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Australia Reads

Key statistics on reading

Want to cite the latest research around reading in your newsletters, articles, bookstores, or schools? Explore some key statistics on reading.

Reading rates in Australia

  • Australians love reading, with over two thirds of the population (aged 15+) reading for pleasure – that’s 14.3 million Australians.1
  • Australians want to read more – with around half of Australians (54.9% of Readers and 49.8% of Non-Readers) say they read less than they intend to.2
  • One in five Australians connect through written stories by attending in-person literature events – making them the second most highly engaged group of arts goers.3 
  • Young men aged 15–24 are the least likely to read recreationally in Australia.4
  • 29% of Australian secondary school students don’t read for pleasure in their free time5 – rising to 52.6% in some States.6
  • 44% of Australians have low or very low literacy.7
  • 1 in 3 Australian children can’t read proficiently, or 8 children in every classroom of 24 students.8
  • Over 2.3 million Australian adults lack the basic literacy skills to complete necessary everyday tasks.9
  • The economic impact of illiteracy on the Australian economy may be as high as $44 billion annually.10

Early years and family reading

  • 86% of Australian children (age 6-17) love having books read aloud at home or like it a lot – the main reason being because it is a special time with parents.11
  • 25% of Australian parents rarely or never read with their children.12
  • Gen Z parents are more likely to be unaware of the importance of reading aloud from birth than older generations.13
  • Just under half of Australian parents with children aged 0–5 (47%) received the advice that children should be read aloud to from birth, most commonly from friends and family; however, only one-quarter of parents (26%) from the lowest-income households received this advice vs. 65% in the highest-income households.14
  • One in five parents stop reading aloud to their child before age 9, most often citing reasons related to their child being able to read independently. Of those children aged 6–8 whose parents no longer read books aloud at home, half (51%) did not want their parents to stop.15
  • Children who experience reading with a caregiver are more likely to read independently once their reading skills develop.16
  • Three in four (74%) Australian parents believe that reading to their child provides them with an important bonding experience and helps them to connect.17

Reading and children

  • 74% of children agree that reading fiction and nonfiction is a way to help them understand the world.18
  • 89% of children (age 6-17) agree their favourite books are the ones that they have picked out themselves.19
  • Reading for pleasure most days at age 7 was significantly related to lower hyperactivity/inattention at age 11.20

Reading and young adults

  • 54% of teenagers read more than once a week – with 15% reading daily.21
  • 29% of secondary school students don’t read for pleasure in their free time.22
  • Reading is four times more influential on intellectual progress in teens than having a parent with a degree.23
  • Exposure to larger home libraries in adolescence has a positive direct effect on adult literacy, numeracy, and information and communications technology skills.24

Reading and schools

  • Australian children aged 6–17 who are given time for independent reading at school are more likely to be reading currently and frequently, and are more likely to enjoy reading books for fun.25
  • Australian children whose principal encourages reading books for fun are more likely than those without encouragement from their principal to read frequently, to think reading is important and to love reading books for fun or like it a lot.26
  • 48% of Australian teens said that having more good books at their school library would help them read more.27

Physical and mental health benefits of reading

  • Reading fiction for just five minutes can reduce stress by nearly 20%.28
  • 43% of readers said reading helps them get a better night’s sleep.29
  • A 20% reduction in mortality is observed for those who read books (30 mins a day), compared to those who do not read books.30
  • Those who read 30 mins a week are 18% more likely to report an increase in self-esteem and greater life satisfaction.31
  • Adults who read almost every day had a substantially lower risk of being diagnosed with depression.32
  • 75% of school pupils report a better understanding of mental health after such a dedicated book collection on mental health and wellbeing was made available.33
  • One in five (19%) of readers say that reading stops them from feeling lonely.34
  • Comfort is one of the top emotions associated with reading by Australians.35

Australian buying and borrowing habits

  • Print books remain the most popular format, with 75.8% of surveyed Australians preferring them.36
  • Almost one in three Australians listen to audio books (31%).37
  • More than half of Australians aged 15–34 years read e-books (55%).38
  • Young Australians aged 15–24 are more likely to read graphic novels or comics.39
  • On average, Australians borrow six books a year from public libraries.40
  • Australian bookstores sell around 69 million books a year – at a total value of $1.29 billion.41 

