Reading Habits and Life: Data-Driven Analysis of Benefits and Global Trends
Why Have We Stopped Reading Books?
Summary
Multiple studies have shown that reading habits are positively correlated with happiness, health, and income. Meanwhile, "decline in reading" is progressing in many countries including Japan. This article examines the benefits of reading habits through various data, then analyzes why we have stopped reading books using international comparative and time-series data.
* The data used in this article comes from surveys with different years, subjects, and definitions. The purpose is to identify trends, and there are limitations to strict causal inference.
Question for this chapter: Are reading habits correlated with happiness, health, and income?
Correlation Between Reading and Happiness
British research has reported that reading habits correlate with subjective well-being and stress levels.
Reading Volume and Life Satisfaction (UK)
| Reading Frequency | Life Satisfaction (out of 10) |
|---|---|
| Regular reader | 7.2 |
| Non-reader | 6.4 |
Reading's Stress Reduction Effect (Sussex University Research)
The effect of just 6 minutes of reading as a stress reduction method:
- Reading: 68% stress reduction
- Listening to music: 61% reduction
- Having a cup of coffee: 54% reduction
- Going for a walk: 42% reduction
Theoretical Explanation (Bibliotherapy)
Reasons why reading is thought to reduce stress and increase happiness:
- Escapism: Temporarily escaping daily stress
- Cognitive absorption: Concentrating on content stops rumination
- Empathy development: Improved relationships through understanding others' perspectives
- Self-understanding: Gaining insight through characters' experiences
Relationship Between Reading and Health/Longevity
A Yale University study reported that reading habits may be related to longevity.
Reading and Mortality Risk (Yale University, 2016)
| Reading Group | Mortality Risk Reduction |
|---|---|
| Read books 3.5+ hours/week | 23% lower |
| Read less than 3.5 hours/week | 17% lower |
| Non-readers | (Baseline) |
* Tracked 3,635 people aged 50+ over 12 years. Results adjusted for age, gender, race, education, health status, and income.
Correlation Between Reading Volume and Income
Multiple surveys have confirmed a positive correlation between reading volume and income. However, the causal relationship (reading leads to higher income, or higher income leads to reading) remains unclear.
Distribution of Monthly Reading by Income Level (Japan)
Reading: Income below ¥3 million (47% don't read) → Income ¥15 million+ (27% don't read)
As income increases, the percentage of non-readers decreases.
Average Reading by Income (USA)
| Annual Income | Books/Year |
|---|---|
| Under $30,000 | 8 books |
| $30,000 - $49,999 | 10 books |
| $50,000 - $74,999 | 13 books |
| $75,000+ | 15 books |
Correlation Coefficient in Korea
According to a Korean survey (2019), the correlation coefficient between reading volume and income is r = 0.37 (weak to moderate positive correlation).
Caution: Multiple Confounding Variables
This correlation doesn't allow for simple causal interpretation. Possible confounding factors include:
・Education level: Higher education → Higher income + Higher reading tendency
・Occupation type: Knowledge workers read more and earn more
・Time availability: People with stable income have more leisure time
・Reverse causation: High income → More budget and time for books → More reading
Question for this chapter: Is the decline in reading time unique to Japan? Or is it a global trend?
Changes in Reading Time Over Time (2003-2023)
Comparing how reading time has changed across different countries.
* Note: Survey years and methods vary by country, so strict comparison requires caution.
Key Points
- USA: Consistent decline from 24→15 min/day (2003-2023). Average American time use survey (ATUS).
- Japan: Decline from 11→8 min/day (NHK National Time Use Survey). Particularly accelerating since 2015.
- UK: Approximately 50% decline (9→5 min/day). Half of adults no longer read regularly.
Common Trend
Regardless of country, a declining trend in reading time is observed.
The degree varies, but the global common factors are thought to be smartphone proliferation, diversification of entertainment, and changes in information acquisition methods.
Analysis by Experts and Publishing Industry
How do experts and the publishing industry in various countries analyze the causes of declining reading time?
