Over the last 20 years, the number of Americans who read daily for pleasure has seen a considerable decline.

The number of Americans who read for pleasure has fallen by 40%, according to a new study.

Researchers at the University of Florida and University College London have found that between 2003 and 2023, daily reading for reasons other than work and study fell by about 3% each year.

The number saw a peak in 2004, with 28% of people qualifying, before falling to 16% in 2023. The data was taken from more than 236,000 Americans who participated in the American Time Use Survey and the study was published in the journal iScience. The definition of reading in the survey wasn’t limited to books; it also included magazines and newspapers in print, electronic or audio form.

Jill Sonke, study co-author, called it “a sustained, steady decline” and one that is “deeply concerning”.

“Reading has historically been a low-barrier, high-impact way to engage creatively and improve quality of life,” Sonke said. “When we lose one of the simplest tools in our public health toolkit, it’s a serious loss.”

While all groups saw a decline, there were bigger drops among certain groups such as Black Americans, people with lower incomes or education levels, and those in rural areas. More women than men also continue to read for fun.