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Do Americans read? How much do they read? Do they read physical books or electronic books found on their favorite digital devices?
Learn more right here as my updated reading in America statistics guide for 2024 has everything you need to know.
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.
Let’s go!
Jump here: Key Statistics and Facts on Reading in America|Â Key Statistics and Facts on Reading in America (Detailed Info)
Table of Contents
Key Statistics and Facts on Reading in AmericaÂ
Key Statistics and Facts on Reading in America in 2024
- 79% of American adults are literate. 21% of American adults are illiterate. Approximately 32 million adults in the U.S. can’t read at all.
- The state with the highest literacy rate is New Hampshire at 94.2%, while the lowest is California at 76.9%.
- The U.S. ranks 7th in adult literacy rates among developed nations.
- On average, American readers read 12 books per year.
- According to a February 2024 survey, 5% of Americans read more than 12 books in the previous three months while 27% of Americans didn’t read a single book in the last year.
- Americans who’re parents are more likely to read (68%) than childless American citizens (48%).
- 59% of American’s who’re 50 year old or older read every day to follow current events . 25% of Americans from the same age group said they have physical or health conditions that makes reading difficult or challenging. Americans who’re 65+ years old generally red on occasionally. Only 14% of them read daily.
- 77% of women read at least one book in the past year compared to 68% of men. Women read between 11 and 20 books per year, while men read anywhere between 1- 10 books per year. As for genre preference, women tend to prefer fiction, while men tend to prefer nonfiction.Â
- E-book readership has plateaued at around 25-30% of American adults in recent years.
- 20% of Americans listened to audio books in 2019. In 2024 52% of American have listened to audiobooks (at least one of them)
- Americans aged 18-29 are the most likely age group to have read a book in any format in the past year.
- The most popular book genre in America is mystery/thriller/crime.
- The average time spent reading per day for Americans is about 16 minutes.
- Reading for pleasure has declined by 30% since 2004 among American adults.
- Still, 20% of Americans read for pleasure every day. 27% of Americans read for pleasure several times a week. 16% of Americans read for pleasure once a week. 12% of Americans read for pleasure once a month.
- 65% of college freshmen in the U.S. are not proficient readers.
- Children who are read to at least three times a week by a family member are almost twice as likely to score in the top 25% in reading.
- 53% of 4th graders read for pleasure “almost every day,” compared with only 20% of 8th graders.
- 50% of American adults are unable to read a book written at an 8th-grade level.
- 85% of juveniles who interface with the juvenile court system are functionally illiterate.
- A BookTrust survey found that the percentage of children who say they love reading drops with age, from 33% at age 7 to 25% at age 11.
- Adults who read for pleasure report 10% higher life satisfaction than non-readers.
- Public libraries in the U.S. outnumber McDonald’s restaurants, with 16,568 libraries compared to 14,146 McDonald’s.
- About 37% of American adults read primarily to research specific topics of interest.
- The average American home has 114 books, though the median is much lower at 65 books.
- Approximately 40% of American adults who read e-books also read print books.
- Children in American households with 100+ books have been shown to complete an average of 3 more years of schooling than children from bookless homes.
- According to the National Adult Literacy Survey, 70% of all incarcerated adults in American prisons cannot read at a fourth-grade level.
- According to available data, Native American literacy rates are significantly lower than the national average. Namely, only 42.8% of American Indian students demonstrated grade level proficiency in reading.
Key Statistics and Facts on Reading in America (Detailed Info)
What Percentage of American Adults Are Literate?
79% of American adults are literate. 21% of American adults are illiterate. Approximately 32 million adults in the U.S. can’t read at all.
Which State Has the Highest Literacy Rate, and Which Has the Lowest?
The state with the highest functional literacy rate is New Hampshire at 94.2%, while the lowest is California at 76.9%. The U.S. ranks 7th in adult literacy rates among developed nations which is a not-so-great result for the supposedly “greatest nation and country on Earth”
How Many Books Does the Average American Read per Year?
The average American reads 12 books per year or roughly 1 book per month.
About 27% of Americans didn’t read a single book in the last year. If these people continue not reading books they’re going to have huge issues in the future as reading books is beneficial for mental health and also obviously for upskilling and acquiring knowledge.
How Do Reading Habits Differ Between Men and Women in America?
77% of women read at least one book in the past year compared to 68% of men. Women generally read more books than men. For example, one study found that women are more likely to read anywhere between 11 and 20 books per year, while men are more likely to read anywhere between 1- 10 books per year.
As for genre preference, women tend to prefer fiction, while men tend to prefer nonfiction.
The most popular book genre in America for both men and women is mystery/thriller/crime.
What Is the Current Trend in E-Book Readership Among American Adults?
