What are the most-read magazines in France in 2019

We present you, the 20 titles of the press magazine most-read in France in 2019. ACPM

In France, press magazine has a paid circulation of nearly 1.218 billion.

According to ACPM[1] figures, which lists 263 titles, the most popular sector including the largest paid circulation in France is the television sector.

Shares by sector ACPM/ OJD - Broadcasting France Paid

[1] ACPM is a French organisation whose mission is to control, certifies and values media but above press figures.

The leading press magazines in France

 Ranking is quite similar to that of the previous year 

We can still see that TV magazines represent almost half of the ranking. TV Magazine remaining at the top of the ranking and Télé 7 jours in third position (like the 2018 ranking).

The magazines Version Femina, Dossier Familial and Famille et Education - Magazine de l'APPEL are also at the top of the ranking, each with a paid circulation in France of over 900,000 copies.

To learn more about those titles: 

•        Version Femina is a weekly magazine for women. It is thus the first in the women's press category. This magazine wants to be a real adviser for all women. The friendly tone used and the whole subjects covered on strong themes: beauty, fashion, cooking, family, health... Allows the brand to position itself as the leader in its category.

•        Dossier Familial is a monthly magazine for families. It provides its readers a multitude of tips to improve the daily lives of families. From practical information to detailed solutions in various fields: health, taxes, money and finance, real estate...

•        Family and Education – Magazine de l’APPEL is a bimonthly magazine that deals with the themes of schooling and education. It guides and advises parents so that they have as many tools as possible to accompany their children throughout their school career and in their constant learning. With only 20,000 fewer copies in paid circulation in France than Dossier Familial, it is the second magazine in the Family category.

What are the most represented magazine’s categories in France in 2019?

This year, women's magazines are just as represented in the top 100 of the magazine press in France, as those of the Society category, unlike 2018 where we found the Society category at the top.

However, it is the Society category that remains the most sold with nearly 12 million copies sold against 7.3 million for the female category.

The press remains a particularly widely read media in France; in fact, nearly 97.6% of the French read a title in 2017, whether it is a print or digital edition, which represents nearly 51.2 million readers!

It should also be noted that on average, the French reading basket is made up of 5 to 6 different titles, and that this reading basket is composed by 77% of magazine titles and 23% of daily titles!

It is also a media that has been able to adapt to new devices since nowadays almost all titles are available via the Internet on different channels: computer, tablet, smartphone.

And the arrival of the Internet and digital technology has really changed consumption patterns. Today (in 2017) 77% of the French read at least one press brand in digital version (all channels combined). Since 2017 it is, by the bye, the preferred consumption pattern by the French; since 53% of readings are made on digital; the mobile being the preferred channel. A notable progression for digital, which, in 4 years, has grown by 12%.

Share of individuals reading online news sites, newspapers or magazines or on the Internet in France between 2013 and 2017

In 2020, the press remains a particularly read media. It's, in particular, a media that adapts to digitalization since nowadays almost all titles are available via Internet on different devices: computer, tablet, smartphone.

Besides French people are more and more fond of the digital press, but it is also by far, the internet source in which they have the most confidence (see diagram below).

Even if the sources of digital information are more and more numerous, the websites of the major newspapers are at the top of the ranking since 70% of French people declare to have full confidence in this source against only 50% for information coming from Google.

The picture below shows the confidence of French people in various internet sources in 2017.

68%: major French newspaper websites

50%: Google news

46%: pure player newspapers websites

38%: YouTube

34%: Facebook

30%: Twitter

Although it is one of the oldest media, the press remains a very strategic media, and for several years, now has offered many alternatives to advertisers.

 You want to communicate in the press and need advice on the strategy to adopt?

Ask us for advice here

At Adintime we work daily with titles throughout France and would be delighted to develop with you the best media solutions according to your objectives and your budget.

Written by Marine Collet