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Generation Alpha is made up of people born — or yet to be born — between 2010 and 2025.
They’re the first entirely 21st century generation. Their parents are Millennials, they siblings are Gen Zs and they’re the first completely digitally-native generation.
But, can Gen Alpha read? And do they love to read?
Find out in my updated Gen Alpha literacy and reading statistics and facts guide for 2025.
You can use this jump link to quickly jump to the KEY STATS section.
Also, all the references and resources I used in crafting my guide are listed at the bottom of the page.
Jump here: Key Gen Alpha Reading Statistics, Facts and Trends for this Year| Detailed Gen Alpha Reading Statistics, Facts and Trends for this Year
Table of Contents
Key Gen Alpha Reading Statistics, Facts and Trends for this Year
Key Gen Alpha Literacy and Reading Statistics, Facts and Trends for 2025
- Gen Alpha, born between 2010 and 2025, is expected to be the most literate generation in human history. (Source)
- By 2025, Gen Alpha is projected to make up 2 billion of the global population. By 2030, Gen Alpha will make up 11% of the total global workforce. (Source)
- 95% of Gen Alpha’s parents believe reading is essential for their child’s future success. (Source)
- Even though, on average, Gen Alpha children spend 2.5 hours per day on digital devices 72% of them prefer reading physical books over those delivered digitally. (Source)
- 85% of Gen Alpha’s parents read to their children at least 3 times a week. This parent’s activity helps the children do better in school. Studies have shown that Gen Alpha children who are read to regularly score 14% higher on reading comprehension tests. (Source)
- Roughly 50% of Christian parents of Gen Alpha children read the Bible together with their child. (Source)
- 68% of Gen Alpha children enjoy reading for pleasure. (Source)
- The average Gen Alpha child owns 50 books. (Source)
- 92% of Gen Alpha children have access to a tablet or smartphone at home. (Source)
- 45% of Gen Alpha children use educational reading apps. These 45% of children are mostly from the economically developed parts of the worlds with poorer regions of the word struggling to catch up. (Source)
- Gen Alpha children who read for pleasure are 29% more likely to pursue higher education.
- 78% of Gen Alpha parents believe technology enhances their child’s reading experience. (Source)
- The global children’s digital book market is expected to grow by 7% annually until 2025. By 2030 the projected value of the global market for children’s books will be $962.8 million. (Source)
- 60% of Gen Alpha children prefer stories with diverse characters and settings. (Source)
- Gen Alpha children who read regularly have a 23% larger vocabulary than those who don’t. (Source)
- 88% of schools serving Gen Alpha students have implemented some form of digital reading program. (Source)
- 55% of Gen Alpha children enjoy reading non-fiction books. (Source)
- Gen Alpha children read an average of 12 books per year or roughly one book a month. (Source)
- 70% of Gen Alpha’s parents use online resources to find book recommendations for their children. (Source)
- The audiobook market for children’s literature has grown by 25% since Gen Alpha began reading. (Source)
- 40% of Gen Alpha children participate in online book clubs or reading groups. (Source)
- Gen Alpha children who read for 20 minutes daily are exposed to 1.8 million words per year. (Source)
- 65% of Gen Alpha children prefer series books over standalone titles. (Source)
- Schools with strong reading programs report 30% higher engagement rates among Gen Alpha students. (Source)
Detailed Gen Alpha Reading Statistics, Facts and Trends for this Year
Which Generation is Expected to be the Most Literate in History?
Gen Alpha, born between 2010 and 2025, is expected to be the most literate generation in history.
This is because it’s the first generation born with infinite books/information in their hands (electronic devices through which they can read anytime they want and on any topic they wish). (Source)
How Many People Will Gen Alpha Comprise Globally by 2025?
By 2025, Gen Alpha is projected to make up 2 billion of the global population. By 2030, Gen Alpha will make up 11% of the total global workforce. (Source)
What Percentage of Gen Alpha Parents Believe Reading is Crucial for Their Child’s Future Success? What are They Doing to Ensure Their Children Read?
95% of Gen Alpha’s parents believe reading is essential for their child’s future success. To get them accustomed to reading from an early age parents of Gen Alpha children often read to them. In fact, 85% of Gen Alpha’s parents read to their children at least 3 times a week. (Source)
78% of Gen Alpha’s parents believe technology enhances their child’s reading experience and are actively encouraging their children to pick up a notepad or laptop and read. 70% of Gen Alpha’s parents also use online resources to find book recommendations for their children. (Source)
What Proportion of Gen Alpha Children Prefer Physical Books to Digital Formats?
