, April 27 — In 2024, more Chinese adults turned to digital formats for reading, with a noticeable rise in the use of mobile phones and audio platforms, according to a national survey on reading habits.
The survey, carried out by the Chinese Academy of Press and Publication, was unveiled at the Fourth National Conference on Reading held in Taiyuan, the capital city of Shanxi province.
The research indicates that 78.7% of adults consume digital content via their smartphones, and 38.5% listen to audiobooks, with both percentages showing yearly growth.
In 2023, Chinese adults typically read around 4.79 physical books and approximately 3.5 e-books each, showing an increase from the prior year for both categories.
The chief of the China Audio-Video and Digital Publishing Association, Sun Shoushan, highlighted that progress in digital technology along with favorable policies has spurred expansion in the size and scope of digital reading within the nation.
He mentioned that digital reading has seamlessly integrated into everyday life in China, transforming from a specialized pastime into a common practice. A rich variety of platforms have emerged to serve readers across different ages and environments, forming an extensive reading landscape.
A different report from the conference indicated that digital reading users in China climbed to 670 million in 2024, marking a 17.52% rise compared to the prior year.
The Chinese digital reading sector experienced robust financial expansion as well, with revenues climbing to 66.14 billion yuan (about 9 billion USD), marking an increase of 16.65% from 2023.
