ISTAT: Italy third‑last in EU for adult readers, strong reading rates

ISTAT: Italy third‑last in EU for adult readers, strong reading rates among 11–14-year-olds

The ISTAT report "Between culture and leisure: a century-long journey" presents a nuanced picture of reading in Italy: high participation among younger adolescents contrasts with lower reading rates in the adult population. The analysis highlights expanding book production and increased digital formats, alongside persistent inequalities.

• Readers aged 16+ (2022): 35%, placing Italy third‑last in the European Union.
• 11–14 years: reading rate reaches 58.2%, the highest among age groups.
• Book production (1926–2024): grew from about 6,300 titles to over 83,000, more than a thirteenfold increase.
• Digital formats (2025): e‑books account for 11.1% and audiobooks for 2.5% of total formats, while roughly 7 in 10 readers still prefer print.
• Territorial and education gaps: a 16‑point difference between Centre‑North and the Mezzogiorno, and over 50 points between high and low education groups.
• Historical trend: the share of people who read at least one book per year rose from 16.6% in 1965 to 46.5% in 2010, then settled around 40% more recently, with women reading about 11 points more than men.

The report points to the need to convert young people’s reading habits into sustained adult practices and to address gaps in access and education to strengthen cultural participation nationwide.