Reader Reference
Current figures on how Americans read, the formats they choose, and the scale of book publishing. Every statistic below links to its original source.
Last updated September 2, 2026. The latest reader survey covers October 2025. Publishing figures cover calendar year 2025.
At a Glance
Print remains central to American reading, while eBooks and audiobooks give readers more ways to fit stories into their lives. For authors, book clubs, librarians, and journalists, that mix matters: a reader may discover a novel in one format and continue the habit in another.
This page is a focused reference, built around the latest publicly available U.S. reader survey and publishing-industry annual report. It does not estimate historical-fiction readership, because the sources do not publish a reliable current figure for that genre alone.
Reading Habits
Survey findings from U.S. adults, collected by Pew Research Center in October 2025 and published in April 2026.
75%
The figure includes print books, eBooks, and audiobooks.
Source: Pew Research Center, Americans still opt for print books over digital or audio versions; few are in book clubs, April 9, 202664%
Print remains the only book format used by a majority of adults.
Source: Pew Research Center, Americans still opt for print books over digital or audio versions; few are in book clubs, April 9, 202631%
The share was 17% in 2011, based on Pew’s reported trend data.
Source: Pew Research Center, Americans still opt for print books over digital or audio versions; few are in book clubs, April 9, 202626%
That is more than double the 11% reported in 2011.
Source: Pew Research Center, Americans still opt for print books over digital or audio versions; few are in book clubs, April 9, 202678%
For men, the corresponding figure was 71%.
Source: Pew Research Center, Americans still opt for print books over digital or audio versions; few are in book clubs, April 9, 202678%
Among this group, 41% read an eBook and 32% listened to an audiobook.
Source: Pew Research Center, Americans still opt for print books over digital or audio versions; few are in book clubs, April 9, 202638%
Another 13% read six to 10, 10% read 11 to 20, and 14% read more than 20.
Source: Pew Research Center, Americans still opt for print books over digital or audio versions; few are in book clubs, April 9, 2026Publishing Snapshot
Estimated revenue findings from the Association of American Publishers’ annual report, released August 10, 2026.
$21.7B
Consumer-book revenue rose 2.7% from the prior year.
Source: Association of American Publishers, StatShot Annual Report for calendar year 2025, August 10, 2026$7.1B
Adult fiction grew 3.9% year over year.
Source: Association of American Publishers, StatShot Annual Report for calendar year 2025, August 10, 202673.1%
The two formats together remained the largest share of consumer-book revenue.
Source: Association of American Publishers, StatShot Annual Report for calendar year 2025, August 10, 2026$2.5B
Digital audio grew 5.3% from 2024.
Source: Association of American Publishers, StatShot Annual Report for calendar year 2025, August 10, 2026$2.2B
eBook revenue grew 3.2% from 2024.
Source: Association of American Publishers, StatShot Annual Report for calendar year 2025, August 10, 2026$12.3B
Online retail grew 3.1% from 2024, according to the report.
Source: Association of American Publishers, StatShot Annual Report for calendar year 2025, August 10, 2026Methodology and Sources
Each statistic is reported as its source presents it. Pew Research Center surveyed 8,046 U.S. adults from October 6 to 16, 2025. The Association of American Publishers’ annual report combines publisher-reported data with government statistics, market measurement, and other industry research.
Cite This Page
Suggested citation: Daisy O. Harrison, “U.S. Book Reading Statistics: 2026 Facts and Trends,” updated September 2, 2026, https://daisyoharrison.com/book-reading-statistics.
To cite one figure, link directly to its heading. Every statistic has a stable page anchor.
For Historical-Fiction Readers
Daisy O. Harrison’s Love & Venom trilogy begins in Constantinople and follows one family across generations, from the Ottoman world toward Renaissance Italy. It is historical fiction for readers who enjoy a vivid setting with people, love, and consequence at its center.