A recent national survey on reading habits reveals that China's adult comprehensive reading rate has reached 82.3% in 2025, marking a steady increase. The survey, which provides a comprehensive overview of the nation's reading status and trends, indicates a 0.2 percentage point rise compared to the previous year. The book reading rate stands at 60%, while the digital reading contact rate is 80.8%, both showing slight growth and serving as the primary drivers for the overall improvement in reading levels.
The average reading volume per adult was 4.81 physical books and 3.58 e-books, totaling 8.39 books, which represents an increase from the prior year. Furthermore, 13.5% of adults read 10 or more physical books annually, indicating a continued expansion of the deep-reading demographic.
Reading habits are increasingly characterized by digital and mobile formats. The mobile phone reading rate remains high at 79%, while the usage rates for audiobooks and video-based book explanations are steadily rising. In contrast, the use of computers, e-readers, and tablets for reading has declined, reflecting a trend toward more convenient and flexible reading methods. Despite this shift, physical book reading remains highly valued, with 45.9% of adults expressing a preference for paper books. Literary works are the most popular genre, followed by humanities, social sciences, and current affairs publications.
The reading performance of minors generally surpasses that of adults. The book reading rate for individuals aged 0 to 17 is 86.7%, with an average reading volume of 11.72 books per person. Their daily time spent on physical reading also exceeds that of adults. Digital reading exposure among minors continues to increase, with distinct reading preferences observed across different age groups.
Public reading services have seen continuous improvements. In 2025, adult awareness, participation, and satisfaction rates regarding national reading promotion activities all experienced slight increases, with local reading festivals recording the highest levels of recognition and engagement. Over half of urban residents have access to reading facilities such as libraries, bookstores, and community reading rooms, and satisfaction with these facilities is relatively high. However, overall usage rates remain low, indicating potential for further enhancement of service effectiveness.
Calculations show that the national reading index for 2025 is 71.39 points, an increase of 0.49 points from the previous year, with both personal reading and public reading service indices rising simultaneously. Overall, the development of nationwide reading in China is progressing positively, with physical and digital reading advancing in parallel and the construction of a reading-oriented society deepening. Moving forward, efforts should focus on optimizing the supply of reading materials, improving public reading services, strengthening reading guidance for minors, and leveraging new technologies to further promote and deepen the culture of reading across the population.
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