15% 12
Big Issue North The Big Life Company Ltd 9,770 -11% 12
Sight and Sound British Film Institute 9,542 -7% 630 12
Gramophone MA Music Leisure & Travel Ltd 9,404 -6% 107 12
The Big Issue in Scotland The Big Issue in Scotland Ltd 6,250 -20% 12
Big Issue Cymru The Big Issue Cymru Ltd 3,667 -26% 12

UK magazine circulation: TV listings

Publication Publisher UK and ROI total ABC total Year-on-year % change Free copies Months in audit period
TV Choice Bauer Media 1,041,826 -5% 6
What’s on TV Future Publishing Ltd 689,427 -10% 12
Radio Times Immediate Media Company 496,965 -6% 6
TV Times Future Publishing Ltd 126,437 -10% 12
Total TV Guide Bauer Media 84,019 -5% 6
TV & Satellite Week Future Publishing Ltd 77,545 -9% 12
Inside Soap Hearst UK 69,704 -13% 12

Women’s interest/lifestyle

Publication Publisher UK and ROI total ABC total Year-on-year % change Free copies Months in audit period
Tesco Magazine Cedar Communications Limited 1,913,746 -1% 1,913,746 6
ASDA Magazine Hearst UK 1,825,000 2% 1,825,000 12
Waitrose & Partners Food John Brown 665,877 -2% 665,877 6
Good Housekeeping Hearst UK 410,241 -2% 1,178 12
Stylist The Stylist Group Ltd 404,614 0% 401,569 6
Take a Break Bauer Media 365,869 -11% 6
Slimming World Magazine Miles-Bramwell Executive Services Ltd 315,026 -36% 26,445 6
Woman & Home Future Publishing Ltd 209,017 -17% 3,492 12
Prima Hearst UK 207,766 -3% 12
WI life Wi Enterprises Ltd 200,430 -4% 12
Woman’s Weekly Future Publishing Ltd 189,263 -9% 12
BBC Good Food Immediate Media Company 186,036 8% 6
ES Magazine Evening Standard Limited 183554 -0.49 183554 6
Yours Bauer Media 177,121 -19% 135 6
Take a Break Monthly Bauer Media 169,918 -1% 6
Country Living Hearst UK 169,114 2% 1,101 12
Cosmopolitan Hearst UK 167,654 -14% 49,657 12
Vogue Conde Nast Publications Ltd 164,231 1% 37,988 12
That’s Life Bauer Media 155,859 -9% 6
Chat Future Publishing Ltd 147,162 -12% 12
Bella Bauer Media 140,171 -4% 1,975 6
The People’s Friend DC Thomson Media 135,627 -4% 379 12
HELLO! Hello! Ltd 131,458 -21% 1,691 12
Red Hearst UK 127,043 -18% 6,367 12
Ideal Home Future Publishing Ltd 109,484 -5% 5,000 12
Sainsbury’s Magazine Seven C3 106,876 -16% 11,064 12
Closer Bauer Media 103,781 -32% 4,616 6
Woman Future Publishing Ltd 102,431 -11% 12
Harrods Magazine Harrods Ltd 98,326 -7% 105,497 12
Elle (U.K.) Hearst UK 96,355 -16% 51,523 12
New! Reach Magazines Publishing plc 96,106 -28% 4,946 12
Woman’s Own Future Publishing Ltd 94,581 -12% 12
House & Garden Conde Nast Publications Ltd 93,845 1% 25,435 12
Women’s Health Hearst UK 88,840 -28% 5,758 12
Harper’s Bazaar Hearst UK 84,361 -17% 46,208 12
House Beautiful Hearst UK 84,342 -4% 1,076 12
Your Home Immediate Media Company 83,374 -7% 962 12
Real People Hearst UK 83,360 -14% 12
OK! Magazine Reach Magazines Publishing plc 83,222 -26% 12
Best Hearst UK 83,143 -17% 12
Grazia Bauer Media 79,670 -19% 11,061 6
My Weekly DC Thomson Media 72,533 -6% 1,431 12
Heat Bauer Media 70,504 -35% 5,332 6
Love It! ACH Publishing 69,320 -10% 6
Tatler Conde Nast Publications Ltd 68,347 -3% 36,096 12
Style at Home Future Publishing Ltd 64,418 13% 12
Pick Me Up Future Publishing Ltd 62,325 -16% 12
Homes & Gardens Future Publishing Ltd 59,819 -18% 11,465 12
Platinum DC Thomson Media 58,690 15,940 12
25 Beautiful Homes Future Publishing Ltd 52,913 3% 12
Country Homes and Interiors Future Publishing Ltd 52,123 -3% 12
HELLO! Fashion Hello! Ltd 51,240 -25% 369 12
delicious Eye to Eye Media Ltd 51,197 -6% 6
Vanity Fair Conde Nast Publications Ltd 47,798 -4% 24,564 12
Living etc Future Publishing Ltd 44,694 -3% 12
HomeStyle Immediate Media Company 44,443 -12% 1,154 12
Elle Decoration Hearst UK 41,311 -13% 1,010 12
World Of Interiors Conde Nast Publications Ltd 36,055 -1% 10,030 12
Olive Immediate Media Company 33,360 24% 215 6
BBC Easy Cook Immediate Media Company 25,064 -2% 6
Period Living Future Publishing Ltd 24,774 2% 12
The English Home – UK Edition The Chelsea Magazine Company Ltd 24,711 -6% 1,868 12
Homes & Antiques Immediate Media Company 23,879 -7% 12
BBC Home Cooking Series Immediate Media Company 22,233 -10% 6
Real Homes Future Publishing Ltd 22,018 3% 12
The Lady The Lady 20,893 -7% 1,662 12
Homes & Interiors Scotland Peebles Media Group Ltd 9,554 -22% 602 12
Ireland’s Homes Interiors and Living Magazine Ireland’s Homes Interiors and Living Magazine 7,638 28% 42 12
All Ireland Kitchen Guide Ireland’s Homes Interiors and Living Magazine 2,770 41% 12

