Conecta presents the 2025 Barometer of reading and book purchasing habits in Spain
Yesterday, the new edition of the Barometer of reading and book purchasing habits in Spain 2025 was presented in Madrid, one of the most relevant annual studies for understanding how reading evolves in our country. The report was conducted by Conecta, a company within the Minerva Insights group, for the Federación de Gremios de Editores de España (FGEE), with the support of CEDRO and in collaboration with the Ministerio de Cultura.
During the event, Óscar Chicharro, from Conecta, presented the key findings and insights that shed light on how reading habits in Spain continue to change and grow.
Leisure reading continues to rise in Spain
The Barometer confirms a sustained upward trend in reading habits:
- 66.2% of the Spanish population reads books in their free time, continuing the growth observed in recent years.
- When including those who read exclusively for work or study, the reading population reaches 69.8%.
- If we also include those who read only comics, the percentage rises to 71.2%.
Reading is increasing across all age groups, with two especially noteworthy developments:
- 76.9% of young people aged 14 – 24 read for leisure, debunking the myth that younger generations don’t read.
- 58% of people over the age of 65 identify as leisure readers, a remarkable increase of 13 points since 2017.
Comics: a format gaining traction
The Barometer points to the continued rise of comics as both an entry point to reading and a complementary format:
- 14.3% of Spaniards read comics, representing a 38% increase since 2020.
The reader profile in Spain
While reading habits are expanding across the population, the predominant reader profile remains consistent:
- female,
- young,
- with a university education,
- living in an urban environment.
Regional differences continue to narrow. Madrid (72.8%) leads the ranking, followed by the Basque Country, Catalonia, Navarre and La Rioja. Extremadura, Galicia and Andalusia show the largest increases since 2020.
Digital reading, audiobooks and new consumption patterns
Digital formats continue to gain relevance:
- 33.2% of the population reads in digital format.
- Audiobooks also continue their gradual expansion, reaching 9% of the population, particularly among younger listeners.
In terms of book purchasing:
- 54.1% of the population bought at least one non-textbook book in the past year, an upward trend since 2017.
- Bookstores remain the primary purchase channel (40%), ahead of online platforms (24%).
Libraries are also experiencing renewed momentum, with 29.8% of the population visiting libraries in 2025 and rating them highly, with an average score of 8.1 out of 10.
A key study to understand the evolution of reading in Spain
At Minerva Insights, we are especially proud of the work carried out by Conecta, whose methodological rigor and analytical expertise make this barometer an indispensable tool for institutions, cultural stakeholders and the publishing industry.
We extend our gratitude to FGEE, CEDRO, and the Ministry of Culture for their continued trust in Conecta to lead this important study, year after year.
