Reading enjoyment among children and young people in the UK has fallen to its lowest level in two decades, according to the National Literacy Trust's annual survey. The study of nearly 115,000 pupils aged five to 18 found that only 32.7% of eight- to 18-year-olds said they enjoyed reading 'very much' or 'quite a lot' this year, a 36% decline since the survey began 20 years ago.
The decline was most pronounced among boys aged 11 to 16, while girls' enjoyment remained relatively stable. Among eight- to 18-year-olds, 39.1% of girls reported enjoying reading in their free time, compared with 25.7% of boys. The proportion of children reading something daily in their spare time has halved over two decades, from 38.1% to 18.7%.
Jonathan Douglas, chief executive of the National Literacy Trust, described the findings as 'stark', warning that children's futures are being put at risk. However, he noted that the research offers hope, as many non-readers are motivated by links to films, TV series, or personal interests. The report suggests that connecting reading to other media and emphasising choice could boost engagement.
Among those who do not enjoy reading, 38.1% said they would be motivated by material related to a favourite film or TV series, and 37.1% by books matching their hobbies. Interestingly, only 2.7% cited book clubs as motivating, challenging assumptions about group reading strategies. Socioeconomic differences were minimal, but regional variations emerged, with reading enjoyment highest in England (33.2%) and lowest in Wales (25.5%).
