90+ Reading Statistics, Facts and Demographics

In this article, we will dive into 60 reading statistics that shed light on the importance of reading and its impact on different aspects of life.

Published on

May 27, 2024

90+ Reading Statistics, Facts and Demographics

"Books are a uniquely portable magic." – Stephen King, On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft

10 Key Reading Statistics

More than 50% of Americans read at least one book per month. (Pew Research Center)
65% of Americans prefer print books over e-books. (Pew Research Center)
43% of Americans who read e-books also read print books. (Pew Research Center)
The average American reads 12 books per year. (Pew Research Center)
80% of Americans say they read for pleasure. (Pew Research Center)
The most popular genre among American readers is mystery/thriller/suspense (25%), followed by general fiction (21%). (Goodreads)
90% of college students prefer print textbooks over e-books. (Pearson Education)
The most read book in the world is the Bible, with over 5 billion copies sold since it was first printed in 1455. (Guinness World Records)
Children who are read to for 20 minutes per day are exposed to 1.8 million words per year.
28% of Americans read e-books on their smartphones.

Chart: Reading For Pleasure Declines in Popularity | Statista

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How Many People Love Reading? Worldwide Statistics

Only 5% of adults in the world are considered proficient readers. (UNESCO)

In the United States, 14% of adults are considered functionally illiterate and cannot read above a basic level. (National Center for Education Statistics)
In India, the average person reads for only 10 minutes per day. (National Youth Readership Survey)
On average, people in China read for 8 hours and 27 minutes per week, making them some of the most active readers in the world. (Global Times)
In Europe, women tend to read more than men, with women reading an average of 12 books per year compared to men's average of 9 books per year. (Eurostat)
In Japan, people read an average of 4 books per year, which is lower than many other developed countries. (The Asahi Shimbun)
In South Korea, adults read an average of 10 minutes per day, which is among the lowest in the OECD. (OECD)
In Singapore, the government has launched initiatives to encourage reading and increase literacy rates. As of 2018, the literacy rate was 97.2%. (Ministry of Education)
In Indonesia, the average person reads for only 30 minutes per week, one of the lowest rates in the world. (Jakarta Post)
In Vietnam, despite a strong tradition of reading, many people do not have access to books or reading materials. As of 2015, the literacy rate was 95%. (UNESCO)

Why Do People Love to Read?

48% of readers say they enjoy reading because it helps them relax. (Pew Research Center)
44% of readers say they enjoy reading because it is entertaining. (Pew Research Center)
29% of readers say they enjoy reading because it allows them to learn new things. (Pew Research Center)
26% of readers say they enjoy reading because it helps them escape reality. (Pew Research Center)
18% of readers say they enjoy reading because it challenges their thinking. (Pew Research Center)

Average Reading Level In The U.S.

According to the National Assessment of Educational Progress, only 37% of fourth-graders and 36% of eighth-graders in the United States are proficient readers.
Approximately 21% of adults in the United States read below a fifth-grade level.
Only 13% of US adults are considered proficient readers, meaning they can understand complex and abstract information.
About 50% of adults with the lowest literacy rates live below the poverty line.
In terms of reading proficiency by state, Massachusetts has the highest percentage (56%) of proficient readers in the country, while New Mexico has the lowest percentage (21%).

Reading Demographics

Women are more likely to be avid readers than men, with 77% of women and 67% of men reading at least one book in the past year. (Pew Research Center)

Among Americans aged 18-29, 80% have read a book in the past year, compared to 70% of those aged 50-64. (Pew Research Center)
White adults are more likely to read books than black or Hispanic adults, with 74% of whites having read a book in the past year compared to 67% of blacks and 58% of Hispanics. (Pew Research Center)
Individuals with higher levels of education are more likely to be readers than those with less education. For example, college graduates are nearly twice as likely as those who did not graduate high school to have read a book in the past year. (Pew Research Center)
People living in households earning $75,000 or more per year are more likely to be readers than those earning less than $30,000 per year. (Pew Research Center)

Children and Reading Proficiency

66% of fourth-grade students in the United States are not proficient readers. (National Assessment of Educational Progress)
Children who are read to at least three times per week are twice as likely to score in the top 25% on reading assessments. (National Education Association)
Only 20% of low-income children have access to books in their homes. (Reading Is Fundamental)
In households with incomes below the poverty line, only one book is available for every 300 children, compared to 13 books for every child in middle-income neighborhoods. (Neuman & Celano, 2001)

Statistics About Struggling Readers and Reading Growth — Source: We Are Teachers

Reading vs. Watching Movies

According to a survey conducted by the Harris Poll, 72% of people prefer to read books rather than watch movies or TV shows.
Only 9% of respondents said they prefer movies over books, while 19% had no preference.
Among those who preferred reading over watching movies, reasons cited included the ability to use their imagination (80%), the opportunity to learn something new (57%), and the ability to relax (55%).
On the other hand, among those who preferred watching movies over reading, reasons cited included being able to visually experience a story (86%) and it requiring less effort than reading (44%).

How Many People Love Reading in North Carolina?

According to the National Assessment of Educational Progress, only 35% of fourth-grade students in North Carolina were proficient in reading in 2019.
In 2020, the percentage of adults who reported not reading any books at all over the course of a year was highest among residents of North Carolina, Mississippi, and Louisiana.
In 2018, approximately 36% of adults in North Carolina reported reading literature for pleasure within the past year.
The number of library visits per capita has been steadily increasing since 2015 and reached an average of 4.2 visits per person in North Carolina public libraries during fiscal year 2018-19.

