Global daily newspaper circulation reached 551.2 million in 2006, with a five-year growth rate of 14.2 percent, up from 482.7 million at the beginning of 2002, according to ZenithOptimedia and the World Association of Newspapers.

Paid-for daily newspaper circulation reached 510.4 million in 2006, up 8.7 percent from 2002, when circulation was at about 469.5 million.

On the other hand, free dailies have a relative stronger growth rate compared to paid papers. Circulation for free dailies was at 13.2 million , and boomed to 40.8 million in 2006.

Paid-for dailies grew only 1.9 percent from 2005 to 2006, while the overall dailies were up 4.3 percent, according to ZenithOptimedia and WAN's World Press Trends 2007.