A Nation Of Interrupted Readers: The UK’s Reading Crisis

On Siren Stories, The Reading Agency’s State of the Nation in Adult Reading 2025 reveals a UK reading crisis driven by distraction, urging everyone to join Reading Hour and The Road to Reading to rediscover the joy and benefits of reading for pleasure.

The Reading Agency’s State of the Nation in Adult Reading 2025 report paints a concerning picture of a growing reading crisis in the UK. With nearly half of adults struggling to focus on reading due to distractions, and younger generations facing even greater challenges, the joy and benefits of reading are slipping away for millions. Despite this, the report highlights the transformative power of even small amounts of reading and offers hope through initiatives like Reading Hour and The Road to Reading.

Distraction: The Enemy of Reading

In today’s fast-paced, digitally driven world, distraction is a major barrier to reading for pleasure. The report reveals that 46% of UK adults struggle to focus on reading due to external distractions, with the figure rising to 55% for 16-24-year-olds and 35-44-year-olds, and 52% for 25-34-year-olds. For many, reading has become a multitasking activity, with 33% of adults reading while commuting, exercising, or doing household chores. This trend is even more pronounced among younger adults, with 48% of 25-34-year-olds and 43% of 16-24-year-olds and 35-44-year-olds reading on the go.

The rise of multitasking and constant interruptions reflects a broader shift in attention spans. 19% of adults report that their ability to focus has worsened over the past three years, with 24% of 16-24-year-olds echoing this sentiment. The top culprits include:

• Lack of free time (24%)
• Changes in mental or physical health (11%)
• Major life events (10%)
• Increased screen time or digital habits (10%)

The Struggle to Finish a Book

Even when UK adults manage to pick up a Book, completing it is another hurdle. The report finds that 31% of adults struggle to finish what they start reading, with younger readers particularly affected—43% of 16-34-year-olds report this issue. This inability to stay engaged with a single narrative underscores the pervasive impact of distraction and competing demands on modern life.

The number of UK adults who read regularly for pleasure has fallen from 58% in 2015 to 53% in 2025. This decline represents a missed opportunity for an estimated 2.53 million adults who might otherwise be reading today. The drop is particularly stark among younger generations, who face the dual pressures of distraction and time scarcity.

Despite these challenges, the benefits of reading remain undeniable. The Reading Agency’s research shows that just 30 minutes of reading per week can boost life satisfaction by 20%. Readers report feeling comforted (34%), inspired (29%), and joyful (22%) after spending time with a book. These emotional rewards highlight reading’s potential to enhance mental well-being and foster a sense of connection and purpose.

Initiatives to Reignite Reading

To combat the reading crisis, The Reading Agency is championing two key initiatives in 2025:

• Reading Hour: Taking place on World Book Night from 7-8pm, this event encourages everyone to dedicate an hour to reading and share their experiences on social media. It’s a call to pause, disconnect from distractions, and rediscover the joy of a good story.
• The Road to Reading: This 10-week program supports people in building a habit of reading for 30 minutes each week, offering tips and guidance to make reading a regular part of life.

The Reading Agency’s Mission

As a UK charity, The Reading Agency is dedicated to inspiring social and personal change through reading. Reaching over two million people annually, the organization works with individuals, communities, and partners to promote the transformative benefits of reading. However, with a UK population exceeding 67 million, there’s still a long way to go. The charity’s mission is clear: to get more people excited about reading, because “everything changes when you read.”

Methodology

The State of the Nation in Adult Reading 2025 report is based on a survey conducted by Censuswide between April 11-17, 2025, with 4,000 UK adults aged 16+. The survey, designed using The Reading Agency’s Peter Sowerby Foundation-funded Reading Outcomes Framework, defines “reading” as any voluntary reading for pleasure, including books, e-books, audiobooks, graphic novels, comics, magazines, poetry, blogs, and more. The decline in regular readers was calculated using the difference between 2015 (58%) and 2025 (53.4%) figures, multiplied by the ONS 2022 mid-year UK population estimate for those aged 16+ (55,190,347).

A Call to Action

The Reading Agency’s findings serve as both a warning and an invitation. As distractions continue to erode the UK’s reading culture, the emotional and social benefits of reading are more important than ever. By taking part in initiatives like Reading Hour and The Road to Reading, individuals can reclaim the simple pleasure of losing themselves in a story—and rediscover why reading matters.

Find out more about the Quick Read 2025 authors and titles.