Japan: Agency for Cultural Affairs Survey (2024)
| Reasons for Reading Less | % |
|---|---|
| Smartphones etc. take up time | 43.6% |
| Too busy with work/study | 38.9% |
| Health reasons (eyesight, etc.) | 31.2% |
| No particular reason | 21.5% |
| Book prices have risen | 17.3% |
Korea: Reading Promotion Foundation (2023)
- 61.4% responded "Busy with work/study, no time to read"
- Smartphone usage time averaging 4.5 hours/day exceeds reading time
- A culture of valuing "speed" and "efficiency" makes long reading sessions difficult
USA: NEA (National Endowment for the Arts)
- Youth (18-24) "pleasure reading" rate dropped from 59%(2002) → 41%(2022)
- Competition from streaming services, social media, and gaming
- Decline of "long-form content" in the digital age
UK: The Reading Agency
- Half of adults don't read regularly
- Among those who don't read: 33% "prefer other activities", 27% "don't have time"
- Pointing out the irony: "Reading improves mental health, yet stressed people can't find time to read"
Question for this chapter: Can hypotheses like "long working hours," "exhausted from commuting," or "time consumed by internet" explain Japan and Korea's short reading times?
Verification order: ① Macro time constraints (work/commute/sleep) → ② Use of leisure time → ③ Competition with digital media
Full 30-Country Ranking
NOP World Culture Score Index (2005) international comparative survey.
Weekly reading time was measured using the same methodology across 30 countries with over 30,000 respondents.
Notes on Reading Time Survey (NOP World 2005)
- Survey period: December 2004 - February 2005
- Subjects: Over 30,000 people aged 13 and above across 30 countries
- Method: Face-to-face interviews (same methodology nationwide)
- The definition of "reading" is broad, potentially including not only books but also magazines, newspapers, and online articles
- The global average is 6.5 hours per week. Japan, Korea, and Taiwan fall significantly below average
Interpreting the Results
- Japan, Korea, and Taiwan are in the bottom group despite intense academic competition, while India (1st) and China (3rd), which also have competitive academic cultures, rank at the top
- Whether "reading" includes study/work-related purposes is unclear from public sources (PC/Internet usage is explicitly noted as "non-work purposes," but reading is unspecified)
- Cultural interpretation of "reading" may vary by country (whether to include newspapers/magazines, or consider only recreational novels, etc.)
- Since this is a self-reported survey, countries where "reading is considered virtuous" may have a bias toward over-reporting
- It would be premature to conclude that "Japanese people don't read books" based on this result alone
Working Hours vs Reading Time (Scatter Plot)
Horizontal axis: Weekly working hours (ILO 2025), Vertical axis: Weekly reading time (NOP World 2005)
* Working hours cover employed persons only; reading survey covers everyone aged 13+ (including students)
* Reading survey (2005) and working hours survey (2025) have a 20-year gap; intended for trend identification only.
Observations:
- Asian emerging economies (India, Thailand, China, Philippines) have both long working hours and long reading times (upper right)
- Western developed countries (Germany, France, UK, USA) have shorter working hours and moderate reading times (center left)
- Japan and Korea have notably short reading times regardless of working hours (bottom)
- No simple negative correlation is observed between working hours and reading time
The tendency for countries with longer working hours to also have longer reading times could be explained by differences in whether "work-related reading (business books, technical manuals, etc.)" is included in reading time.
- In emerging countries like India and China, reading for skill development and certification may be active, and respondents may report this as "reading"
- In Japan and Korea, respondents may limit "reading" to recreational/hobby books and exclude work-related reading
- Countries where daily reading of religious texts (Hindu scriptures, Buddhist sutras, etc.) is common may include this in reading time
Commute Times by Country (Reference)
Included as reference data since longer commutes may reduce reading time.
* Sources and survey years vary by country, so strict comparisons require caution.
| Country | Commute Time (one-way/min) |
Reading Time (weekly) |
Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | 40-100 | 4:06 | OECD/CEPR |
| Korea | 35-58 | 3:06 | OECD |
| China (urban) | 51-102 | 8:00 | Various surveys |
| India (urban) | 27-99 | 10:42 | TomTom/Various |
| Thailand (Bangkok) | 58 | 9:24 | Numbeo |
| UK | 45 | 5:18 | TUC |
| Germany | 28-40 | 5:42 | OECD |
| USA | 25-35 | 5:42 | Census Bureau |
| France | 21 | 6:54 | INSEE |
Commute Time vs Reading Time (Scatter Plot)
If many people read during their commute, a positive correlation should be observed between commute time and reading time.
