Reports
Sale
Global Webtoons Market Size, Share, Trends, Growth, Report: By Genre: Comedy, Action, Sci-Fic, Romance, Horror, Others; By Revenue Model: Subscription Based, Advertisement Based; By Device Type: Mobile, Television, Laptop and Tablets; Regional Analysis; Market Dynamics: SWOT Analysis; Competitive Landscape; 2024-2032
Global Webtoons Market Outlook
The global webtoons market size reached approximately USD 5.55 billion in 2023. The market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 18.6% between 2024 and 2032, reaching a value of around USD 25.82 billion by 2032.
Key Takeaways
- In March 2022, Naver attracted nearly 180 million monthly active global users, a 291% increase from 46 million in May 2017.
- As of Q2 2022, Webtoon Entertainment boasted 85.6 million monthly active users in over 100 countries.
- Efforts to translate and culturally adapt content have made webtoons accessible and appealing to a global audience.
Webtoons are webcomics or graphic novels that are published online and can be read on smartphones, tablets, computers, and televisions. These digital comics, originated in South Korea, contain different genres and themes to appeal to diverse readers. The rise of smartphones and tablets contributed significantly to their popularity, as the format is well-suited to the vertical, scroll-down interface of these devices.
The global shift towards digital media consumption is one of the major factors boosting the webtoons market growth. With the proliferation of smartphones, tablets, and high-speed internet, digital content, including webtoons, has become easily accessible to a wide audience.
There is a growing preference, especially among younger generations, for on-demand and mobile-friendly content. Webtoons cater to this trend by providing entertainment that is not only easily accessible but also engaging and interactive. Webtoons cover a wide range of genres and themes, appealing to various demographics and interests and the platform also allows for a diversity of voices, with creators from different backgrounds sharing their stories.
Key Trends and Developments
Expansion of webtoons globally; cost-effective price of drawing instruments; rising adaptation of webtoons in movies and shows; and integration of monetisation models are the major trends impacting the webtoons market growth
| Date | Event |
| Jan 23rd, 2024 | Studio Bones ventured into the webtoon space with a new adaptation of "Metallic Rogue" |
| Jan 23rd, 2024 | Penguin Random House entered into a distribution agreement with Wattpad Webtoon |
| Jan 24th, 2024 | Webtoon announced the expansion of its digital library by adapting 14 popular web novels from Aethon Books into webcomics |
| Jan 29th, 2024 | The South Korean government laid out an ambitious plan to boost the webtoon business and foster its development |
| Topic | Details |
| Expansion of webtoons on a global scale | The popularity of webtoons is spreading from East Asia to South Asia, North America, and Europe, among others, due to their easy accessibility on digital platforms. |
| Cost-effective price of drawing instruments and screens | Reduced costs of sketching pens and screens have made it easier for new creators to invest in quality tools and enter the webtoon business. |
| Rising adaptation of webtoons in movies and television shows | Growing adaptation of webtoons in movies and television shows increases their exposure by introducing them to a wide range of audiences and attracting new readers. |
| Integration of monetisation models in webtoon platforms | Key players are experimenting with various monetisation strategies beyond the traditional ad-based model, which includes premium models, where readers pay for early access to episodes. |
Webtoons Market Trends
One of the prominent trends aiding the market expansion is the growing popularity of webtoons, which originated in East Asia, notably South Korea, and is spreading globally, including to regions like South Asia, North America, and Europe. The widespread availability of smartphones and high-speed internet has made it easy for audiences worldwide to access digital content, aiding the webtoons market growth.
Digital platforms have broken down the traditional barriers of content distribution as webtoons can be instantly published and made accessible to a global audience, unlike physical comics which require printing and distribution.
Studio Bones, a name synonymous with high-quality animation and storytelling, is broadening its horizon by stepping into the webtoon domain with the adaptation of "Metallic Rogue". "Metallic Rogue", a sci-fi series, is set to leverage Studio Bones' expertise in animation and storytelling to offer an immersive and visually engaging experience to webtoon readers. The collaboration with LINE Webtoon signals a fusion of traditional animation prowess with the innovative, digital-first approach of webtoons.
Market Segmentation
“Webtoons Market Report and Forecast 2024-2032” offers a detailed analysis of the market based on the following segments:
| Market Breakup | Categories |
| Genre | Comedy, Action, Sci-Fic, Romance, Horror, Others |
| Revenue Model | Subscription Based, Advertisement Based |
| Device Type | Mobile, Television, Laptop and Tablets |
| Region | North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa |
The romance genre experiences robust growth due to its universal and timeless appeal.
