Global Webtoons Market Set to Reach USD 97.19 Billion by 2033 – IMARC Group

Global Webtoons Market Statistics, Outlook and Regional Analysis 2025-2033

The global webtoons market size was valued at USD 9.17 Billion in 2024, and it is expected to reach USD 97.19 Billion by 2033, exhibiting a growth rate (CAGR) of 28.50% from 2025 to 2033.

The rising demand for diverse content is creating the need for webtoons, as individuals look for stories that reflect their varying interests. Webtoons offer a wide range of genres, ranging from romance and fantasy to horror, catering to numerous tastes and preferences. This variety attracts a broader audience, including individuals of different age groups, backgrounds, and cultures. Additionally, webtoons explore unique cultural themes, offering fresh perspectives that traditional media may not provide. Individuals often seek more comprehensive content that connects with their personal experiences. This encourages creators to experiment with new ideas and storytelling styles, making webtoons more appealing to the audience. In August 2024, Suicide Squad Isekai, a TV series presented by Warner Bros., teamed-up with Line Manga and Jump Toon to reveal the debut of a new Webtoon comic. This marked Wit Studio's inaugural anime series to have a concurrent Webtoon adaptation, which can be presented in a fully colored and vertical reading format.

The expansion of retail stores is increasing the visibility and availability of webtoon-related merchandise. As retail stores stock webtoon-themed products, such as books, apparel, and accessories, they attract a wider audience and encourage people to explore webtoons. This exposure leads to more individuals finding webtoons and showing curiosity in digital platforms. Retail stores also host events, collaborations, and promotions related to webtoons, which helps to build stronger connections with fans and create more awareness among them. With the rising presence of webtoons in retail spaces, more people are introduced to this form of entertainment, thereby fueling the market growth. In November 2024, WEBTOON Entertainment Inc., a prominent digital comic platform, announced its entry into the retail market by launching a new WEBTOON shop. The company aims to provide webtoon merchandise conveniently to enthusiasts throughout the United States.

Global Webtoons Market Statistics, By Region

The market research report has also provided a comprehensive analysis of all the major regional markets, which include North America (the United States and Canada); Europe (Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, and others); Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, India, South Korea, Australia, Indonesia, and others); Latin America (Brazil, Mexico, and others); and the Middle East and Africa. According to the report, Asia-Pacific accounts for the largest market share driven by the rising internet penetration, increasing demand for digital content, and the growing popularity of webtoon comics.

Asia-Pacific Webtoons Market Trends:

The Asia-Pacific region is enjoying the leading position in the market due to the rising need for diverse content, particularly in nations like South Korea, Japan, and China. Webtoons originated in South Korea and have become a dominant form of digital entertainment, blending visual storytelling with accessible technology. They are being translated into multiple languages to gain international popularity. In Japan, manga-style webtoons attract a large audience while China’s webtoons focus on unique local content. In November 2024, the WAVES Anime and Manga Contest 'WAM!', a premier event of the forthcoming World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit 2024, was inaugurated at the NEDFi Convention Centre in Guwahati, India. The competition, a component of the Create in India Challenge, sought to nurture local talent while taking advantage of the growing appeal of Japanese manga and anime with Indian audiences. This region benefits from high internet penetration and a strong online gaming culture, which further makes webtoons a preferred form of entertainment for younger generations.

North America Webtoons Market Trends:

North America accounts for a sizeable portion of the webtoons industry owing to its high demand for digital entertainment. The US is a major contributor, with a large fan base for webtoons, especially in genres like action, fantasy, and romance. Digital platforms have gained popularity, offering a diverse range of webcomics. With the increasing use of smartphones and high-speed internet, more readers turn to webtoons as a convenient form of entertainment. Additionally, US publishers’ team-up with webtoon creators from South Korea and Japan to expand the market and attract more audiences in North America.

Europe Webtoons Market Trends:

The market for webtoons is expanding gradually in Europe, which can be attributed to the growing availability of different webtoon genres. In France, Italy, and Germany, there is a long history related to comic books, and webtoons have found a new audience in digital form. The increasing adoption of mobile devices and social media platforms aids young people to investigate webtoons. In this area, webtoon platforms provide localized content and translations to cater to diverse tastes. The rise of digital storytelling and the desire for more accessible and affordable entertainment have made webtoons a popular choice, especially in urban areas.

Latin America Webtoons Market Trends:

On account of the increasing usage of digital platforms, Latin America is experiencing webtoons market expansion. In nations, such as Brazil, Mexico, and Argentina, there is a high demand for webcomics, driven by the region's growing internet penetration. Webtoons are popular, particularly among younger audiences who are active on social media and mobile devices. Moreover, Latin American creators produce their own webtoons, adding to the diversity of content available in the region. The appeal of webtoons lies in their easy accessibility, unique art styles, and culturally relevant stories.

Middle East and Africa Webtoons Market Trends:

The market for webtoons in the Middle East and Africa region is distinguished by the growing digital engagement. The Middle East, especially countries like Saudi Arabia and the UAE, shows a high preference for digital entertainment, which extends to webcomics. Local creators have begun to explore webtoons, reflecting cultural themes and interests. In Africa, webtoons are gaining traction, particularly among young audiences seeking fresh and diverse storytelling formats.

Top Companies Leading in the Webtoons Industry

Some of the leading webtoons market companies include Izneo (Fnac Darty), Kakao Corp., Lezhin Entertainment Inc. (KidariStudio Inc.), Naver Webtoon Corp. (Naver Corporation), NHN Corp., Shueisha Inc., SideWalk Group, Tappytoon, Toomics Global Co. Ltd., and ToryWorks Co. Ltd., among many others. In January 2025, Kakao Corp., a South Korean Internet conglomerate, introduced four new webtoons, featuring fantasy and thriller genres, that gained popularity on Kakao Webtoon and Kakao Page. It presented 'Black Haze', a remake of the webtoon released 13 years prior, enhancing both the world-building and character design beyond the original version.

Global Webtoons Market Segmentation Coverage

• On the basis of the type, the market has been categorized into comedy, action, sci-fi, horror, romance, and others, wherein comedy represents the leading segment. It appeals to a wide audience and offers a lighthearted escape from daily life. Many readers enjoy short, fun, and easy-to-digest stories that provide quick laughs and entertainment. Comedy webtoons often have related characters and situations, making them interesting to people of all ages. Additionally, humor-based content is more popular on social media and mobile platforms. Since comedy is versatile, it can be mixed with other genres, creating unique and engaging webtoons that attract more people.
• Based on the revenue model, the market has been bifurcated into subscription based and advertisement based, amongst which advertisement based dominates the market. It allows creators and platforms to offer free content to a wide audience while still generating income. By displaying ads within or around webtoons, platforms can entice a larger user base since individuals do not have to pay. This model works well, especially with mobile users who prefer free access to digital content. It also benefits advertisers, as webtoons often attract a younger and tech-savvy demographic that is ideal for targeted advertising.
• On the basis of the application, the market has been divided into mobile, laptop, tablets, and television. Among these, mobile accounts for the majority of the market share because they provide the easiest and most accessible means for individuals to read and enjoy webtoons while on the move. With mobile applications, people can conveniently enjoy webtoons at any time and place, whether they are on the go or waiting. The compact screen of smartphones makes them ideal for short forms of entertainment. Moreover, mobile applications frequently offer tailored suggestions, enhancing user involvement. As most people own smartphones, mobile platforms have become the preferred option for webtoon consumption.