Children’s reading habit at record low, survey reveals worrying decline

In worrying news for teachers, a recent survey indicates that children’s reading habits are reaching “crisis” point, with the percentage of pupils who enjoy reading books currently at their lowest level in almost two decades.

According to a report by the National Literacy Trust (NLT) organization, the percentage of young people who say they enjoy reading has declined dramatically in the past year, especially among boys.

The report is based on 76,131 responses to the NLT’s annual literacy survey from children and youth aged 5 to 18 in early 2024. This includes findings on reading enjoyment, frequency and motivation and explores responses by age, gender, socio-economic background and gender. Geographical area.

The NLT’s annual literacy survey indicates a steady decline in the number of children and young people who enjoy reading during their free time and engage in daily reading.

This year marks the lowest percentage of children and youth who say they enjoy reading since the survey’s inception, according to a survey launched in 2005 to track children’s interest in reading. .

Key findings from the survey:

• Only 1 in 3 (34.6%) children and youth aged 8 to 18 said they enjoyed reading in their free time in 2024. The level of reading enjoyment has declined by 8.8 percentage points compared to the last year alone.
• In 2024 only 1 in 5 (20.5%) 8 to 18 year olds said they read something daily in their free time, again the lowest level we have recorded since 2005, in which daily reading The level has decreased by 7.5 percent. Last year alone.

Jonathan Douglas, chief executive of NLT, said: “Children and young people’s enjoyment of reading is at an all-time low and more and more of them are leaving primary and secondary school without the reading skills, putting the future of a generation at risk. Is.” Guardian.

The report concluded, “For a report that focuses primarily on reading pleasure, much of this is not enjoyable reading.” “The declining levels of reading enjoyment and reading frequency are, frankly, shocking and disappointing.”