The webtoons market expansion is being driven by the rising popularity of the romance genre that resonates across cultures and age groups, making it universally appealing. The themes of love, relationships, and emotional connections are relatable to a vast audience, ensuring a broad reader base. The romance genre in webtoons encompasses a variety of sub-genres and themes, including contemporary romance, historical romance, fantasy romance, and romantic comedy; this diversity attracts a wide range of readers with different tastes and preferences.
Moreover, comedy, much like romance, is a genre with universal appeal. Everyone enjoys a good laugh, and comedic content can attract a wide and diverse audience as the humour often transcends cultural and language barriers, especially when visual gags and situational comedy are involved. In a fast-paced and often stressful modern lifestyle, readers seek light-hearted entertainment that offers a break from their daily routines and comedy webtoons provide this by offering humorous content that can lighten moods and offer a form of escapism.
Mobile continues its dominance in the market due to its portability and convenience.
Mobile occupies a significant portion of the webtoons market share due to the increased adoption of smartphones worldwide. It is a primary platform among readers to access webtoons anytime and anywhere. Moreover, market players are enhancing the reading experience on mobile applications by providing offline reading and in-app offers, discounts, and sales. Additionally, it proves itself instrumental in improving reader engagement through comments, community discussions, and sharing.
While smartphones are the most popular devices for reading webtoons due to their portability and convenience, laptops and tablets also hold a significant share of the market. Laptops and tablets offer larger screen sizes compared to smartphones, providing a more immersive reading experience as the larger display allows for a better appreciation of the artwork, and finer details, and can enhance the overall enjoyment of the visual storytelling that webtoons offer.
Competitive Landscape
Major players in the webtoons market are increasing their collaborative efforts and adapting popular web novels into webtoons to leverage an existing fan community.
| Company | Headquarters | Description |
| Marvel Entertainment, LLC | New York, United States | Entertainment corporation known for its comics, digital comics, and graphic novels, among others. |
| SideWalk Group | Fujian, China | Mobile-based comic publishing platform that provides high-quality comics in more than 20 genres. |
| Naver Webtoon Limited | Bundang-gu Seongnam, South Korea | Webtoon company that makes digital comics and webtoons accessible through web platforms and mobile applications. |
| Contents First, Inc. (Tappytoon) | Seoul, South Korea | Comprehensive entertainment company known for its leading platform Tappytoon, transforming how readers globally enjoy comics, access stories, and connect with storytellers. |
Other key webtoons market players include Izneo Company, Kakao Entertainment Co., Ltd., Lezhin Entertainment, LLC, Kidari Studio Co., Ltd. (Boomtoon), Toomics Global Co., Ltd, and RIDI Corporation, among others.
Major players in the webtoons market are recognising the immense potential of adapting popular web novels into webcomics, leveraging the strengths of both digital and literary forms to expand their digital libraries. Popular web novels often come with a dedicated and sizeable readership and by adapting these novels into webtoons, companies can tap into these existing communities, ensuring a ready audience for the new format. This crossover between reading communities can boost the popularity of both the original novels and the adapted webtoons.
Webtoons Market Analysis by Region
The Asia Pacific accounts for a substantial share of the global market owing to the strong base of webtoon creators and readers in the region. Furthermore, the rapid expansion of webtoons in countries like China, Japan, and India offers lucrative market growth opportunities.
The region also has a flourishing entertainment sector, with many companies and publishers aiming to increase the outreach of digital content, including webtoons. Additionally, partnerships between broadcasting networks and market players and the launch of new applications are expected to influence the webtoons market positively in the coming years.
The demand for webtoons in North America has been growing steadily, driven by a convergence of cultural, technological, and market factors. North American audiences have shown a strong shift towards digital media consumption and the widespread use of smartphones, tablets, and computers for entertainment fits well with the digital nature of webtoons. Audiences in the region are also increasingly seeking diverse and inclusive content, covering a wide range of themes, cultures, and perspectives, fuelling the webtoons market expansion.
Key Highlights of the Report
| REPORT FEATURES | DETAILS |
| Base Year | 2023 |
| Historical Period | 2018-2023 |
| Forecast Period | 2024-2032 |
| Scope of the Report |
Historical and Forecast Trends, Industry Drivers and Constraints, Historical and Forecast Market Analysis by Segment:
|
| Breakup by Genre |
|
| Breakup by Revenue Model |
|
| Breakup by Device Type |
|
| Breakup by Region |
|
| Market Dynamics |
|
| Competitive Landscape |
|
| Companies Covered |
|
*At Expert Market Research, we strive to always give you current and accurate information. The numbers depicted in the description are indicative and may differ from the actual numbers in the final EMR report.
