Do you have a reading target each year or do you just pick a book randomly? I had a target of one book per week once upon a time. It went well for a few months I must say. I know..no excuses right? i must get back into hardcore eading habits. Warren Buffet himself spends hours per day reading: what is my excuse..or yours..lets stick with yours for now…

The average number of books read per year varies by country, with the United States at the top with an average of 17 books annually, followed closely by India (16 books) and the United Kingdom (15 books). Other countries with high averages include France (14 books) and Italy (13 books), while many other nations fall below seven books per year, with Afghanistan at the lowest with about 2.56 books   

Countries also rank differently when measured by hours spent reading per week, with India, Thailand, and China leading in that metric, which may reflect differences in reading speed or book length

Based on recent data from 2024/2025, the United States and India lead in the average number of books read per year per person, with 17 and 16 books, respectively

Top countries by average books read per year

• • United States: 17 books
  • India: 16 books
  • United Kingdom: 15 books
  • France: 14 books
  • Italy: 13 books
  • Canada: 12 books
  • Russia: 11 books
  • Australia: 10 books
  • Spain: 9 books
  • Netherlands: 8 books

These statistics are generally derived from surveys and vary depending on the methodology, sample size, and type of books (print, e-book, audiobook) included. The United States , for example, has also shown a median number of 5 books read per year, indicating that a significant portion of the population reads far fewer books than the average suggests

Other countries

• • Switzerland: 6.9 books
  • Taiwan: 6.83 books
  • Belgium: 6.76 books
  • Singapore: 6.72 books
  • Hong Kong: 6.66 books
  • South Africa: 6.62 books
  • China: 6.61 books
  • Japan: 6.2 books
  • Afghanistan: 2.56 books

The Most-Read Books

The list of the most-read books of all time includes the Holy Bible as number one and the Holy Quran at number two. The Harry Potter Series, collections of quotes from The Quotations from Chairman Mao Tse Tung (former Communist China Party leader), and Lord of the Rings are several of the other most read books.

High book reading rates in India and the United States stem from a mix of robust cultural emphasis on education, high accessibility to reading materials (both physical and digital), and significant socioeconomic factors

India

• Strong Emphasis on Education and Knowledge: Indian culture places a high value on learning and knowledge, which makes reading a common and popular leisure activity across all age groups. Schools often place high importance on cultivating a passion for books, with regular book festivals (like the Jaipur Literature Festival) and school book weeks.

• Growing Middle Class and Literacy Rates: The expansion of the economy has led to a growing middle class with rising disposable incomes, who are more willing to invest in books and educational materials. Combined with consistently increasing national literacy rates, this creates a larger pool of potential readers.
• Accessibility and Affordability: The rise of e-commerce platforms has made books more accessible, while the availability of cheap, easily accessible material, especially non-literary fiction, caters to a wide audience.
• Diverse Literary Ecosystem: A rich cultural landscape drives demand for vernacular literature and supports local authors, ensuring a wide range of content is available to diverse demographics

United States

• High Access and Availability: The U.S. benefits from widespread access to books through extensive library systems, major bookstores, and online retailers. The prevalence of e-readers and e-books further increases accessibility.

• Educational System and Literacy: Historically, foundational laws mandated basic education, contributing to a culture of widespread literacy. While literacy challenges exist in some demographics, the overall educational infrastructure encourages reading from a young age, with a focus on literacy skills in schools and among parents.
• Demand for Information and Entertainment: Americans seek information, entertainment, and distraction through books, with an increasing desire for comfort and understanding in uncertain times. The availability of diverse genres (fiction, non-fiction, history, mystery) caters to varied interests.
• Strong Publishing Industry: A robust and competitive publishing industry ensures a constant flow of new titles, supported by a large market that can sustain demand for niche subjects and popular bestsellers

United Kingdom

High book reading rates in the UK (averaging 15 books per year per person) are driven by a combination of a strong foundational culture of literacy, high book accessibility, and government and charity-led initiatives

• Established Culture of Literacy: The UK has a long-standing emphasis on education and a very high overall literacy rate (around 99%). A strong historical appreciation for literature is embedded in the national culture, with books and reading often valued activities within the home environment from an early age.

• Early Exposure to Books: Research consistently shows a significant link between children owning books at home and their likelihood of reading above their expected age level. Early exposure to books in the parental home establishes routines that enhance lifelong reading habits and cognitive competencies.
• Extensive Public Library System: The UK has a widespread network of public and school libraries that provides easy and free access to a vast array of reading materials, catering to diverse interests and socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Active Promotion of Reading for Pleasure: Numerous government initiatives and charities, such as the National Literacy Trust and The Reading Agency, run campaigns and programs to promote reading for enjoyment. Events like World Book Day also help to maintain enthusiasm for reading across the population.
• Robust Publishing Industry: The UK has a large and vibrant publishing sector that produces a constant flow of new, diverse titles across all genres, supported by major booksellers and online retailers, ensuring a wide variety of choices for readers.
• Socioeconomic Factors: While socioeconomic disparities in reading habits exist, overall higher educational attainment and a large middle class with disposable income for book purchases contribute to the high national average

Data on book reading habits is primarily collected through surveys and data analytics from digital platforms, usually initiated by government organizations, industry associations, or market research companies. The methodologies vary by country, leading to challenges in international comparability

Common Survey Methods

• Personal Interviews: These are a dominant method, conducted either in-person or via telephone (Computer-Assisted Telephone Interviewing – CATI). This approach is used by organizations like the Pew Research Center in the US.

• Online Questionnaires: Web-based surveys are widely used due to their cost-effectiveness and reach. These often involve self-administered questionnaires.
• Mixed-Mode Approaches: Combining different methods (e.g., phone and online surveys, or mail and web) helps researchers achieve better representation across diverse populations.
• Time Use Surveys: These surveys ask individuals to report their activities within a specific 24-hour window, which can provide more detailed information on reading duration and reduce recall bias compared to general “how many books” questions. The American Time Use Survey (ATUS) is a notable example

Data from Digital Platforms

• E-reader Data: Data from e-reading devices (like Amazon Kindle) or library checkouts can offer insights, though this data is often proprietary and difficult to obtain for research purposes.

• Social Media Platforms: Researchers have collected data from book-cataloging social media platforms like Goodreads by utilizing their APIs to analyze user-reported reading instances

Sources

Measuring Reading – a European approach to comparability. Gvantsa Jobava June 25, 2021

https://internationalpublishers.org/measuring-reading-a-european-approach-to-comparability

A Global Book Reading Dataset by Nazanin Sabri and Ingmar Weber

https://www.mdpi.com/2306-5729/6/8/83

The decline in reading for pleasure over 20 years of the American Time Use Survey – Jessica K Bone , Feifei Bu , Jill K Sonke , Daisy Fancourt 

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12496190

Ranked: Countries That Reads The Most Books, 2024 – CEO World Magazine 

Which Country Reads The Most? Average Books Read Per Year By Country – Content Blvd 

Average number of books read per year by country – Lectupedia