Public libraries

Table explanation


This table presents an overview of the number of public libraries, the number of volumes in collections, the number of volumes lent out to the public, registered users, the staff working for public libraries and their operating costs and revenues.

Data available from: 1999.

Status of the figures:
The figures for 2023 are preliminary. The figures for 2022 are revised preliminary, since further research is needed in regard to the financial variables. All other figures are final.

Changes as of 12 September 2024:
The revised preliminary figures for 2022 have been published.
The preliminary figures for 2023 have been added.

When will new figures be published?
Preliminary figures for 2024 will be published in September 2025, as well as the final figures for 2022 and 2023.

Description topics

Volumes lent out to the public
Total number of volumes lent out to the public by libraries, excluding mobile libraries and excluding e-books. More information on the digital public library can be found here in the table explanation.
From 2006 onwards there are no figures on other material due to a lack of quality in the underlying data. Between 2006 -2022 there were no figures on magazine single issues. In 2008 libraries adjusted their reported data on volumes lent out to the public for the number of extensions of items already lent out. Because of this the number of volumes lent out to the public is somewhat lower than would have been the case without the adjustment.
Total volumes lent out to the public
The sum of volumes lent out to the public of the sub collections books (excluding e-books), sheet music, audiovisual materials, magazine single issues and other collections.
From 2006 onwards other materials are not included in total volumes lent out to the public. Between 2006 -2022, magazine single issues were also not included.
Sheet music
Magazine single issues
For the years 2006-2022 there were no figures on magazine single issues due to a lack of quality in the underlying data. Figures on this topic have been added again in 2023.
Other material
From 2006 onwards there are no figures on other collections due to a lack of quality in the underlying data.