1 Preface
2 Report Coverage – Key Segmentation and Scope
3 Report Description
3.1 Market Definition and Outlook
3.2 Properties and Applications
3.3 Market Analysis
3.4 Key Players
4 Key Assumptions
5 Executive Summary
5.1 Overview
5.2 Key Drivers
5.3 Key Developments
5.4 Competitive Structure
5.5 Key Industrial Trends
6 Market Snapshot
6.1 Global
6.2 Regional
7 Opportunities and Challenges in the Market
8 Global Webtoons Market Analysis
8.1 Key Industry Highlights
8.2 Global Webtoons Historical Market (2018-2023)
8.3 Global Webtoons Market Forecast (2024-2032)
8.4 Global Webtoons Market by Genre
8.4.1 Comedy
8.4.1.1 Historical Trend (2018-2023)
8.4.1.2 Forecast Trend (2024-2032)
8.4.2 Action
8.4.2.1 Historical Trend (2018-2023)
8.4.2.2 Forecast Trend (2024-2032)
8.4.3 Sci-Fic
8.4.3.1 Historical Trend (2018-2023)
8.4.3.2 Forecast Trend (2024-2032)
8.4.4 Romance
8.4.4.1 Historical Trend (2018-2023)
8.4.4.2 Forecast Trend (2024-2032)
8.4.5 Horror
8.4.5.1 Historical Trend (2018-2023)
8.4.5.2 Forecast Trend (2024-2032)
8.4.6 Others
8.5 Global Webtoons Market by Revenue Model
8.5.1 Subscription Based
8.5.1.1 Historical Trend (2018-2023)
8.5.1.2 Forecast Trend (2024-2032)
8.5.2 Advertisement Based
8.5.2.1 Historical Trend (2018-2023)
8.5.2.2 Forecast Trend (2024-2032)
8.6 Global Webtoons Market by Device Type
8.6.1 Mobile
8.6.1.1 Historical Trend (2018-2023)
8.6.1.2 Forecast Trend (2024-2032)
8.6.2 Television
8.6.2.1 Historical Trend (2018-2023)
8.6.2.2 Forecast Trend (2024-2032)
8.6.3 Laptop and Tablets
8.6.3.1 Historical Trend (2018-2023)
8.6.3.2 Forecast Trend (2024-2032)
8.7 Global Webtoons Market by Region
8.7.1 North America
8.7.1.1 Historical Trend (2018-2023)
8.7.1.2 Forecast Trend (2024-2032)
8.7.2 Europe
8.7.2.1 Historical Trend (2018-2023)
8.7.2.2 Forecast Trend (2024-2032)
8.7.3 Asia Pacific
8.7.3.1 Historical Trend (2018-2023)
8.7.3.2 Forecast Trend (2024-2032)
8.7.4 Latin America
8.7.4.1 Historical Trend (2018-2023)
8.7.4.2 Forecast Trend (2024-2032)
8.7.5 Middle East and Africa
8.7.5.1 Historical Trend (2018-2023)
8.7.5.2 Forecast Trend (2024-2032)
9 North America Webtoons Market Analysis
9.1 United States of America
9.1.1 Historical Trend (2018-2023)
9.1.2 Forecast Trend (2024-2032)
9.2 Canada
9.2.1 Historical Trend (2018-2023)
9.2.2 Forecast Trend (2024-2032)
10 Europe Webtoons Market Analysis
10.1 United Kingdom
10.1.1 Historical Trend (2018-2023)
10.1.2 Forecast Trend (2024-2032)
10.2 Germany
10.2.1 Historical Trend (2018-2023)
10.2.2 Forecast Trend (2024-2032)
10.3 France
10.3.1 Historical Trend (2018-2023)
10.3.2 Forecast Trend (2024-2032)
10.4 Italy
10.4.1 Historical Trend (2018-2023)
10.4.2 Forecast Trend (2024-2032)
10.5 Others
11 Asia Pacific Webtoons Market Analysis
11.1 China
11.1.1 Historical Trend (2018-2023)
11.1.2 Forecast Trend (2024-2032)
11.2 Japan
11.2.1 Historical Trend (2018-2023)
11.2.2 Forecast Trend (2024-2032)
11.3 India
11.3.1 Historical Trend (2018-2023)
11.3.2 Forecast Trend (2024-2032)
11.4 ASEAN
11.4.1 Historical Trend (2018-2023)
11.4.2 Forecast Trend (2024-2032)
11.5 Australia
11.5.1 Historical Trend (2018-2023)
11.5.2 Forecast Trend (2024-2032)
11.6 Others
12 Latin America Webtoons Market Analysis
12.1 Brazil
12.1.1 Historical Trend (2018-2023)
12.1.2 Forecast Trend (2024-2032)
12.2 Argentina
12.2.1 Historical Trend (2018-2023)
12.2.2 Forecast Trend (2024-2032)
12.3 Mexico
12.3.1 Historical Trend (2018-2023)
12.3.2 Forecast Trend (2024-2032)
12.4 Others
13 Middle East and Africa Webtoons Market Analysis
13.1 Saudi Arabia