Leisure interests inc home, sport & motoring

Publication Publisher UK and ROI total ABC total Year-on-year % change Free copies Months in audit period
The National Trust Magazine National Trust 2,676,535 2% 12
Nature’s Home RSPB 585,638 -3% 12
English Heritage Members Magazine Immediate Media Company 445,521 0% 12
Waitrose & Partners Health John Brown 444,150 0% 444,150 12
The Garden RHS Media 440,565 0% 12
My VIP (Pets at Home Magazine) John Brown 357,844 -26% 357,844 12
Caravan and Motorhome Club Magazine Caravan and Motorhome Club 347,570 0% 12
Camping and Caravanning Camping & Caravanning Club Ltd 298,367 -1% 12
BBC Gardeners’ World Immediate Media Company 216,663 31% 6
Saga Magazine Saga Publishing Ltd 212,689 -6% 4,925 6
Boundless Motoring & Leisure Services Ltd 178,365 -8% 12
Shooting and Conservation The British Association for Shooting and Conservation 133,235 -1% 12
British Horse Redactive Publishing Limited 96,050 4% 12
Waterlife Think Publishing 85,260 -6% 12
Conde Nast Traveller Conde Nast Publications Ltd 70,182 4% 32,839 12
Garden Answers Bauer Media 58,142 35% 112 6
Runner’s World Hearst UK 52,471 -10% 127 12
BBC Top Gear Magazine BBC Worldwide 49,375 -31% 2,308 12
National Geographic Traveller APL Media 45,997 -2% 14,273 12
Motor Cycle News Bauer Media 43,230 -10% 218 12
London Review of Books LRB Limited 41,873 11% 4,154 12
Garden News Bauer Media 39,587 18% 107 6
Car Bauer Media 38,196 11% 312 12
BBC Countryfile Magazine Immediate Media Company 37,602 -5% 12
Country Walking Bauer Media 36,950 12% 148 12
Landscape Bauer Media 35,881 28% 44 12
Country Life Future Publishing Ltd 35,273 -2% 2,018 12
Countryside The National Farmers Union 34,254 -3% 9,006 12
Auto Express Dennis Publishing Limited 33,478 -7% 176 12
Today’s Golfer Bauer Media 33,346 -10% 235 12
What Car? Haymarket Consumer Media 33,207 -15% 57 12
Classic & Sports Car Haymarket Consumer Media 31,090 -10% 551 12
Steam Railway Bauer Media 30,291 -4% 119 12
Practical Classics and Car Restorer Bauer Media 29,749 -12% 216 12
Match of the Day Immediate Media Company 28,440 -12% 12
Bike Bauer Media 27,655 -3% 241 12
Land & Business Redactive Publishing Limited 27,296 -6% 12
Gardens Illustrated Immediate Media Company 26,568 2% 12
Modern Gardens Bauer Media 24,158 -9% 63 12
BBC Wildlife Immediate Media Company 23,830 -12% 12
The English Garden – UK Edition The Chelsea Magazine Company Ltd 23,798 -3% 1,379 12
Ride Bauer Media 23,741 -12% 135 12
Cycling Plus Immediate Media Company 23,438 -5% 12
Evo Dennis Publishing Limited 22,863 -15% 829 12
Hornby Magazine Key Publishing Ltd 22,838 -3% 12
Horse & Hound Future Publishing Ltd 22,666 -14% 12
Classic Bike Bauer Media 22,398 -12% 155 12
Four Four Two Future Publishing Ltd 22,128 -26% 12
Classic Car Weekly Bauer Media 20,052 -6% 265 12
The Field Future Publishing Ltd 19,906 -10% 12
Classic Cars Bauer Media 19,758 -17% 315 12
Model Rail Bauer Media 19,619 -4% 123 12
Scots Magazine DC Thomson Media 19,592 -3% 1,299 12
Autocar Haymarket Consumer Media 19,531 -16% 330 12
Mountain Biking UK Immediate Media Company 18,765 1% 12
Angling Times Bauer Media 18,424 -5% 104 12
Octane Dennis Publishing Limited 17,950 -12% 1,718 12
Trout & Salmon Bauer Media 17,872 9% 156 12
Improve Your Coarse Fishing Bauer Media 17,807 -1% 97 12
Rail Bauer Media 17,493 -8% 263 12
Trail Bauer Media 17,178 -9% 103 12
Land Rover Owner International Bauer Media 16,955 -15% 248 12
Dalesman Country Publications Ltd 16,936 -7% 88 12
Cyclist Dennis Publishing Limited 16,779 -1% 106 12
Bird Watching Bauer Media 16,359 9% 200 12
Homebuilding & Renovating Future Publishing Ltd 15,626 -10% 12
Motor Sport Motor Sport Magazine Ltd 15,487 -22% 661 12
Practical Sportsbikes Bauer Media 14,087 -17% 118 12
Airliner World Key Publishing Ltd 13,683 -14% 12
Scottish Field Wyvex Media Ltd 13,485 -12% 182 12
Practical Boat Owner Future Publishing Ltd 12,201 12
Build It Castle Media Ltd 11,381 -8% 3,504 12
Airfix Model World Key Publishing Ltd 10,268 10% 12
Yachting Monthly Future Publishing Ltd 10,060 -15% 12
RPS Journal The Royal Photographic Society 9,226 -3% 12
SelfBuild & Design Waterways World Ltd 9,206 -12% 1,282 12
Motor Boat & Yachting Future Publishing Ltd 6,301 -15% 12
Yachting World Future Publishing Ltd 4,541 -12% 12
The English Garden – North America  Edition The Chelsea Magazine Company Ltd 12

