A new study from the University of Florida and University College London has found a sharp decline in the number of American adults who read for pleasure, linking the trend to the rise of digital media and shifting reading habits. At the same time, those who still engage in leisure reading are spending more time with books.
According to findings published in the journal iScience, the share of adults who read for enjoyment on a daily basis fell from 28% in 2004 to just 16% in 2023 — a nearly 40% decline over two decades.
Researchers analyzed data from a large-scale U.S. government survey of more than 236,000 participants collected between 2003 and 2023. The survey included reading books, newspapers, magazines, digital materials, listening to audiobooks, and reading with children. Data from 2020 was excluded due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Despite the overall decline, those who continue to read for pleasure are dedicating more time to it: the average reading duration rose from 1 hour and 23 minutes in 2003 to 1 hour and 37 minutes in 2023.
The study also found notable disparities among demographic groups. The steepest declines were observed among Black adults, people with lower income or education levels, and residents of smaller towns. Reading with children remained relatively stable over the years.
The researchers attribute the drop to the growing influence of digital media and social networks, as well as a shift toward reading mainly for practical purposes, such as consuming news.
“Our results highlight an urgent need for targeted strategies to promote reading, particularly among high-risk groups,” said lead author Dr. Jessica K. Bone.
The authors suggest that the findings could help inform public policies and community programs aimed at fostering a stronger reading culture, especially among vulnerable populations. They stress that reading for pleasure is linked to literacy, imagination, cognitive skills, and overall well-being — making its decline a troubling sign for society.