U.S. Book Industry Statistics & Sales

In 2020, the total revenue of the US book publishing industry was $25.93 billion, an increase of 1.8% from the previous year.
Trade books (fiction and non-fiction) made up the largest share of book sales in 2020 at 68%, followed by educational materials (16%), professional books (14%), and university press and scholarly titles (2%).
E-books accounted for approximately 15% of all book sales in the US in 2020.
Print books still dominate the market with a share of about 80% of all book sales in 2020.
Amazon is the largest seller of books in the US, accounting for more than half of all print and e-book purchases in 2020.
The children's/young adult category was one of the fastest-growing segments of the industry in recent years, with a growth rate of over 15% from 2019 to 2020.
In terms of genres, adult non-fiction saw the highest growth rate at nearly 10% from 2019 to 2020, followed by graphic novels and comics at just over 6%.

How Many Books Do People Read Per Year Worldwide?

In the United States, adults read an average of 12 books per year. (Pew Research Center)

In Japan, people read an average of 4 books per year. (The Asahi Shimbun)
In France, adults read an average of 7 books per year. (Livres Hebdo)
In China, adults read an average of 8 books per year. (Global Times)
In India, the average person reads just under 11 hours a week or about one book every two weeks. (National Youth Readership Survey)
In Germany, adults read an average of 4 books per month or about 48 books per year. (Statista)
In Canada, the average adult reads 17 books per year. (BookNet Canada)

How Many People Actually Read Regularly?

According to a survey conducted by the National Endowment for the Arts, 52% of American adults read literature (novels, short stories, poetry, or plays) in 2017.
A study by BookNet Canada found that 89% of Canadians had read a book at some point in their lives and that 74% had done so in the past year.
In the United Kingdom, a survey by The Reading Agency found that 67% of adults had read a book or listened to an audiobook in the past year.
In Australia, a survey by Macquarie University found that 95% of Australians read for pleasure and that the average person reads for just over six hours per week.
In India, a survey by Nielsen Book found that 25% of Indian adults read books daily and that an additional 20% read several times per week.

Benefits of Reading

Reading for just six minutes can reduce stress levels by 68%. (University of Sussex)
Reading can improve brain connectivity and function, with studies showing that reading regularly can help delay cognitive decline in old age. (Frontiers in Psychology)
Students who read for pleasure have higher academic achievement compared to those who do not read for pleasure. (National Literacy Trust)
People who read fiction have better social cognition, or the ability to understand and empathize with others' emotions and perspectives. (Science Advances)
Reading before bed can improve sleep quality by reducing stress levels and promoting relaxation. (Sleep Advisor)
Children who are read to at home have better language development and literacy skills than those who are not read to. (American Academy of Pediatrics)

Scholastic's Kids & Family Reading Report: Insights From the US, UK, India and Australia — Source: Publishing Perspective

Reading and Education

Students who read for fun on a daily basis perform better in school than those who don't. (Scholastic)
Children who are read to for 20 minutes per day are exposed to 1.8 million words per year. (American Academy of Pediatrics)
The more students read, the better their reading skills become. (National Center for Education Statistics)
Students who read more than 15 minutes per day show significant improvement in reading fluency. (University of Michigan)
Reading aloud to children improves their reading skills and helps them develop a love for reading. (American Academy of Pediatrics)

Reading and Technology

72% of American adults have read a book in the past year. (Pew Research Center)
42% of Americans own an e-reader or a tablet. (Pew Research Center)
28% of Americans read e-books on their smartphones. (Pew Research Center)
Reading on a screen can lead to eye strain and fatigue. (Harvard Health Publishing)
Reading on a screen can reduce comprehension and retention compared to reading print materials. (Scientific American)

Fun Facts About Reading

Approximately 50% of all books are sold on Amazon. (Statista)
The most expensive book ever sold was a copy of Leonardo da Vinci's Codex Leicester, which was bought by Bill Gates for $30.8 million in 1994. (Business Insider)
In Iceland, it is a Christmas tradition to exchange books and spend the evening reading together. (Culture Trip)
The longest sentence ever published in literature can be found in William Faulkner's novel "Absalom, Absalom!" and is 1,288 words long. (The Culture Trip)
The first book ever printed was the Gutenberg Bible in 1455. Only 49 copies are known to exist today. (Library of Congress)
J.K. Rowling is the first billionaire author and has sold over 500 million copies of her Harry Potter series worldwide. (Forbes)
The most read book in the world is the Bible, with over 5 billion copies sold since it was first printed in 1455. (Guinness World Records)

FAQs

How do you define "reading"?

The definition of "reading" can vary depending on the context. For the purposes of many reading surveys, however, it typically refers to reading books, magazines, newspapers, or other written materials.

What counts as a "book"?

Again, this can vary depending on the survey or study being conducted. In general, though, a book is usually defined as a bound collection of pages that contains written text.

Are audiobooks included in reading statistics?

This can depend on the survey or study being conducted. Some surveys may include audiobooks in their definition of "reading," while others may not.

How accurate are reading statistics?

As with any type of survey or study, there is always some margin of error involved in collecting and analyzing data on reading habits. However, researchers generally use rigorous methods to ensure that their findings are as accurate and representative as possible.

Why are reading statistics important?

Reading statistics can provide valuable insights into how people consume information and entertainment, as well as how education systems and publishing industries are performing. By examining trends in reading habits over time, researchers can also identify potential areas for improvement and develop strategies for promoting literacy and a love of reading among different populations.

Conclusion

In conclusion, reading is a fundamental aspect of our lives that provides numerous benefits. It allows us to learn new things, expand our knowledge and imagination, reduce stress levels, and improve our cognitive abilities.

Statistics show that many people still prefer reading over other forms of entertainment, but promoting literacy and a love of reading among different populations is essential.

By recognizing the importance of reading and making it more accessible to everyone, we can create a society that is better educated, informed and empathetic towards others. So why not pick up a book or e-reader today? Let's explore the world through the power of words!