Decline in Reading Time in France: Latest National Survey Reveals Worrisome Trends
A recent survey by the Centre National du Livre highlights a significant reduction in time spent reading among the French population.
A new study released on April 8 by the Centre National du Livre (CNL) indicates a concerning shift in reading habits in France, with the competition between screens and books increasingly favoring the former.
The biannual report titled "Les Français et la lecture" reveals a marked decline in the average reading time, with only 56% of respondents indicating they read "moderately" or "often," the lowest figure recorded since the survey's inception in 2015.
The study, conducted by Ipsos in late January and early February with a sample size of 1,001 individuals aged 15 and older, shows that the time dedicated to reading for leisure has decreased by 10 minutes per day compared to 2023, representing an overall loss of more than one hour per week.
Currently, respondents estimate their weekly reading time at 3 hours and 40 minutes or approximately 31 minutes per day, down from 41 minutes reported two years ago.
Reading time varies significantly across age groups, with the lowest average recorded among individuals aged 35 to 49, who read for just 22 minutes a day.
In contrast, those aged 65 and older average 46 minutes of daily reading.
When asked about barriers to increased reading, 68% of readers cited a lack of time as the main limitation, while 61% preferred "other leisure activities." Additionally, 47% reported reading "other things than books," and 32% struggled with insufficient concentration.
In terms of book purchasing locations, large cultural retail chains, such as Fnac and E.Leclerc, lead the market with 75% of respondents frequenting them, surpassing traditional bookstores at 66%, with online commercial sites attracting 51% of the survey participants.
Reasons for not visiting bookstores include distance (cited by 50% of respondents), unavailability of desired titles (32%), and perceptions of higher prices compared to other outlets (31%), despite regulations mandating a fixed price for new books regardless of the place of purchase.
The biannual report titled "Les Français et la lecture" reveals a marked decline in the average reading time, with only 56% of respondents indicating they read "moderately" or "often," the lowest figure recorded since the survey's inception in 2015.
The study, conducted by Ipsos in late January and early February with a sample size of 1,001 individuals aged 15 and older, shows that the time dedicated to reading for leisure has decreased by 10 minutes per day compared to 2023, representing an overall loss of more than one hour per week.
Currently, respondents estimate their weekly reading time at 3 hours and 40 minutes or approximately 31 minutes per day, down from 41 minutes reported two years ago.
Reading time varies significantly across age groups, with the lowest average recorded among individuals aged 35 to 49, who read for just 22 minutes a day.
In contrast, those aged 65 and older average 46 minutes of daily reading.
When asked about barriers to increased reading, 68% of readers cited a lack of time as the main limitation, while 61% preferred "other leisure activities." Additionally, 47% reported reading "other things than books," and 32% struggled with insufficient concentration.
In terms of book purchasing locations, large cultural retail chains, such as Fnac and E.Leclerc, lead the market with 75% of respondents frequenting them, surpassing traditional bookstores at 66%, with online commercial sites attracting 51% of the survey participants.
Reasons for not visiting bookstores include distance (cited by 50% of respondents), unavailability of desired titles (32%), and perceptions of higher prices compared to other outlets (31%), despite regulations mandating a fixed price for new books regardless of the place of purchase.
