Reading Habits in South Africa
- 70.5% of South Africans have read at least once for pleasure in the last year
- 41.1% of South Africans are currently reading something at any given time
- 47% of South Africans are reading printed materials
- 51.2% fewer people are reading books now than were in 2006
- Among those whose home language is English, 58% of people have read in the last 30 days versus 43% of the general population
Reading vs watching TV in South Africa
- 87.2% more South Africans watch TV than read
- 51.2% fewer people are reading books now than were in 2006
- Whereas the same number of South Africans regularly watch TV as did in 2006
- People who read spend 6.2% of their time reading
- People who watch TV spend approximately 20% of their time doing so
- Reading is the 5th most popular leisure activity in Soiuth Africa
- Watching TV or listening to the radio is the most popular leisure activity in South Africa
43% of South Africans have read a book in the last month
How education impacts likelihood to read
- As education level increases so does the likelihood of someone having read in the last 30 days
- 3% of people with no schooling have read in the last 30 days compared to 43% of the general population
- This increases to 19% for people with a primary school education
- 47% for those who have graduated from high school
- 59% for those who have gone onto further education
How the area where people live impacts likelihood to read
- 48% of people from metropolitan areas have read in the last month compared to 43% of the general population
- 44% of people in urban areas have read in the last month
- 37% of people in rural areas have read in the last month
How sex and race impacts likelhood to read in South Africa
- For black people, men read more than women:
- 44% of black males have read in the last 30 days compated to 43% of the general population
- 39% of black females have read in the last 30 days
- For white people, women read more than men:
- 59% of white women have read in the last 30 days
- 54% of white men have read in the last 30 days