E-book readership has plateaued at around 25-30% of American adults in recent years. This is probably because Americans who read e-books also read physical copies of the boos they love.
Approximately 40% of American adults who read e-books also read print books.
How Has Audiobook Usage Changed From 2019 to 2024?
20% of Americans listened to audiobooks in 2019. In 2024, 52% of Americans have listened to audiobooks (at least one of them).
Which Age Group Is Most Likely to Have Read a Book in Any Format in the Past Year in America?
Americans aged 18-29 are the most likely age group to have read a book in any format in the past year.
Americans who’re parents are more likely to read (68%) than childless American citizens (48%).
59% of American’s who’re 50 year old or older read every day to follow current events . 25% of Americans from the same age group said they have physical or health conditions that makes reading difficult or challenging.
Americans who’re 65+ years old generally red on occasionally. Only 14% of them read daily.
About 37% of American adults who read primarily read to research specific topics of interest.
How Has Reading for Pleasure Changed Since 2004 Among American Adults?
The average reading time per day for American adults is about 16 minutes.
Reading for pleasure has declined by 30% since 2004 among American adults.
Here are the latest stats for the current year:
- 20% of Americans read for pleasure every day;
- 27% of Americans read for pleasure several times a week;
- 16% of Americans read for pleasure once a week.
- 12% of Americans read for pleasure once a month.
- 53% of 4th graders read for pleasure “almost every day,” compared with only 20% of 8th graders.
What Percentage of American Adults Are Unable to Read a Book Written at an 8th-Grade Level?
50% of American adults are unable to read a book written at an 8th-grade level. 65% of college freshmen in the U.S. are not proficient readers.
How Do the Numbers of Public Libraries and McDonald’s Restaurants Compare in the U.S.?
Public libraries in the U.S. outnumber McDonald’s restaurants, with 16,568 libraries compared to 14,146 McDonald’s.
How Does Growing Up in a Home With Many Books Affect Educational Attainment?
Children in American households with 100+ books have been shown to complete an average of 3 more years of schooling than children from bookless homes.
Also, children who are read to at least three times a week by a family member are almost twice as likely to score in the top 25% in reading.
The average American home has 114 books, though the median is much lower at 65 books.
Reading in America Statistics, Facts and Trends FAQ
What is the Average Reading Level in America?
The average American reads at a 7th- to 8th-grade level, which is equivalent to a readability level for people aged 12 to 14 years old.
This level is used as a benchmark in the medical industry for written guidelines, meaning that publication tend to write at this level just so that most Americans can understand what they’re reading.
Obviously, average reading levels greatly vary depending on a person’s age and educational background.
Typically, older and more educated Americans will have higher reading comprehension than school children, students and young adults.
For example, almost 70% of low-income fourth graders in the US cannot read at a basic level.
Note: reading levels for African Americans are significantly lower than for white Americans
- Only 12% of Black males are proficient in reading by 8th grade.
- In 2019, only 17% of Black 12th graders were proficient in reading.
- 85% of Black students in the U.S. lack proficiency in reading skills.
Here are the reading levels of Hispanic Americans:
- The Hispanic illiteracy rate is between 11.9% and 56%, which is higher than the rate for White or Black populations.
- In 2017, the average reading score for Hispanic students was 255, which was not significantly different from 2015.
- The Hispanic population has made significant educational progress in recent decades, especially among younger age groups. In 2021, 88.5% of Hispanics ages 25 to 29 graduated from high school.
Is There a Reading Decline in America?
In general there’s s decline in reading habit in the United States.
In 2022, 53% of U.S. adults read literature or books, down from 57.1% in 2017.Â
According to a February 2024 survey, 5% of Americans read more than 12 books in the previous three months, while 28.5% had not read any books.
The average time spent reading per day for Americans is just 16 minutes.
Do American Children Love Reading? Or Have They Stopped Reading?
American children still love reading and plenty of hem are reading both physical, paper books and e-books. That said, reading as a habit is on a decline among American children.
In 2020 only 17% of 13-year-olds said they read every day for fun which is a huge drop from 35% in 1984.
Now, students are supposed to be among the most read part of the population. And yet, 31% of students say they never or hardly ever read for fun.
Finally, a BookTrust survey found that the percentage of children who say they love reading drops with age, from 33% at age 7 to 25% at age 11.
How Does Reading in Big Cities Compare to Reading in the Countryside In the United States?
Within the United States both people from countryside and big cities love to read. However, the percentage differ with a slight edge going to city folks who either love reading a but more or have more free time on their hands.
| Community | Likelihood of reading |
|---|---|
| Rural | 71% |
| Urban | 80% |
| Suburban | 80% |
What Genre of Books do Americans Read?
