20 November 2025
Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC) Q3 (July to September) 2025 Circulation Release
In another solid quarter for newspaper and magazine publishing, total circulation in South Africa remained stable on a quarterly and annual basis.
The latest newspaper and magazine circulation figures released by the Audit Bureau of Circulation (ABC) on Thursday show newspapers growing by just over 1% in the third quarter of 2025 and magazines reporting their seventh consecutive quarter of year-on-year growth.
Total newspaper circulation grew 1.1% in the quarter compared to the previous quarter and reflected a 0.4% decline year-on-year. Paid newspapers were stable in the quarter, dropping by less than 1% but were down significantly year-on-year due to the closure of many of Media 24’s titles.
After stripping out the closure of Media 24 titles, paid dailies fell by 4% year-on-year, while paid weekends dopped by 9%. Reflecting continued stability, free newspapers posted 3.6% growth year-on-year and a 1.3% increase versus the previous quarter.
Total magazine circulation reported meaningful growth of 6.4% year on year and a 0.9% fall in the quarter.
In total, magazine and newspaper circulation grew 0.3% quarter-on-quarter and 2.1% year-on-year to just below 8.5 million, its highest level since Q1 2024.
The data reflects continued stability in newspaper and magazine publishing overall following the declines and title closure of previous years.
The ABC’s membership grew by 13 for the second consecutive quarter, mostly in the free newspaper category, bringing total membership to 396.
Andrew Gill
ABC – President
About the Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC)
The Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC) is a non-profit organization that provides independent and verified circulation data for the South African media industry. ABC’s data is widely used by media owners, advertisers, and agencies to assess the reach and performance of print and digital publications. The Bureau’s mission is to ensure transparency, accountability, and trust in media measurement.
