Free dailies around the world saw a 13 percent rise in circulation in 2007 – almost the slowest ever, Newspaper Innovation reported Friday.

Total free daily circulation reached 42 million this year, but growth was in nearly its slowest year. In 1996, free dailies only grew 8 percent, while 2003 saw growth of only 10 percent.

In 2008, growth is also expected to be modest, unless new markets, such as China, Germany or India, open up, Newspaper Innovation reported.

“But then again, a two-digit growth is still pretty impressive,” wrote Newspaper Innovation's Piet Bakker, a leading free dailies expert.

The number of launches outweighed closures in 2007.

In Europe: Matin Plus launched in Croatia, BretagnePlus launched in France, Sübdeutsche Zeitung launched a lite edition, Luxembourg and Slovenia gained their first free papers, and new titles popped up in the Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and Ukraine. More than 25 titles (70 editions) were launched in total in 2007.

For the Americas: In Canada, Metro, 24heures and Rush Hour launched six new editions. In the United States, Boston gained a second free daily, while La Estrella went weekly. Metro also launched in Brazil.

In Asia, the Mid-East, Africa and Australia: In South Korea, a free daily shut down after only a few months and a free evening daily launched. In China and Taiwan, new titles were launched. Two new titles launched in South Africa, one launched in Morocco and two launched in Israel. In Australia, mX launched a third edition.

Closures in the free dailies sector include:

• More than a dozen titles (30 editions) closed this year, beginning with Metro Poland, after a six-year advertising war with publisher Agora. The last closure was Bonnier's City Göteburg in Sweden.

• Denmark: Four titles closed: Dato, Centrum (two editions), Xtra (Odense) and JP Arhus+ merged with 24timer.

• Spain: Metro's Elache edition closed, as well as El Micalet in Valencia and Que Pasa in Malaga.

• Austria: OK Graz and Kärnten (Styria) closed, once Heute ended the Graz edition.

• Germany: Die Sportzeitung and Business News closed.

• In Portugal: Diario Desportivo went bankrupt.

• Italy: sports24 closed.

• UK: Argus Lite went weekly.

• Hungary: Busz in Budapest survived only several weeks.

To read Piet Bakker's full article on Newspaper Innovation, click here.