The most popular book genres in the United States include fantasy, crime and mystery, science fiction and romance.
However, reading habits vary by age, gender, and other factors:
Fir example, readers over 65 like to read history books, while readers under 30 are more likely to read books from romance and fantasy genres.
As for gender book preferences, women are more likely to read novels and fiction, while men are more likely to read non-fiction.
Do Americans Read E-books or Physical Books?
Americans read both e-book and physical books. A recent study showed that approximately 40% of American adults who read e-books also read print books.
Data from 2021 shows that 65% of US adults reported reading a print book that year. And 30% of US adults reported reading an e-book that same year.
How is Social Media Affecting Reading Among Americans?
In general, social media is negatively affecting Americans when it comes to reading. Simply put, the more time Americans spend on social media, the less time they have to read and write and consume written content.
Reading in America Statistics, Facts and Trends for 2024 (Conclusion)
My updated guide for 2024 lists the best and latest statistics, facts and trends about reading in America and how things are developing and predicted to develop in the future.
I hope you enjoyed it because the guide is now over.
During my research, I consulted these resources below:
References:
- 59 Reading Statistics and Facts You Should Know- https://www.abtaba.com/blog/59-reading-statistics
- Americans Reading Fewer Books Than in Past- https://news.gallup.com/poll/388541/americans-reading-fewer-books-past.aspx
- Who doesn’t read books in America?- https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2021/09/21/who-doesnt-read-books-in-america/
- US Book Reading Statistics (National Survey 2024)- https://testprepinsight.com/resources/us-book-reading-statistics/
- 54% of Americans read a book this year- https://today.yougov.com/entertainment/articles/48239-54-percent-of-americans-read-a-book-this-year
- Reading habits in the U.S. – statistics & facts- https://www.statista.com/topics/3928/reading-habits-in-the-us/
- Native American Reading and Literacy Demonstration Project at First UMC in Pembroke, NC- https://www.umcjustice.org/latest/native-american-reading-and-literacy-demonstration-project-at-first-umc-in-pembroke-nc-852
- What kinds of books did Americans read growing up, and what do they read now?- https://today.yougov.com/entertainment/articles/43285-books-americans-read-growing-up-and-now
- How many books did you read in 2024? Are you in the top 1 percent? https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2024/01/05/how-many-books-did-you-read-2023-see-how-you-stack-up/
- Reading At Risk A Survey of Literary Reading in America https://www.arts.gov/sites/default/files/RaRExec_0.pdf
- How many books a year does an average american actually read?- https://www.reddit.com/r/books/comments/1842s4l/how_many_books_a_year_does_an_average_american/
- 49 Reading Statistics & Facts You Should Know- https://www.goldenstepsaba.com/resources/reading-statistics
- 15 Statistics About Reading Books You Must Know in 2024
- Literacy in the United States- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Literacy_in_the_United_States
- Part 2: The general reading habits of Americans- https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2012/04/04/part-2-the-general-reading-habits-of-americans/
- Time Spent Reading- https://www.amacad.org/humanities-indicators/public-life/time-spent-reading
- Why We Don’t Read, Revisited- https://www.newyorker.com/culture/cultural-comment/why-we-dont-read-revisited
- 130 million Americans—54% of adults between the ages of 16 and 74 years old—lack proficiency in literacy, essentially reading below the equivalent of a sixth-grade level.- https://map.barbarabush.org/
- NEA Survey Finds Decline in Adult Reading-https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/newsbrief/index.html?record=4377
- Literacy Skills Statistics 2024- 2025 (Where we are now)- https://www.thenationalliteracyinstitute.com/post/literacy-statistics-2024-2025-where-we-are-now
- Many of America’s Black youths cannot read or do math — and that imperils us all- https://thehill.com/opinion/education/579750-many-of-americas-black-youths-cannot-read-or-do-math-and-that-imperils-us/
- 6Barriers to Educational Opportunities for Hispanics in the United States- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK19909/
- American Reading Statistics: According to a Poll Survey- https://goodereader.com/blog/e-book-news/american-reading-statistics-according-to-a-poll-survey
- America’s reading problem: Scores were dropping even before the pandemic- https://hechingerreport.org/americas-reading-problem-scores-were-dropping-even-before-the-pandemic/
- Audiobook Revenue and the Number of Listeners Continue to Grow- https://www.edisonresearch.com/audiobook-revenue-and-the-number-of-listeners-continue-to-grow/
- Number of books read in the last year among book readers in the United States as of February 2024- https://www.statista.com/statistics/1402547/book-read-by-regular-readers/
- Children’s reading habits in the early years- https://www.booktrust.org.uk/globalassets/resources/research/family-survey-briefing-1-reading-in-the-early-years-2023-1.pdf
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.