The year 2020 saw a decline in book reading.
This is the result of two surveys.
According to the cultural practices survey, conducted during the first lockdown by Credoc, at the request of the Ministry of Culture, book reading during the lockdown showed a 10-point decline (52% of individuals read at least one book during the lockdown compared to 62% in 2018)."Less access to books due to the closure of bookstores and libraries could partly explain this result," explain Anne Jonchery and Philippe Lombardo (Department of Studies, Forecasting and Statistics, Ministry of Culture). "Several researchers have also suggested that individuals may be less mentally and psychologically available to read during confinement, due to the emotional and informational overload generated by the health crisis.
The survey conducted in early 2021 by Ipsos on behalf of the National Book Center (CNL) confirms this decline: 81% of French people say they read (a lot, moderately or little), compared to 88% in 2019 (a decline of 8 points). " The decrease in travel in general and the closures of reading places (bookstores, libraries) are likely one of the factors of this decline ... The French have probably wanted to better understand the world and decipher the crisis we have gone through: they have read more books of reports and news (essays, biographies ...), but less novels (-7 points) and practical books (-7 points) ".
One French person in four has already read a digital book
The year 2020, on the other hand, has seen a resurgence of interest in digital books, according to the Barometer of digital book usage conducted by Médiamétrie on behalf of the Syndicat national de l'Edition (SNE).In 2021, 26% of French people have already read a digital book. That's nearly one million more readers in twelve months (13.8 million).
- 19% of French people have already listened to a physical or digital audio book (9.9 M).
- Many readers converted to digital in 2020: 26% of digital audiobook listeners have been digital for less than a year, 21% for physical audiobooks and 15% for digital books.
- Among 15/24 year olds, 46% have already read a digital book and 33% have listened to an audio book.
- Out of all French people, 59% are exclusive readers of printed books while 33% have already read on another medium (digital or audio), and 8% do not read any type of book.
- The smartphone is the most widely used equipment among readers of all categories.
- However, one third of e-book readers own an e-reader (of which 64% have owned one for at least 3 years) and it is the preferred reading medium for 24% of e-book readers (compared to 29% for the smartphone).
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