* Commute time data is compiled from multiple sources (OECD, TomTom, etc.) with different survey years/subjects. Direct comparison with reading time (2005) has limitations.
Observations:
- Correlation coefficient between commute time and reading time: r=0.03 (virtually no correlation)
- India, Thailand, and China have long commute times and long reading times, but Japan has long commutes yet short reading times
- The "reading during commute" hypothesis does not apply to Japan and Korea
- Japan and Korea fall significantly below the regression line, suggesting factors that cannot be explained by commute time
Daily Time Allocation by Country (OECD)
What do people in Japan and Korea spend their time on? Extracted from OECD Time Use Database.
| Country | Sleep (min/day) |
Paid Work (min/day) |
Personal Care (min/day) |
Reading Time (weekly) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | 442 | 330 | 620 | 4:06 |
| Korea | 461 | 287 | 653 | 3:06 |
| France | 513 | 175 | 752 | 6:54 |
| Germany | 498 | 196 | 649 | 5:42 |
| UK | 508 | 210 | 645 | 5:18 |
| USA | 539 | 241 | 646 | 5:42 |
Observations:
- Japan has the shortest sleep time in the OECD (442 min/day = 7 hours 22 minutes)
- Korea also has short sleep time (461 min/day = 7 hours 41 minutes)
- France sleeps 513 minutes (8 hours 33 minutes), more than 1 hour longer than Japan
- USA sleeps 539 minutes (about 9 hours), more than 1.5 hours longer than Japan
- Japan has the longest paid work time (330 min/day = 5.5 hours), about twice France's
- Japan and Korea are in a state of "sacrificing sleep to work"
* Personal care includes sleep, eating, grooming, etc.
* Survey years: Japan 2021, Korea 2009, France 2009-10, Germany 2001-02, UK 2015, USA 2022
Internet Usage Time by Country (2024)
Comparing internet usage time to test the hypothesis that "people are browsing the internet instead of reading."
| Country | Internet Usage (hours/day) |
Reading Time (weekly) |
|---|---|---|
| South Africa | 9:24 | 6:18 |
| Brazil | 9:13 | 5:12 |
| USA | 7:03 | 5:42 |
| India | 6:45 | 10:42 |
| UK | 6:02 | 5:18 |
| China | 5:33 | 8:00 |
| France | 5:22 | 6:54 |
| Germany | 5:22 | 5:42 |
| Korea | 5:19 | 3:06 |
| Japan | 3:56 | 4:06 |
Observations:
- Japan has the world's shortest internet usage time (3:56/day)
- Korea also has relatively short internet usage time (5:19/day)
- India has long internet usage (6:45/day) yet also long reading time (10:42/week)
- The hypothesis "not reading because of internet browsing" does not hold
- Japan appears to be "offline-oriented" with low engagement in both reading and internet
* Internet usage survey (2024, ages 16-64) and reading survey (2005, ages 13+) have different target demographics and survey years.
International Comparison of Leisure Time
Testing the hypothesis that "time is taken up by play and exercise, leaving no time for reading."
| Country | Work Hours/Day | Leisure Time/Day | Work vs Leisure | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | About 6 hours | About 5 hours | Work > Leisure | One of the OECD countries with least leisure |
| Korea | About 5.5 hours | About 5.5 hours | Work = Leisure | Work and leisure nearly equal |
| Mexico | About 6.5 hours | About 4.5 hours | Work > Leisure | Alongside Japan, has least leisure |
| USA | About 4.5 hours | About 5.5 hours | Work < Leisure | Over 50% of leisure is TV watching |
| UK | About 4 hours | About 5.5 hours | Work < Leisure | |
| Germany | About 3.5 hours | About 6 hours | Work < Leisure | Abundant leisure time in Europe |
| France | About 3.5 hours | About 5.5 hours | Work < Leisure |
Conclusion: Far from "time being taken up by play, relaxation, and exercise,"
Japan is one of the OECD countries with the least leisure time, so this hypothesis does not hold.
