Archive · 22 Aug 2025
Global Reading Crisis: Decline in Book Reading Across the World
Fewer people around the world are reading for fun.
Reading habits are dropping in countries like the U.S., the UK, and Denmark.
People are spending more time on phones and watching shows, taking away from reading time.
Reading helps your brain, makes you more empathetic, and can make you feel less stressed.
To encourage reading, some places are limiting phone use and starting reading programs.
Reading for pleasure is declining globally, with declines noted in the U.S., UK, Denmark, and Japan.
In the U.S., daily leisure reading among adults dropped from 28% in 2003 to 16% in 2023.
Experts attribute the decline to increased screen time, digital distractions, and reduced attention spans.
Some countries are trying to reverse this trend by restricting phone use in schools and launching reading initiatives.
Reading offers mental benefits, enhancing empathy and improving cognitive function, according to neuroscience.
- Who
- Children and adults
- What
- Decline in reading for pleasure worldwide
- When
- Over the past two decades
- Where
- Globally, including the U.S., UK, and Denmark
- Why
- Due to digital distractions, screen time, and changes in education.
- U.S. Reading Decline
- 40% in 20 years
- US Daily Leisure Reading (2003)
- 28%
- US Daily Leisure Reading (2023)
- 16%
- UK Reading Decline
- Lowest in two decades
- China Reading Habit (2023)
- 81.9%
