The reading rates of Spaniards remain stable, although that of people who read in their free time has fallen slightly, going from 64.8% to 64.1% in the last year. Furthermore, Spain continues to have a significant percentage of “stubborn” non-readers, 35.9% of the total who claims to never or almost never read, according to the 2023 Reading Habits Barometer prepared by the Federation of the Editors’ Guild of Spain (FGEE).
These are some of the data from the reading barometer that was presented this Wednesday at the National Library of Spain and about which the president of the Federation of Editors’ Guilds of Spain (FGEE), Daniel Fernández, has highlighted that the increase in reading for pleasure by five points in the last eleven years (from 59.1% to 64.1% %), is good news, although it has “a B-side.”
The president of the federation, Daniel Fernández, has celebrated this annual study, but regrets “that stubborn third of Spaniards who never open a book, and who is surely the same as never enter a library, visit a museum or an art gallery”he lamented.
The person responsible for preparing this study, Óscar Chicharro, has highlighted the reasons given by those who are not readers. “Generally, It’s because you don’t have time, but the percentage of those who prefer to invest their time in other activities has increased significantly. Furthermore, if you join the time spent on all screens — television or streaming —that would be the main cause of reader abandonment,” he remarked.
On the contrary, the number of regular readers has been consolidated, after the exponential growth of the pandemic. Thus, since 2012, the percentage of readers in their free time has increased by five percentage points (from 59.1% to 64.1%), although in the last year there has been a minimal drop in the percentage of people who read in their free time(64.8% to 64.1%).
Urtasun blames the “way of life he leads”
The Minister of Culture, Ernest Urtasun, has defended that reading is an “ecosystem” that his department must protect and hopes that these reading rates “go higher.” Regarding non-readers, he has recognized that it can be an indicator “of the way of life one leads” on many occasions in Spain. “We must improve the quality of life of that free time, often with jobs compatible with life,” she highlighted.
Source: Lasexta
Bruce is a talented author and journalist with a passion for entertainment . He currently works as a writer at the 247 News Agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the industry.