Rather, the "absolute lack of leisure time" is likely one factor contributing to low reading time.
Question for this chapter: Are there gender differences in reading habits? What is the relationship between print books and e-books? What are the global literacy challenges?
Gender Gap in Reading
Globally, women tend to read more than men.
| Indicator | Women | Men |
|---|---|---|
| Didn't read a book in the past year (USA) | 22% | 32% |
| Average annual reading | 14 books | 9 books |
| Read 31+ books/year (2018) | 11% | 5% |
| Read novels (2022) | About 50% | About 25% |
| Fiction market share | 80% | 20% |
Differences in Genre Preferences
- Men read more: Fantasy, sci-fi, military/war, non-fiction
- Women read more: Romance, historical fiction, fiction in general
Author Gender Bias
A Goodreads study of 40,000 people (2014) revealed an interesting trend:
- Women: Read books by both male and female authors
- Men: 90% of books read are by male authors
* However, interpreting this as "male readers avoid female authors" is premature. Historically, canonical works in literature and philosophy have been predominantly written by men, and men may simply be reading more of these classics. Additionally, genres preferred by male readers (nonfiction, sci-fi, military) also tend to have more male authors.
Print Books vs E-books
Japan: E-publishing Market Trends (2014-2024)
Print vs E-book Comparison (Summary)
| Category | Print Books | E-books |
|---|---|---|
| Preference (Japan) | 76.5% | 7.7% |
| Market share (USA 2022) | About 73% | About 11% |
| Top genre read | Hobby/practical (71%) | Manga (77%) |
| Top reason for choosing | Used to it (57%) | No storage issues (58%) |
| "Read daily" percentage | Lower | Higher (+9pt) |
| Japan market change (2014-2024) | 37% decline | 5x growth |
Why is e-publishing growing rapidly while print preference remains high?
- Comics/Manga: In Japan, over 90% of e-publishing is comics. Many prefer "print for books, digital for comics"
- Price factor: E-books often have sales and free offers, especially attracting younger readers. Even those who prefer print often "buy" digital
- Reading frequency gap: E-book users read more frequently (+9pt) and purchase more books. A smaller group of heavy users drives sales
- Preference vs behavior gap: Even those who say "I prefer print" often choose digital for convenience, storage, and price
* In other words, preference surveys reflect "what people like," while sales reflect "actual purchasing behavior" — these don't necessarily contradict each other.
Literacy Rates and Reading Challenges
U.S. Literacy Issues
- Literacy rate is 99%, but the reality is severe as follows
- 54% of adults read at or below 6th-grade level
- Functionally illiterate: 14% (about 32 million people)
- Adults who cannot read prescription labels: about 50%
- Economic loss due to low literacy: $2.2 trillion annually
- 42% of college graduates never read a book after graduation
Youth Reading Decline (Global)
- UK: Only 18.7% of ages 8-18 read daily (2025)
- Reading enjoyment at lowest level in 20 years
- Reading time: Declining by about 3% annually
- 15-year-olds who read 30+ min daily: Girls 40%, Boys 25%
Global Literacy Rates
- World adult literacy rate: 87% (up from 68% in 1979)
- Illiterate population: 750 million (2/3 are women)
Question for this chapter: What can we conclude from the data about the relationship between reading habits and life?
