Survey on Reading (2023)

We conducted the "Survey on Reading (2023)" among men and women aged 20-69 nationwide. As the "reading season" approaches and opportunities to come into contact with books increase, we wondered how much people read and how they encounter books. In this survey, we analyzed such book-related behavior.

Survey Result Topics

6.3% of respondents "think they read a lot of books," and 14.9% when combined with those who "think they read a little more books. 

The largest number of men in their 20s read "more" but less than 20% of the total respondents read "less" or "somewhat less. On the other hand, more than 70% of men in their 50s and women in their 20s selected "less" or "somewhat less.＜Figure 1＞

The largest number of respondents (47.9%) read "less than one book" during the six months. This was followed by "2 to 3 books" at 15.3%.

Males in their 20s are the most likely to report reading at least one book every six months at 60.9%. This is followed by women in their 40s at 58.2%. While the amount of books read tends to be low overall, a large number of men in their 60s (20.9%) read "11 or more books" in a six-month period.＜Figure 2＞

The 30% of respondents chose "new book by favorite author" and "attracted by the title" as their book selection method.

Notable among those in their 50s and 60s were those who purchased books because of "favorite authors," those in their 60s "book reviews on TV or in magazines," those in their 30s and 40s "recommended books in stores," and those in their 20s and 30s "talked about on SNS.＜Figure 3＞

36.1% use or intend to use audiobooks.

Men who use or intend to use audiobooks said they want to use them "while traveling on trains," while women said they want to use them "when I want to read without using my eyes before going to bed" or "when I want to read a book but my eyes are tired.＜Figure 4＞

In addition to history and fiction, philosophical books about relationships and life are recommended.

＜Figure 5＞

Survey Item

□Attribute questions 
□Degree of book reading 
□Number of books read in six months 
□How and why you choose books 
□Scenes of audiobook use and intention to use