Study: 35% of Greeks have not read a single book in a year

According to a survey conducted by the Language Projects Collective Management Organization, 35% of the Greek population has not read a single book in a year.

The survey was conducted between 2021 and early 2022 and is of particular importance because the previous one was conducted 12 years ago by the National Book Center (Εθνικό Κέντρο Βιβλίου, ΕΚΕΒΙ).

How many books do we read a year? How has the pandemic affected your interest in reading?

The answers to these questions are given by the survey of the Organization for the Collective Management of Speech Projects (OSDEL), which was presented by the director Giorgandreas Zannos in the context of the 19th International Book Fair in Thessaloniki (DEBTH), which began today.

One of the most important results of the study is the number of readers and their qualitative characteristics. “35% of the Greek population do not read a single book a year. The average reader who reads one to four books a year is 34%, while only 31% of the population reads more than five books a year,” said Giorgandreas Zannos.

“Regarding the previous study, we see progress being made. Despite the fact that 65% said they do not read a single book a year. Last year, this percentage dropped significantly, but is still high, as it reaches 35% of the Greek population,” the President of OSDEL stressed.

What do Greeks read?

According to the preferences of readers, Greek literature is in the first place. “Further foreign literature, detective novel, psychology, social sciences, etc. The rating is similar to the previous survey, with the difference that in recent years, the popularity of detective literature among readers has increased,” said Giorgandreas Zannos.

The period of the pandemic has affected the practice of reading, especially the fact that 44% of the population began to read more. This was to be expected, but it is significant that this applies only to ordinary readers, those who have already read books. On the other hand, 45% did not increase their reading practice, and only 11% decreased their interest in print publications,” the specialist said.

However, according to research, Word of mouth is the best way to advertise readers’ book choices. “50% of readers said they get information about how to choose a particular book from friends and acquaintances, and in fact, in the 16-24 age group, this percentage increases even more and reaches 64%,” said Giorgandreas Zannos and added that “bookstores are the second source of information for Greek readers.”

“What has logically changed from the previous survey in 2011 is that now The Internet and social networks have become one of the main sources of information“, he concluded.

Finally, the President of the Organization for the Collective Management of Speech Projects appealed to parents raising children to ensure that their children love books from an early age.

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