Last updated December 2025

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References

  1. Creative Australia (2022) Creating Value: Results of the National Arts Participation Survey ↩︎
  2. Wright, B., Lennox, A. & Mata, F. (2025) Understanding Australian readers: Behavioural insights into recreational reading. ↩︎
  3. Creative Australia (2022) Creating Value: Results of the National Arts Participation Survey ↩︎
  4. ABS (2024). How Australian generations spent their time on recreation and leisure ↩︎
  5. L. Rutherford, A. Singleton, B. Reddan, K. Johanson, M. Dezuanni (2024). Discovering a Good Read: Exploring Book Discovery and Reading for Pleasure Among Australian Teens. Deakin University. ↩︎
  6. Zhou M, Maher C, Brinkman S, Cools J, Dumuid D. Postpandemic (2025). After-School Activities Among Youths in Australia ↩︎
  7. ABS (2013). Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies, Australia ↩︎
  8. Hunter, J., Stobart, A., and Haywood, A. (2023). The Reading Guarantee: How to give every child the best chance of success. Grattan Institute ↩︎
  9. Del Rio J, Jones K (2023) Saving money by spending: solving illiteracy in Australia. ↩︎
  10. Del Rio J, Jones K (2023) Saving money by spending: solving illiteracy in Australia. ↩︎
  11. Scholastic. (2015) Kids and Family Reading Report
    ↩︎
  12. Oxford Children’s Language Australia (2021). Gift of Words Report ↩︎
  13. NielsenIQ BookData & HarperCollins UK (2024) Understanding the Children’s Book Consumer ↩︎
  14. Scholastic (2015). Kids and Families Reading Report: Australia ↩︎
  15. Scholastic (2015). Kids and Families Reading Report: Australia ↩︎
  16. Tremblay, B. & Rodrigues, ML. & Martin-Chang, S. (2020) ‘From Storybooks to Novels: A Retrospective Approach Linking Print Exposure in Childhood to Adolescence’ ↩︎
  17. Oxford Children’s Language Australia (2021). Gift of Words Report ↩︎
  18. Scholastic. (2019) Kids and Family Reading Report: Finding Their Story (US) ↩︎
  19. Scholastic. (2019) Kids and Family Reading Report: Finding Their Story (US) ↩︎
  20. Mak, Hei Wan & Fancourt, Daisy (2020). ‘Longitudinal associations between reading for pleasure and child maladjustment: Results from a propensity score matching analysis‘ ↩︎
  21. L. Rutherford, A. Singleton, B. Reddan, K. Johanson, M. Dezuanni (2024). Discovering a Good Read: Exploring Book Discovery and Reading for Pleasure Among Australian Teens. Deakin University. ↩︎
  22. L. Rutherford, A. Singleton, B. Reddan, K. Johanson, M. Dezuanni (2024). Discovering a Good Read: Exploring Book Discovery and Reading for Pleasure Among Australian Teens. Deakin University. ↩︎
  23. Sullivan, A., & Brown, M. ‘Social inequalities in cognitive scores at age 16: The role of reading’. ↩︎
  24. Sikora, J. & Evans, M.D.R. & Kelley,J. (2019) ‘Scholarly culture: How books in adolescence enhance adult literacy, numeracy and technology skills in 31 societies’ ↩︎
  25. Scholastic (2015). Kids and Families Reading Report: Australia ↩︎
  26. Scholastic (2015). Kids and Families Reading Report: Australia ↩︎
  27. Rutherford, L. & Johansen, K. et. al. (2017) Teen Reading in the Digital Era: Platforms, Access and Diversity, Snapshot Report of the Teen Reading Pilot Study. Deakin University ↩︎
  28. The Queen’s Reading Room. (2024) The Queen’s Reading Room Study ↩︎
  29. Billington, J. (2015). ‘Reading between the Lines: the Benefits of Reading for Pleasure. University of Liverpool. ↩︎
  30. Bavishi, A. & Slade, MD. & Levy, BR. (2016) ‘A chapter a day: Association of book reading with longevity’ ↩︎
  31. Billington, J. (2015). ‘Reading between the Lines: the Benefits of Reading for Pleasure. University of Liverpool. ↩︎
  32. Weziak-Bialowolska, D. & Bialowolski, P. & Sacco, P.L. (2023) ‘Mind-stimulating leisure activities: Prospective associations with health, wellbeing, and longevity’ ↩︎
  33. Polley, M. & Kovandzic, M. (2017). ‘Evaluation of the Reading Well for young people Scheme’. ↩︎
  34. Billington, J. (2015). ‘Reading between the Lines: the Benefits of Reading for Pleasure. University of Liverpool. ↩︎
  35.  Wright, B., Lennox, A. & Mata, F. (2025) Understanding Australian readers: Behavioural insights into recreational reading. ↩︎
  36. Wright, B., Lennox, A. & Mata, F. (2025) Understanding Australian readers: Behavioural insights into recreational reading. ↩︎
  37. Australia Council for the Arts. (2019) Creating Our Future: Results of the National Arts and Participation Survey ↩︎
  38. Australia Council for the Arts. (2019) Creating Our Future: Results of the National Arts and Participation Survey ↩︎
  39.  Creative Australia (2022) Creating Value: Results of the National Arts Participation Survey ↩︎
  40. National and State Libraries Australasia (2024). Australian public libraries statistical report ↩︎
  41. Nielsen Bookscan Australia. (2024) Australian Market Report ↩︎