Exclusive Insight: A worrying trend is emerging in Australia as reading rates decline, particularly among young men. However, a survey by nine.com.au suggests there may still be a glimmer of hope.
Out of 480 participants, over 60 percent reported having read at least one book in the year 2026.
Nearly a third of these respondents managed to complete four or more books within the first seven weeks, although almost 40 percent admitted they hadn’t finished even one book.
Interestingly, more than one-third of those surveyed indicated they indulge in daily leisure reading, while 14 percent engage in this activity on a weekly basis.
For some, the advent of audiobooks and e-books has simplified the inclusion of reading into their hectic schedules.
As one respondent mentioned, “I no longer read physical books; I prefer to use audiobooks.”
“I no longer read physical books, I prefer to use audio books,” one said.
“There’s nothing better than lying in bed in winter snuggled up listening to a good book and earphones mean you can enjoy a good ‘read’ almost anywhere.”
Others said they relied on their local library to access free books, which could help ease financial pressures in the cost of living crisis.
About 40 per cent of respondents said they rarely or never read for leisure.
And the majority said they read the same amount or more when on holiday, suggesting Aussies are keeping up their reading habits even while travelling.
It’s a good sign for the nation’s reading rate, which has plummeted among the younger generations.
They were followed in descending order by Baby Boomers, Gen X, Millennials and Gen Z, with a rate of just 11 per cent.
Women read more than men across all generations.
Though Gen Z had the lowest rate of reading participation, those who do read actually do somore than their older counterparts.
Gen Z readers logged an average of 2 hours and 6 minutes spent reading on any given day according to the ABS data.
Every other generation spent significantly less time per day reading, from 1 hour and 17 minutes for Gen X to 1 hour and 35 minutes for the Interwar generation.
This may be linked to the recent rise in popularity of online reading communities like BookTok, Bookstagram and BookTube, and the increased output of novels in genres that appeal to young female readers, such as romance and fantasy.
Digital platforms are responding to the surge by making reading more accessible with e-book and audiobook formats.
Kindles and Kobos have become personal accessories as well as reading devices, with many Gen Z and Millennial readers kitting their e-readers out in custom covers.
Platforms like Audible pioneered the audiobook space and now music streaming services like Spotify are joining in, adding audio versions of popular novels to their libraries.
The nine.com.au poll, which runs once a fortnight, canvases the views of the Nine audience on 9Nation, which is an online community of our readers and viewers.
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