Even though, on average, Gen Alpha children spend 2.5 hours per day on digital devices 72% of them prefer reading physical books over those delivered digitally (you can read my physical books vs e-books statistics guide here to learn more). (Source)
What Percentage of Gen Alpha Children Enjoy Reading for Pleasure?
68% of Gen Alpha children enjoy reading for pleasure. The good news here is that Gen Alpha children who are read to regularly (by their parents) or who read by themselves score 14% higher on reading comprehension tests. (Source)
Gen Alpha children who read regularly also have a 23% larger vocabulary than those who don’t (note: Gen Alpha children who read for just 20 minutes daily are exposed to 1.8 million words per year). (Source)
Finally, reading early on has large impact on later academic growth of these children. Gen Alpha children who read for pleasure are 29% more likely to pursue higher education. (Source)
How Many Books Does the Average Gen Alpha Child Own?
The average Gen Alpha child owns 50 books. This doesn’t mean Gen Alpha children read 50 books per year. No, on average, they read 12 books in any given year. (Source)
What Percentage of Gen Alpha Children Have Access to a Tablet or Smartphone at Home?
92% of Gen Alpha children have access to a tablet or smartphone at home. Gen Alpha children are the first generation to be born entirely in the 21st century and are exposed to digital devices practically from birth. (Source)
What Proportion of Gen Alpha Children Use Educational Reading Apps?
45% of Gen Alpha children use educational reading apps. These 45% of children are mostly from the economically developed parts of the worlds with poorer regions of the word struggling to catch up. But, as Gen Alpha literacy grows in poorer countries so will the overall usage of these helpful educational reading apps. (Source)
By What Percentage is the Global Children’s Digital Book Market Expected to Grow Annually Until 2025?
The global children’s digital book market is expected to grow by 7% annually until 2025. By 2030 the projected value of the global market for children’s books will reach $962.8 million. (Source)
Audio books are also getting increasingly popular with this generation. The audiobook market for children’s literature has grown by 25% since Gen Alpha began reading. (Source)
What Percentage of Gen Alpha Children Prefer Stories with Diverse Characters and Settings?
60% of Gen Alpha children prefer stories with diverse characters and settings. 55% of Gen Alpha children enjoy reading non-fiction books. 65% of Gen Alpha children prefer series books over standalone titles. Very few Gen Alpha’s read the Bible, arguably the most important book of them all. (Source)
However, a recent survey among Christian parents showed that roughly half of Christian parents of Generation Alpha read the Bible with their child.
What Percentage of Schools Serving Gen Alpha Students Have Implemented Some Form of Digital Reading Program?
88% of schools serving Gen Alpha students have implemented some form of digital reading program. 40% of Gen Alpha children participate in distance learning and online book clubs or reading groups organized by their schools.
Schools with strong reading programs report 30% higher engagement rates among Gen Alpha students. (Source)
Gen Alpha Literacy and Reading Statistics, Facts and Trends for 2025 FAQ
What Is Gen Alpha Brainrot (Definition)?
“Brainrot” is a slang term used to describe the way Generation Alpha speaks and thinks.
The way this generation thinks and speaks is different from the way other generations communicate. Gen Alphas speak is heavily influenced by they constant online engagement and being less present in the real world with “normal speak”.
Think of Gen Alpha brainrot as a collection of words and phrases that are in widespread usage within Gen Alpha children but that seem odd or even incomprehensible to members of other generations.
What Is the Attention Span of Generation Alpha?
The attention span of Gen Alpha is 9 seconds, 1 second longer than the attention span of Gen Z (8 seconds).
Can Generation Alpha Read?
Of course Generation Alpha children can read. They read an average of 12 books per year and they own an average of 50 physical books in their bookshelves.
Not only that, but 68% of Gen Alpha children enjoy reading for pleasure while other 32% don’t enjoy reading, but still read as part of their homework assignment.
Why Can’t Generation Alpha Read?
It is a misconception that Generation Alpha can’t read. They can read as you’ve seen in this statistics guide of mine.
This misconception arose because people assume the time Gen Alpha children spend behind their computers is the time they haven’t spent reading. But these same people forgot that it’s possible to read digital books and also listed to audio books on computers and mobile phones.
Audio books are especially helpful for Gen Alpha’s who’re both kinesthetic learners and auditory learners because they can learn verbally while moving their bodies (walking, jogging…).
What Are the Literacy and Illiteracy Rates for Generation Alpha?
The literacy rate for Generation Alpha is nearly 100%.
Most Gen Alpha children have some reading capability, but not all of them are equally proficient in reading.
For example, according to the NAEP, 67% of fourth graders in Generation Alpha are not proficient in reading, which is a 2% increase from 2019.
