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Australia Reads

National Reading Survey

The National Reading Survey explores how Australians read, borrow and buy books.

What proportion of Australians read for pleasure? How often do they read, and what are they reading? And how do Australians discover, buy, or borrow their next book?

The results of our inaugural National Reading Survey provide valuable insights for booksellers, publishers, librarians and the industry-at-large in our mission to understand and increase readership of Australian books.

Australian Readers at a glance


Explore key findings of our 2021 National Reading Survey including insights into reader demographics and habits, book-buying and lending practices, and more.

Download Key Findings

Download the full report


Read the full findings of the 2021 National Reading Survey.

Read the full report

75% of the general Australian population indicate they read or listen to at least one book (in any format) once a year

42% of Australian readers are occasional readers; reading 1 book every 15 weeks at most

43% of Australian readers agree that family and friends are their number one trusted source for reading recommendations

89% of Australian readers don’t really mind if the book they are reading is a newly released title or has been out for a while

What are the barriers to reading? – National Reading Survey

We explore some of the common barriers to reading identified as part of our National Reading Survey.
November 2021
November 2021
What are the barriers to reading? – National Reading Survey

We explore some of the common barriers to reading identified as part of our National Reading Survey.

November 2021

How are we buying and borrowing books? – National Reading Survey

We explore the book-buying and borrowing behaviours of Australian readers as revealed in our inaugural National Reading Survey.
November 2021
November 2021
How are we buying and borrowing books? – National Reading Survey

We explore the book-buying and borrowing behaviours of Australian readers as revealed in our inaugural National Reading Survey.

November 2021

Why are we reading? – National Reading Survey

What motivates you to pick up a book? In our latest article exploring findings from the National Reading Survey, we look at why readers read.
November 2021
November 2021
Why are we reading? – National Reading Survey

What motivates you to pick up a book? In our latest article exploring findings from the National Reading Survey, we look at why readers read.

November 2021

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