The length of audited financial statements has increased by more than half over the last four years, according to new research.
A study by Deloitte shows that such documents now average 47 pages, a figure that is 57 per cent higher than in 2005.
Over the past year alone they expanded by six per cent and if this trend continues until 2020, the average length will top 100 pages.
Isobel Sharp, audit partner at Deloitte, said: "For the foreseeable future, financial statements will continue to get longer and longer as companies comply with the new rules that are coming into effect over the years ahead."
The fact that International Financial Reporting Standards include around 3,000 required disclosure points only adds to the length of the documents, she added.
Earlier this year, separate research by Deloitte revealed that the economic downturn had been reflected in firm's narrative reports.
The firm revealed that the number of companies discussing capital structure, financing and liquidity in their narrative reports doubled between 2008 and 2009.
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