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BOOK-BUYING TRENDS, READING HABITS & CUSTOMER NEEDS

As part of our ongoing mission to strengthen the resilience, capacity, and sustainability of the bookselling sector, it is with great pride that we present the study Consumer Behaviour - Book-Buying Trends, Reading Habits & Customer Needs, produced through the European & International Booksellers Federation’s EU co-funded project, RISE Bookselling. By examining consumer behaviour in book-buying and reading habits, we aim to equip booksellers with the knowledge they need to stay relevant, competitive, and future-proof.

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The study takes into consideration that globalisation and the digital revolution have undoubtedly changed the way people purchase and consume goods, including books, thus transforming today’s retail environment and customers’ buying habits. In response, the study draws on data from the 9500 respondents who took part in the study’s online quantitative survey, which was conducted across 19 countries. This gives us unique insights and the possibility to compare current trends and consumers’ attitudes to book-buying in the 19 countries surveyed. Topics include:

  • Book buying and reading habits
  • Top 5 most purchased genres across all sales channels
  • Places of purchase and reasons to purchase in physical bookshops
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Individual country reports

Australia

Australia

A majority of Australian respondents have read (80%) and purchased (64%) a book in the past 12 months...

Bulgaria

Bulgaria

Bulgarian respondents boast a great number of readers since 90% of them have read a book over the last year and 81%...

Canada

Canada

Reading is an appreciated pastime for many Canadian respondents, with 37% citing that it remains a hobby in their...

Finland

Finland

For most Finnish respondents (62%), reading was a favourite pastime when they were children. Currently, they follow the study...

France

France

France is a country of dedicated readers. Over the last 12 months, 80% of the surveyed French people report having...

Germany

Germany

Our German respondents enjoy reading slightly more than the other 19 countries surveyed, with 87% of them having read...

Ireland

Ireland

The Irish respondents are book-loving people: they stand out positively on almost all of this study’s analysed points...

Italy

Italy

Our Italian respondents are keen readers, with 94% of them having read a book in the last 12 months and 86% of them...

Latvia

Latvia

The share of readers among Latvian respondents is lower than average when compared to the 19 countries surveyed...

Netherlands

The Netherlands

The Dutch represent the norm in terms of reading habits when compared to the other 19 countries surveyed, with 86%...

NewZealand

New Zealand

Reading remains an important hobby for both young and old New Zealand respondents. Indeed, the country...

Norway

Norway

In 2023, 84% of the Norwegian respondents read a book and 70% bought one. As in most countries, paper books...

Portugal

Portugal

Portugal matches the average of the 19 countries surveyed in terms of reading habits, with 85% of the Portuguese...

Slovakia

Slovakia

The share of readers among Slovak respondents is lower than the average of the 19 countries surveyed with 76% of them...

Spain

Spain

Our Spanish pool of respondents has a high proportion of readers, with 91% having read a book over the last year and 80% having...

Sweden

Sweden

Swedish respondents are avid readers, with 87% of them having read a book in the past year, and 73% having bought one...

Switzerland

Switzerland

Our German-speaking Swiss respondents fall within the norm in terms of reading habits when compared to the other 19...

UK

UK

Respondents from the UK are heavy readers: 92% have read a book in the last 12 months and 78% have purchased one...

USA

USA

American respondents are particularly fond of the enjoyable atmosphere they find in independent bookshops...

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RISE Bookselling is a network programme organized by the European and International Booksellers Federation (EIBF) and co-funded by the Creative Europe programme of the European Union.

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