What Is the Reading Comprehension Level of Generation Alpha?
The same NAEP report showed that reading comprehension level of Gen Alpha is going down compare to other generations.
It’s not known why reading comprehension is taking a hit but the prevalent theory is that too much screen time is having a negative effect on reading abilities of Gen Alphas.
What Reading Problems Does Generation Alpha Face?
The common reading problems Generation Alpha face are lowered reading comprehension and slightly falling literacy rates. See the stats above for more details.
Gen Alpha Literacy and Reading Statistics, Facts and Trends for 2025 (Conclusion)
My updated guide for 2025 lists the best and latest statistics, facts and trends about Gen Alpha literacy and reading habits.
I hope you enjoyed it because the guide is now over.
During my research, I consulted these resources below:
References:
- Can kids (gen alpha) really not read?- https://www.reddit.com/r/Teachers/comments/1bpc4zy/can_kids_gen_alpha_really_not_read/
- Generation Alpha: Statistics, Data and Trends (2025)- https://explodingtopics.com/blog/generation-alpha-stats
- Generation Alpha Stats For 2025 (Insights & Trends)- https://www.demandsage.com/generation-alpha-stats/
- The internet says Generation Alpha can’t read. Is it because we’re raising ‘iPad children’?- https://www.thestar.com/life/the-internet-says-generation-alpha-cant-read-is-it-because-were-raising-ipad-children/article_9ec9c5c4-9f75-503d-9b87-5ac272407f60.html
- Literacy rates decrease in younger generations: What’s the issue, and can we solve it?-https://wildcatvoice.org/9164/showcase/literacy-rates-decrease-in-younger-generations-whats-the-issue-and-can-we-solve-it/
- Generation Alpha in the United States – statistics & facts- https://www.statista.com/topics/12495/generation-alpha-in-the-united-states/
- Feral, illiterate, doomed: Generation Alpha are a quarter of the world’s population, and people are worried about them- https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/family-relationships/article/3256887/feral-illiterate-doomed-generation-alpha-are-quarter-worlds-population-and-people-are-worried-about
- Generation Alpha- https://www.britannica.com/topic/Generation-Alpha
- What Educators Need to Know about Generation Alpha- https://www.edsurge.com/news/2024-02-02-what-educators-need-to-know-about-generation-alpha
- Millennials gave birth to ‘Generation Alpha.’ Are these kids already doomed?- https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-03-22/generation-alpha-millennial-children
- 10 Alarming Reasons Gen Alpha Is Struggling To Read- https://www.everybodylovesyourmoney.com/2024/03/21/10-alarming-reasons-gen-alpha-is-struggling-to-read.html
- Kids Today: Your guide to the confusing, exciting, and utterly new world of Gen Alpha- https://www.vox.com/family/369020/kids-children-generation-alpha-gen-school
- Generation Alpha will lead a 100% digital world- https://www.iberdrola.com/talent/alpha-generation
- Generation Alpha: the real picture- https://www.gwi.com/reports/gen-alpha
- Gen Alpha facts vs. hype—what every marketer should understand- https://adage.com/article/opinion/gen-alpha-facts-vs-hype-what-every-marketer-should-understand/2566461
- Feral, illiterate, doomed: Generation Alpha are a quarter of the world’s population, and people are worried about them- https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/family-relationships/article/3256887/feral-illiterate-doomed-generation-alpha-are-quarter-worlds-population-and-people-are-worried-about
- National Achievement-Level Results- https://www.nationsreportcard.gov/reading/nation/achievement/?grade=4
- The internet says Generation Alpha can’t read. Is it because we’re raising ‘iPad children’?- https://www.thestar.com/life/the-internet-says-generation-alpha-cant-read-is-it-because-were-raising-ipad-children/article_9ec9c5c4-9f75-503d-9b87-5ac272407f60.html
- Reading Vs Screening: the Development of Generation Alpha- https://epublications.regis.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2139&context=theses
- For Gen Alpha, Learning to Read Is Becoming a Privilege- https://www.businessinsider.com/gen-alpha-reading-literacy-crisis-privilege-society-divide-2024-12
- 65% of children can’t read. That’s a scary statistic!- https://eastbournetrampoline.com/65-of-children-cant-read-thats-a-scary-statistic/
Nikola Roza
Nikola Roza is a blogger behind Nikola Roza- SEO for the Poor and Determined. He writes for bloggers who don't have huge marketing budget but still want to succeed. Nikola is passionate about precious metals IRAs and how to invest in gold and silver for a safer financial future. Learn about Nikola here.