13.1.1 Historical Trend (2018-2023)
13.1.2 Forecast Trend (2024-2032)
13.2 United Arab Emirates
13.2.1 Historical Trend (2018-2023)
13.2.2 Forecast Trend (2024-2032)
13.3 Nigeria
13.3.1 Historical Trend (2018-2023)
13.3.2 Forecast Trend (2024-2032)
13.4 South Africa
13.4.1 Historical Trend (2018-2023)
13.4.2 Forecast Trend (2024-2032)
13.5 Others
14 Market Dynamics
14.1 SWOT Analysis
14.1.1 Strengths
14.1.2 Weaknesses
14.1.3 Opportunities
14.1.4 Threats
14.2 Porter’s Five Forces Analysis
14.2.1 Supplier’s Power
14.2.2 Buyer’s Power
14.2.3 Threat of New Entrants
14.2.4 Degree of Rivalry
14.2.5 Threat of Substitutes
14.3 Key Indicators for Demand
14.4 Key Indicators for Price
15 Competitive Landscape
15.1 Market Structure
15.2 Company Profiles
15.2.1 Marvel Entertainment, LLC
15.2.1.1 Company Overview
15.2.1.2 Product Portfolio
15.2.1.3 Demographic Reach and Achievements
15.2.1.4 Certifications
15.2.2 SideWalk Group
15.2.2.1 Company Overview
15.2.2.2 Product Portfolio
15.2.2.3 Demographic Reach and Achievements
15.2.2.4 Certifications
15.2.3 Izneo Company
15.2.3.1 Company Overview
15.2.3.2 Product Portfolio
15.2.3.3 Demographic Reach and Achievements
15.2.3.4 Certifications
15.2.4 Kakao Entertainment Co., Ltd.
15.2.4.1 Company Overview
15.2.4.2 Product Portfolio
15.2.4.3 Demographic Reach and Achievements
15.2.4.4 Certifications
15.2.5 Lezhin Entertainment, LLC
15.2.5.1 Company Overview
15.2.5.2 Product Portfolio
15.2.5.3 Demographic Reach and Achievements
15.2.5.4 Certifications
15.2.6 Naver Webtoon Limited
15.2.6.1 Company Overview
15.2.6.2 Product Portfolio
15.2.6.3 Demographic Reach and Achievements
15.2.6.4 Certifications
15.2.7 Kidari Studio Co., Ltd. (Boomtoon)
15.2.7.1 Company Overview
15.2.7.2 Product Portfolio
15.2.7.3 Demographic Reach and Achievements
15.2.7.4 Certifications
15.2.8 Contents First, Inc. (Tappytoon)
15.2.8.1 Company Overview
15.2.8.2 Product Portfolio
15.2.8.3 Demographic Reach and Achievements
15.2.8.4 Certifications
15.2.9 Toomics Global Co., Ltd
15.2.9.1 Company Overview
15.2.9.2 Product Portfolio
15.2.9.3 Demographic Reach and Achievements
15.2.9.4 Certifications
15.2.10 RIDI Corporation
15.2.10.1 Company Overview
15.2.10.2 Product Portfolio
15.2.10.3 Demographic Reach and Achievements
15.2.10.4 Certifications
15.2.11 Others
16 Key Trends and Developments in the Market
List of Key Figures and Tables
1. Global Webtoons Market: Key Industry Highlights, 2018 and 2032
2. Global Webtoons Historical Market: Breakup by Genre (USD Billion), 2018-2023
3. Global Webtoons Market Forecast: Breakup by Genre (USD Billion), 2024-2032
4. Global Webtoons Historical Market: Breakup by Revenue Model (USD Billion), 2018-2023
5. Global Webtoons Market Forecast: Breakup by Revenue Model (USD Billion), 2024-2032
6. Global Webtoons Historical Market: Breakup by Device Type (USD Billion), 2018-2023
7. Global Webtoons Market Forecast: Breakup by Device Type (USD Billion), 2024-2032
8. Global Webtoons Historical Market: Breakup by Region (USD Billion), 2018-2023
9. Global Webtoons Market Forecast: Breakup by Region (USD Billion), 2024-2032
10. North America Webtoons Historical Market: Breakup by Country (USD Billion), 2018-2023
11. North America Webtoons Market Forecast: Breakup by Country (USD Billion), 2024-2032
12. Europe Webtoons Historical Market: Breakup by Country (USD Billion), 2018-2023
13. Europe Webtoons Market Forecast: Breakup by Country (USD Billion), 2024-2032
14. Asia Pacific Webtoons Historical Market: Breakup by Country (USD Billion), 2018-2023
