The British Reader is in Decline as The Reading Agency Reveals Half of UK Adults Don’t Read Regularly
Half (50%) of UK adults don’t regularly read and almost one in four (24%) young people (16-24) say they’ve never been readers, according to research released by The Reading Agency today.[1]
Findings from its groundbreaking ‘Reading State of the Nation’ nationwide survey on adult reading in the UK, reveal a stark drop in reading for pleasure among adults.
This means that more than 27 million UK adults are missing out on the physical, mental and financial benefits that have been proven to come from reading more.[2] Evidence shows that per capita, incomes are higher in countries where more adults reach the highest levels of literacy proficiency.[3] Studies also indicate clear wellbeing impacts, with those who read for pleasure reporting higher levels of self-esteem and ability to cope with difficult situations and non-readers being 28% more likely to report feelings of depression.[4]
The new data from The Reading Agency reinforces this, with the nation’s regular readers experiencing a range of health benefits such as higher wellbeing and fewer feelings of loneliness than both lapsed and non-readers.
Other key findings include:
- Only 50% of UK adults now read regularly for pleasure, down from 58% in 2015.[5]
- 15% of UK adults have never read regularly for pleasure, an 88% increase since 2015.[6]
- 35% of UK adults are “lapsed readers” who used to read but have stopped.
- Young UK adults (16-24) face the most barriers to reading, with 24% saying they’ve never been regular readers.
The nationally representative survey of over 2,000 UK adults, the widest conducted since 2015, highlights several barriers to reading, with lack of time (33%) reported and the distraction of social media (20%) cited as the primary obstacles for many.
Other findings include:
- 11% of adults find reading difficult, rising to 22% among young people (aged 16-24).[7]
- 30% of UK adults struggle to finish what they’re reading.[8]
- 28% of UK adults have difficulty focusing on reading for more than a few minutes.[9]
But there is hope on the horizon, with 59% of respondents agreeing there are lots of things they want to read.[10]
Karen Napier, CEO of The Reading Agency, said: “Quite simply, reading is good for you. Lack of time is the biggest barrier to UK adults reading more, which makes the summer holidays the perfect opportunity to take time out and read. We would encourage anyone who hasn’t picked up a book or audiobook in a while, or who may have lost their confidence, to use this summer break to kick-start their reading habit.
“There are so many benefits gained from reading, but access can’t be taken for granted. Help is out there from accessible Quick Reads to support at your local library.
“Whether you’re reading on the beach or being transported to faraway lands from the comfort of your living room – reading really can change everything.”
Broadcaster and Ambassador for The Reading Agency, Lorraine Kelly, said: “The Reading Agency’s new research shows a worrying trend: fewer and fewer adults are reading for pleasure. As an author, I’ve seen firsthand how stories can change lives, spark imaginations, and create connections. The Reading Agency is dedicated to helping every adult access these benefits to create a society where everyone can thrive.”
Amanda Prowse, author and Ambassador for The Reading Agency said: “I was a little girl who grew up in a house without any books. The day I walked into a library is one I’ll never forget. With a book in my hand, I was able to travel in my mind, curled on the sofa. I could shut out noise, close out chaos and feed my imagination. To help someone discover books, to encourage reading, is I think, one of the greatest acts of human kindness. It does good. It changes lives. It certainly changed mine.”
The Reading Agency delivers a range of initiatives and activities to support adult readers, working in close partnership with publishers, libraries, colleges, workplaces and prisons. Their Quick Reads, written by best-selling authors and household names, are available for just £1 at bookshops and are free to borrow from libraries. The charity also delivers Reading Ahead, a scheme which engages people in the joy of reading, often for the first time, as well as the Road to Reading, a programme to inspire people to read for 30 minutes or more for a 10-week period.
The Reading Agency plans to release additional reports in the coming months, focusing on attitudes towards reading and the advantages of becoming a regular reader. Visit www.readingagency.org.uk for more information.
Follow the latest developments on social media:
#RebootReading @ReadingAgency
[1] The research was conducted by Censuswide with 2,003 UK nationally representative consumers (aged 16+), between 02/04/24 – 04/04/24. Censuswide abide by and employ members of the Market Research Society which is based on the ESOMAR principles and are members of The British Polling Council.
[2] Extrapolation calculated using the inverse percentage of ‘I regularly read for pleasure’ multiplied the ONS 2022 mid-year UK population figures (aged16+): 0.517 x 55,190,347 = 27,688,997.0899
[3] OECD (2013) OECD Skills Outlook 2013: First Results From the Survey of Adult Skills
[4] Billington, J, (2015) Reading between the Lines: the Benefits of Reading for Pleasure Quick Reads, University of Liverpool
[5] Data from 2015 drawn from an online survey by Vision Critical conducted among 4,164 randomly selected British adults age 18+ from January 12-13 2015. The results have been statistically weighted according to the most current data on age, gender, region and education from the most recent census data to ensure the sample is representative of the entire adult population of the UK. In 2015, 58% indicated ‘I regularly read books for pleasure’.
[6] Methodology for 2015 as above. In 2015, 8% agreed ‘I don’t read books for pleasure now, and have never been a regular reader’.
[7] ‘Always somewhat difficult’, ‘Always very difficult’ and ‘Usually difficult but sometimes easy’ answers combined.
[8] ‘Somewhat like me’ and ‘Very much like me’ answers combined.
[9] ‘Somewhat like me’ and ‘Very much like me’ answers combined.
[10] ‘Somewhat like me’ and ‘Very much like me’ answers combined.
