Top 10 countries where people read the most

​The world is fast-paced, and the hours spent reading are drastically different when seen from the perspective of various countries. This depends on cultural or educational backgrounds and social factors. Here we dig deeper to see what average hours a person spends reading per week in different countries. From India, where reading is cherished, to Hungary, where people still find time to immerse themselves in books, let's take a close-up view of these interesting statistics;

​(This article has been credited to NOP World CultureScore Index)
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​India ranked first in the list with an extraordinary average of 10 hours and 42 minutes spent reading per person per week. This high number speaks for the rich literary culture of this country, emphasizing education and knowledge. Reading among all age groups is a very common and popular leisure activity, and there has been significant stress on both academic and non-academic reading. The easier availability of books and digital versions of reading materials has added to the reading habit among people in India.
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​Ranking second, Thailand remains at an average of 9 hours and 24 minutes per person per week reading. The Thais see reading as a means of growth and entertainment. Public libraries and reading campaigns have promoted more reading culture in the country. And due to the growing digital media, reading has become more accessible to more people.

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​Currently, people in China spend 8 hours every week reading. The reading practice in China has been heavily catered to by the government through various reading programs like public libraries and reading programs it has set up all over the country. Reading is, in fact, one of the most important tools used for personal and professional development purposes, and hence, education books carry a lot of weight. The popularity of e-books, in addition to online reading stations, has also contributed to the increase of reading culture among people in China.


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​Reading takes about 7 hours and 36 minutes per person per week in the Philippines. Reading is part of the mainstream culture of the Filipinos. More so, literature and education are emphasized in Philippine society. Reading throughout is promoted both inside schools and universities while public libraries are frequently visited. The easy availability of books at affordable prices coupled with the increasing trend in digital reading has made reading habits better in the Philippines.

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​In Egypt, it is 7 hours and 30 minutes a week per person, on average reading. Reading culture runs deep in Egyptian cultural history with many great literary achievements. The government as well as different organizations have been striving for the promotion of reading habits through book fairs, and reading campaigns among others. The love for reading is still cherished by people despite the economic challenges posed.

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People in Russia spend almost 7 hours and 6 minutes reading per week. There are always lots of people who read widely, following a very good literary tradition in the history of Russia. Public libraries and bookstores are well-visited, and there is high interest in both classic and modern literature by Russian citizens. Digital reading platforms helped popularize books in Russia.


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​Six hours and 54 minutes of reading by an average person per week in Sweden. The importance of reading by the people in Sweden is both for education and development purposes. Public libraries are well-maintained, and there is a great demand for reading in schools. The popularity of audiobooks and e-books also does not go unnoticed in keeping reading habits in Sweden stable.

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​France has reading hours of 06:54 hours per week per person. Ever since here literacy has been a much-enduring culture. In public libraries as in bookstores, there is much interest in fiction and also non-fiction. There are several initiatives carried out by the government to promote reading, such as book fairs, literary festivals, etc.

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​Reading has a capital share of 6 hours and 48 minutes per week per capita in Hungary. Reading is highly valued in Hungarian culture. Literature and education are well respected, and there is a wide usage of public libraries. Digital reading is increasingly in demand, and book clubs and literary events are also popular.


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