Print books still dominate in the U.S., but use of e-books and audiobooks has grown over the past decade
% of U.S. adults who say they have __ in the past 12 months
Note: Dashed lines indicate a change in survey mode. We conducted the poll via phone from 2011 to 2021, and via web and phone in 2025. Those who did not answer or said that they did not read any books either all or part of the way through in the past 12 months are not shown.
Source: Survey conducted Oct. 6-16, 2025.
PEW RESEARCH CENTER
Print books still dominate in the U.S., but use of e-books and audiobooks has grown over the past decade
% of U.S. adults who say they have __ in the past 12 months
| Date | Read a print book | Read an e-book | Listened to an audiobook |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 72% | 17% | 11% |
| 2012 | 66% | 23% | 13% |
| 2014 | 69% | 28% | 14% |
| 2015 | 63% | 27% | 12% |
| 2016 | 65% | 28% | 14% |
| 2018 | 67% | 26% | 18% |
| 2019 | 65% | 25% | 20% |
| 2021 | 65% | 30% | 23% |
| 2025 | 64% | 31% | 26% |
Note: Dashed lines indicate a change in survey mode. We conducted the poll via phone from 2011 to 2021, and via web and phone in 2025. Those who did not answer or said that they did not read any books either all or part of the way through in the past 12 months are not shown.
Source: Survey conducted Oct. 6-16, 2025.
PEW RESEARCH CENTER
