New international data from the European and International Book Federation shows that Australia is behind other countries when it comes to reading rates.
The report found that 80% of Australians have read a book in the last 12 months, and 64% of Australians bought a book in the past year. While these figures might sound high, they sit slightly below the average of 85%, and 72% respectively across 19 surveyed countries, and do represent a downward trend, particularly amongst younger age groups.
The study draws on data from the 9500 global respondents who took part in the study’s online quantitative survey to investigate topics such as book buying and reading habits, most purchased genres across all sales channels, and places of purchase.
Looking at Australian consumer habits, the report found that paper books remain the favourite format, but that e-book and audiobooks are more popular among Australians as, respectively, 34% and 23% of readers purchased this format. Readers are open to buying second-hand as 39% have bought such books. However, the new book market remains prevalent (90%)
As in other countries, fiction is the favourite genre, followed by biographies and memoirs. Overall, most Australians buy both online and in physical shops, and Australians were above their international counterparts in preferring to shop in a physical store. The report states: “When purchasing in independent physical bookshops, the wide selection of books and the ease in buying represent the main motivations to purchase in those shops.”
Regular reading for pleasure has lifelong benefits for mental and physical health, education, employment, and civic life. Research shows that people who read regularly report higher self-esteem, are less lonely, and are 58% more likely to empathise with others. Reading slows the heart rate, reduces stress and can even extend our lives. High reading rates are acknowledged globally as a sign of a healthy, democratic society.
Despite these benefits, the latest findings tie in with major recent Australian research which shows that recreational reading rates across all age groups are in decline – with 44% of Australians having low literacy and almost 30% of Australians having not read or listened to a single book in a year – an even larger proportion of the population than suggested by this recent international study.
As Anna Burkey from Australia Reads says in her interview with ABC Radio National: “We need to be doing a lot more to support reading and line up with what other countries are doing to invest in reading.”
Want to find out more?
Listen back to Anna Burkey from Australia Reads talking about the findings on ABC Radio National, or read an analysis of the data by Professor Katya Johanson in The Conversation.
You can also find out more about Australia Reads’ advocacy work, and join the mission to get more Australians reading.