40% of Britons Proudly Avoid Reading for an Entire Year

New YouGov Poll on British Readers for World Book Day

It’s World Book Day! That magical time of year when British schoolchildren are handed a free book voucher, which many will trade for something with large fonts, bright pictures, and an absolute minimum of actual words. The hope is that this will inspire them to continue reading into adulthood, where, statistically speaking, they will then promptly stop.

Yes, in a triumphant victory for anti-intellectualism, a staggering 40% of Britons have managed to avoid the horrific ordeal of reading a single book over the past 12 months. That’s right—not one novel, biography, or even a self-help book with ‘Life-Changing’ in the title.

Meanwhile, the median Briton managed to plough through a whole three books, proving that reading is alive and well if you just set your sights incredibly low.

Britons and Their Reluctance to Read

Some people do, in fact, read. A small, committed bunch of what we shall call ‘mega-nerds’ (4% of the population) have read over 50 books in a year. Presumably, these are the types who don’t just enjoy books, but consider them a personality trait.

Interestingly, women are significantly more likely to pick up a book than men, with 66% of women having read at least one book compared to just 53% of men. This strongly suggests that women have an easier time understanding that letters form words, words form sentences, and sentences form… you get the idea.

Age also plays a role. The older you are, the more likely you are to have read a book in the past year, possibly because you remember a time before Netflix, TikTok, and being able to scroll your phone while simultaneously ignoring your loved ones.

And then there’s the political divide. Because, of course, there is. Turns out, remain voters are significantly more likely to have picked up a book in the past 12 months (72%), compared to leave voters, where just 54% managed the same feat. Which makes sense—why bother reading pesky ‘facts’ when Nigel Farage can just summarise everything for you in a pint-fuelled monologue?

Do Right-Wing Voters Read Less? No Surprise – They've Already Made Up Their Minds!

Labour voters are the biggest bookworms (70%), likely devouring weighty tomes about economic inequality. Lib Dems (64%) and Conservatives (63%) aren’t too far behind, proving that both centrists and right-wingers still know how to turn a page. But Reform UK voters? A modest 51% reported reading a book. Presumably, the rest were too busy writing furious Facebook posts in all caps.

When Do These Mysterious Readers Read?

Apparently, most reading happens in bed, on holiday, or during ‘free time’ (whatever that is). A brave 19% claim to read while commuting, which either means they’re exceptionally focused or they enjoy paying for a book they can only get through one paragraph at a time before being interrupted by someone blasting music through tinny phone speakers.

And let’s talk about book format. While 61% of readers remain stubbornly attached to physical books, some have moved on to digital versions. There’s even a fringe movement of audiobook fanatics, despite 53% of Britons insisting that listening to someone read to you doesn’t count as actually reading. Probably the same people who believe watching MasterChef makes them a Michelin-starred chef.

How Many Books Do Britons Own?

Half of Britons actually bought a book last year, either to read or to strategically place on a coffee table for aesthetic reasons. 29% managed to go an entire year without acquiring a single book in any way, proving that some people are truly dedicated to avoiding literacy.

For those who do hoard books, 24% own more than 100 physical copies. A remarkable commitment, considering that bookshelves are just a decorative backdrop for Zoom calls nowadays. And for those with digital books, 16% of over-65s own more than 100 e-books, possibly having stockpiled them in preparation for the inevitable collapse of the internet.

Organised or Chaotic? The Bookshelf Debate

A thrilling discovery: 45% of book owners don’t organise their shelves at all. Just a wild, untamed jungle of paperbacks and hardbacks shoved wherever they fit. The remaining 55% have some sort of system, ranging from ‘by size’ (19%) to ‘by genre’ (17%) to ‘alphabetical by author’ (11%). Meanwhile, an elite 10% divide books into ‘read’ and ‘haven’t read yet,’ which—let’s be honest—just means a growing stack of guilt and ambition they’ll never get through.

So, as we celebrate World Book Day, let’s raise a glass (or a screen) to the noble few who still turn pages, the digital warriors who pretend Kindle reading counts, and the audiobook listeners who insist it’s the same as reading. And to the 40% of the nation who made it through another year without touching a single book? Well done. You win. Just don’t expect a congratulatory certificate—you’d probably refuse to read it anyway.