15. Asia Pacific Webtoons Market Forecast: Breakup by Country (USD Billion), 2024-2032
16. Latin America Webtoons Historical Market: Breakup by Country (USD Billion), 2018-2023
17. Latin America Webtoons Market Forecast: Breakup by Country (USD Billion), 2024-2032
18. Middle East and Africa Webtoons Historical Market: Breakup by Country (USD Billion), 2018-2023
19. Middle East and Africa Webtoons Market Forecast: Breakup by Country (USD Billion), 2024-2032
20. Global Webtoons Market Structure
Key Questions Answered in the Report
In 2023, the market reached an approximate value of USD 5.55 billion.
The market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 18.6% between 2024 and 2032.
The market is estimated to witness a healthy growth in the forecast period of 2024-2032, reaching a value of around USD 25.82 billion by 2032.
The major market drivers are increased penetration of the internet and the rising popularity of comics and online series.
The key trends of the market include the expansion of webtoons on an international scale, the rising affordability of drawing instruments, and the growing adaptation of webtoons into shows and movies.
The major regions in the market are North America, Europe, the Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa.
Various revenue models are subscription based and advertisement based.
The key players in the market are Marvel Entertainment, LLC, SideWalk Group, Izneo Company, Kakao Entertainment Co., Ltd, Lezhin Entertainment, LLC, Naver Webtoon Limited, Kidari Studio Co., Ltd., Contents First, Inc. (Tappytoon), Toomics Global Co., Ltd, and RIDI Corporation, among others.
Purchase Options 10% off
Call us
Purchase Full Report
Mini Report
$ 2199
$1999
-
Selected Sections, One User
-
Printing Not Allowed
-
Email Delivery in PDF
-
Free Limited Customisation -
Post Sales Analyst Support -
50% Discount on Next Update
Single User License
$ 3299
$2999
-
All Sections, One User
-
One Print Allowed
-
Email Delivery in PDF
-
Free Limited Customisation -
Post Sales Analyst Support -
50% Discount on Next Update
Five User License
$ 4399
$3999
-
All Sections, Five Users
-
Five Prints Allowed
-
Email Delivery in PDF
-
Free Limited Customisation
-
Post Sales Analyst Support
-
50% Discount on Next Update
Corporate License
$ 5499
$4999
-
All Sections, Unlimited Users
-
Unlimited Prints Allowed
-
Email Delivery in PDF + Excel
-
Free Limited Customisation
-
Post Sales Analyst Support
-
50% Discount on Next Update
Any Question? Speak With An Analyst
View A Sample
Did You Miss Anything, Ask Now
Why Expert Market Research?
Right People
We are technically excellent, strategic, practical, experienced and efficient; our analysts are hand-picked based on having the right attributes to work successfully and execute projects based on your expectations.
Right Methodology
We leverage our cutting-edge technology, our access to trusted databases, and our knowledge of the current models used in the market to deliver you research solutions that are tailored to your needs and put you ahead of the curve.
Right Price
We deliver in-depth and superior quality research in prices that are reasonable, unmatchable, and shows our understanding of your resource structure. We, additionally, offer attractive discounts on our upcoming reports.
Right Support
Our team of expert analysts are at your beck and call to deliver you optimum results that are customised to meet your precise needs within the specified timeframe and help you form a better understanding of the industry.
NEWSLETTER