A new study from the University of Florida and the University of London has revealed a sharp 40 percent decline in daily reading for pleasure. This decline is noted among US adults over the past two decades. Researchers analyzed responses from 236,270 adults between 2003 and 2023. They found that reading as a leisure activity is becoming significantly less common.
The number of Americans reading for enjoyment daily peaked in 2004 at 28 percent. However, this number dropped to just 16 percent in 2023. While those who still read are spending slightly more time doing so, the overall decline highlights shifting cultural habits in the age of streaming, social media, and constant digital engagement.
Why the Decline Matters
Reading has long been associated with benefits such as improved comprehension, literacy, empathy, and mental well-being. Researchers warn that the ongoing drop represents not just a cultural shift but also a public health issue.
“This is not just a small dip – it’s a sustained, steady decline of about three percent per year,” said Jill Sonke, director of the Center for the Arts in Medicine at the University of Florida. “It’s significant, and it’s deeply concerning.”
Disparities Across Communities
The decline in reading is not uniform across all groups. Black Americans, particularly those with lower incomes, less education, and living outside major cities, showed the steepest drops in daily reading. Researchers suggest these patterns point to broader structural issues beyond the rise of smartphones and digital platforms.
“Our digital culture is certainly part of the story,” said Sonke. “But there are also structural issues – limited access to reading materials, economic insecurity, and a national decline in leisure time. If you’re working multiple jobs or living in a rural area, a library trip may not be feasible.”
The Case for Community-Centered Initiatives
To reverse the decline, the research team suggests strategies that make reading more accessible and social. Community programs such as library events, public book clubs, and family reading initiatives could help reintroduce reading as a shared activity rather than a solitary one.
Survey data showed that 67 percent of daily readers in 2023 read alone, and 94 percent did so at home. Shifting reading into group activities could encourage greater participation. Encouraging parents to read with children is also important, though survey findings suggest only 2 percent of respondents reported doing so regularly.
The Bigger Picture
Published in iScience, the study emphasizes that reading remains a low-cost, high-impact way to enhance quality of life. Researchers warn that letting reading fall further behind in favor of passive digital media risks long-term consequences for literacy, creativity, and mental health.
“Reading has historically been a low-barrier, high-impact way to engage creatively and improve quality of life,” said Sonke. “When we lose one of the simplest tools in our public health toolkit, it’s a serious loss.”
