Children's reading enjoyment rises for first time in five years, UK survey finds
A survey of over 125,000 UK children and teenagers found that 36.1% now enjoy reading in their spare time, up from 32.7% in 2025, marking the first increase since 2021. The improvement is most pronounced among older teenagers aged 16-18, whose reading enjoyment jumped from 41.4% to 49.4%. The findings come as the UK government designates 2026 as the National Year of Reading, though a gap persists between children from lower and higher-income households.
Reading enjoyment among UK children and young people has increased for the first time in five years, according to research by the National Literacy Trust based on a survey of 125,375 students aged 5-18 across 479 schools. The proportion saying they enjoy reading rose to 36.1% from 32.7% in 2025, reversing a downward trend that began in 2021 when enjoyment stood at 51.5%. Daily reading habits also improved, with 20.3% of children now reading every day compared to 18.7% the previous year. The largest gains were among older teenagers: the 14-16 age group increased from 28.6% to 35%, while the 16-18 group jumped from 41.4% to 49.4%. However, younger children aged 5-8 saw a slight decline to 61.6% from 62.6%, attributed partly to fewer boys in that age group reporting enjoyment. The research also revealed a persistent gap between children receiving free school meals and those who do not, with enjoyment rising to 32.1% and 37.3% respectively in 2026.
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Uptick in children and teenagers enjoying reading for first time in 5 years
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