Children’s magazines

Publication Publisher UK and ROI total ABC total Year-on-year % change Free copies Months in audit period
Peppa Pig Bag-o-Fun Redan Publishing Ltd 62,743 -5% 6
Frozen Immediate Media Company 57,939 0% 6
First News First News (UK) Ltd 57,633 -7% 4,759 12
LEGO Special Series Immediate Media Company 50,314 22% 6
CBeebies Special Immediate Media Company 49,681 3% 6
LEGO NINJAGO Immediate Media Company 49,564 -11% 6
Fun to Learn – Peppa Pig Redan Publishing Ltd 47,284 10% 6
CBeebies Magazine Immediate Media Company 46,792 -2% 6
The Beano DC Thomson Media 43,971 9% 494 12
Pokemon Immediate Media Company 43,438 3% 6
Fun to Learn – Friends Redan Publishing Ltd 40,929 5% 6
Top of the Pops Immediate Media Company 40,856 -3% 6
LEGO Star Wars Immediate Media Company 40,773 6
CBeebies Art Immediate Media Company 38,309 -2% 6
PJ Masks Immediate Media Company 38,132 24% 6
Girl Talk Immediate Media Company 37,986 5% 6
LEGO CiTY Immediate Media Company 34,256 -8% 6
Andy’s Amazing Adventures Immediate Media Company 34,191 -5% 6
LEGO Super Hero Legends Immediate Media Company 33,946 6
Hatchimals Immediate Media Company 32,800 8% 6
Sparkle World Redan Publishing Ltd 29,605 9% 6
Mega Immediate Media Company 29,590 3% 6
Frozen Funtime Immediate Media Company 29,116 -7% 6
Fun to Learn – Favourites Redan Publishing Ltd 27,972 3% 6
Disney Princess Create & Collect Immediate Media Company 23,122 6
Baby Shark Immediate Media Company 22,393 6
Disney Stars Immediate Media Company 22,143 -32% 6
Girl Talk Art Immediate Media Company 21,011 -5% 6
Ultimate Immediate Media Company 20,210 6
LEGO Disney Princess Immediate Media Company 18,190 6
Activity Series Immediate Media Company 18,104 8% 6
Hey Duggee Immediate Media Company 13,231 7% 6
Mr Tumble Something Special Immediate Media Company 9,828 -37% 6

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