Comprehensive Conclusion
What This Article Examined and Found
| Topic Examined | Result | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Chapter 1: Benefits of Reading Habits | ||
| Reading habits correlate with happiness | O | Daily readers have +23pt higher life satisfaction; readers report higher happiness |
| Reading habits correlate with health and longevity | O | Readers tend to live longer (+23 months); stress reduction effects also reported |
| Higher income individuals read more (individual level) | O | 40.5% of those earning 15M+ yen read 3+ books/month vs 22.6% of those earning 3-5M yen |
| Chapter 2: The Decline of Reading | ||
| Reading time is declining globally | O | USA: ~30% decline over 20 years, Japan: ~30% decline, UK: ~50% decline |
| Chapter 3: Why Is Reading Time Decreasing? | ||
| Long working hours prevent reading | X | India, China, Thailand have long work hours yet also long reading times |
| Long commutes prevent reading | X | No correlation between commute time and reading time (r=0.03) |
| Time taken by internet/smartphones | X | Japan has the world's shortest internet usage time (3:56/day) |
| Absolute lack of leisure time | O | Japan has the shortest sleep time in OECD (7:22/day) = no margin due to work |
| Cultural interpretation of "reading" differs | △ | Difficult to verify, but likely explains differences in international rankings |
| Chapter 4: Other Statistics | ||
| Women read more than men | O | In US, 53% of women read vs 43% of men. Similar trends in UK and Japan |
| Print books remain dominant | O | 65% prefer print in Japan; print books overwhelmingly preferred globally |
| Literacy and reading habits face challenges | O | 21% of US adults have literacy challenges; 50% of UK youth "never read for pleasure" |
* Criteria: "O" indicates correlation or trend was confirmed. Does not prove causation. "X" indicates hypothesis was not supported by data in this article. "△" indicates difficult to verify but possible.
Reading Habits and Life: Summary
Reading habits show positive correlation with happiness, health, and income. Whether reading improves these outcomes or whether people with more resources read more cannot be determined, but it is clear that reading habits are associated with indicators of a "good life."
Reading time has been consistently declining in developed countries including Japan. Smartphone proliferation, changes in information acquisition methods, and diversification of leisure activities are likely contributing factors. However, the simple explanation that "smartphones are taking up our time" is not consistent with international comparative data.
The international comparison result that "Japan has the shortest reading time in the world" must be considered with attention to survey methodology, definitions of "reading," and self-reporting bias. It would be premature to conclude that "Japanese people don't read" based solely on this result.
Implications
Having a reading habit is associated with life fulfillment. While causation is unclear, multiple studies suggest that reading may provide intellectual stimulation, stress reduction, and broadened perspectives.
In our busy modern society, finding time to read is not easy, but the data in this article reaffirms the significance of maintaining reading habits.
References
Chapter 1: Benefits of Reading Habits
- Correlation Between Reading and Happiness:
- Relationship Between Reading and Health/Longevity:
- Correlation Between Reading and Income:
- Gini Coefficient (Income Inequality): World Population Review - Gini Coefficient by Country
Chapter 2: The Reality of Declining Reading
-
Reading Time Series Data (USA): American Time Use Survey (ATUS) 2003-2023
American Academy of Arts and Sciences - Time Spent Reading
PMC - The decline in reading for pleasure over 20 years -
Reading Time Series Data (Japan): NHK National Time Use Survey
nippon.com - Elementary students' reading reduced to one-third over 30 years - Analysis of Reading Decline by Country:
Chapter 3: Why Is Reading Time Decreasing?
-
Reading Time (International Comparison): NOP World Culture Score Index (2005) "NOP World Roper Reports Worldwide" survey
Examined Existence - Which Country Reads the Most? -
Working Hours: ILO (International Labour Organization) 2025 data
World Population Review - Average Work Week by Country -
Commute Time (by country):
- Japan: OECD Time Use Database / CEPR research
- Korea: OECD Time Use Database
- China: Various urban surveys (Beijing, Shanghai, etc.)
- India: TomTom Traffic Index / Various surveys
- Thailand: Numbeo Quality of Life Index
- UK: TUC (Trade Union Congress) 2019 survey
- Germany: OECD Time Use Database
- USA: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey
- France: INSEE (National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies)
-
Time Allocation Data: OECD Time Use Database
OECD - Time use database -
Internet Usage Time: Digital 2024 Global Overview Report
Ooma - Countries Around the World Ranked by Average Screen Time
Chapter 4: Other Statistics
- Gender Gap in Reading:
- Print Books vs E-books:
-
Literacy Rates and Reading Challenges:
- U.S. literacy: National Literacy Institute - Literacy Statistics 2024-2025
- Global literacy: Our World in Data - Literacy
- Youth reading decline: The Guardian - Half of teenagers 'never read for pleasure'