Reading for Pleasure Hits a 20-Year Low: What’s Gone Wrong, and What Can Be Done?
New figures from the National Literacy Trust paint a stark picture of the reading habits of young people in the UK:
Just 1 in 3 children say they enjoy reading, the lowest figure since records began.
This isn’t just a cultural shift - it’s a warning light for the future of education, wellbeing, and equality.
🔍 The Data Behind the Decline
According to the Trust’s latest survey of nearly 115,000 children and young people:
Only 32.7% of 8–18-year-olds say they enjoy reading “very much” or “quite a lot”
Daily reading in free time has dropped from 38.1% to just 18.7%
Enjoyment is lowest among boys aged 11-16, though girls’ enjoyment is also falling
Socioeconomic differences are relatively small: 33% of children not on free school meals (FSM) enjoy reading vs 31% of those who are
While inequality still plays a role, this is a broader trend that cuts across demographics and regions.
📚 Why Reading Enjoyment Matters
We know that reading for pleasure is one of the strongest predictors of future academic success, more so than socioeconomic background. It’s also closely tied to:
Improved vocabulary and language skills
Better emotional wellbeing
Higher self-esteem
Greater life chances overall
When children stop enjoying reading, they read less. When they read less, their literacy suffers, creating a feedback loop that’s hard to break.
🎯 What Actually Motivates Young Readers?
Interestingly, even children who say they don’t enjoy reading are open to it when the content aligns with their interests:
38.1% are drawn to books related to their favourite film or TV show
37.1% are motivated by books about topics they already enjoy
30.9% are influenced by appealing covers or titles
Preferred formats now include song lyrics, comics, graphic novels, fan fiction, and news articles, not just traditional fiction.
It’s a reminder that reading doesn’t just mean books, and that engagement starts with relevance.
💼 What This Means for Education Suppliers
The drop in reading enjoyment is a serious concern. Still, it also presents an opportunity for the education sector to rethink its approach and for suppliers to be part of the solution.
Challenges:
Schools are under immense pressure to improve literacy with limited time and resources.
Traditional reading programmes may not appeal to a generation raised on short-form, multimedia content.
There’s a risk that disengaged students fall further behind, especially in the transition from primary to secondary.
Opportunities:
Interactive literacy platforms that integrate music, video, and gamification can help re-engage reluctant readers.
Customisable reading apps that allow pupils to choose content aligned to their interests (e.g. football, anime, pop culture) can bridge the gap between entertainment and education.
Comics and graphic novels, which have long been overlooked, are emerging as powerful tools to spark interest, particularly among boys.
Real-time analytics can help teachers track engagement, identify struggling readers early, and tailor their support accordingly.
AI-powered tools can adapt reading materials to each learner’s level, style, and speed, making personalised reading support scalable.
🚀 Final Thoughts
This isn’t just a reading crisis; it’s an engagement crisis. If we want to turn the tide, we need to meet young people where they are, speak their language, and reimagine what reading looks like in the 2020s.
For suppliers and EdTech providers, the message is clear: the tools and content that win will be those that combine relevance, accessibility, and flexibility, all while supporting teachers to do what they do best.
We don’t just need children to read more. We need them to want to.