Annuals Published for Each Year Since 1960

A Chart of annuals published for each year (1960 to 2023)

Since 1960 , 2021, 2022 and 2024 have the lowest number of annuals published for the year at just 23 annuals each (as featured on my website)...


All data based on annuals as featured on my website and not necessarily every single annual ever published (does not include 'gaming' annuals nor 'sports/football' annuals).
CHART UPDATED 16 DECEMBER 2024.

Annuals started to become popular from 1960 onwards, climbing in numbers to their peaks of popularity in the 1970s and 1980s, with an all-time high of 146 annuals for 1980. The dip in 1972 was due to the power cuts of the time, leading to printing presses not being able to run and several new comic releases being delayed (such as the Donald and Mickey comic which was due for release in February 1972 but was delayed until March). Several annuals were cancelled or postponed (which is why there wasn't a Doctor Who annual for 1972). From 1980 there has been a steady decline in the number of annuals published with a rapid drop from 1985 to 1997. There was a slow period of revival at lower levels from 1997 to 2011, but since 2011 (with the exception of a peak in 2015) the number has dropped to its lowest level with an all-time low of 23 annuals for 2021, 2022 and 2024.

The popularity of annuals has waned, with bookshops reluctant to stock them, often offering them at half price right from the day of release, and lumbered with leftover stock by January. With the decline of comics from 1985 onwards, many of the annuals disappeared as the comics did, and much of what was left was promotional items for the latest blockbuster movies and exceptionally popular TV programmes such as 'Doctor Who' and 'Thomas and Friends'. Whilst I doubt the 'Beano' and 'Dandy' annuals will dsappear anytime soon, I imagine that the number of annuals issued yearly will now slow and even out at about 20 or so annuals per year - time will tell.