Ukrainians are returning to reading: 80% of people have read at least one book in a year
Reading in Ukraine is gradually strengthening its position among everyday cultural practices, although this process is developing unevenly and does not always mean stable reading habits. Against the backdrop of war, relocation, changing rhythms of life and growing demand for Ukrainian cultural products, books have become a way for many people to maintain intellectual support, regain their attention space and maintain a connection with language, education and their own experience.
According to data of a nationwide study of cultural practices and preferences of the population, conducted by the Research.ua agency and presented by the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine in Kyiv, over the past year 80% of Ukrainians read at least one book. In the previous study in 2022, this was 65%, so the new figures show a noticeable expansion of the circle of people who turn to books at least from time to time.
Director of Research.ua Volodymyr Kutyuk explained that the growth in the share of readers is gradual and continues from year to year. According to him, people are more likely to see reading as a means for their own development, so books are no longer an occupation for a narrow circle of regular readers and are more widely included in the leisure activities of the urban population.
Despite the growth in general interest, the study data do not indicate mass regular reading. A significant part of Ukrainians picks up a book episodically: 35% of respondents read one or two books per year. The more active group looks more noticeable, but does not undoubtedly prevail: 45% of respondents reported that they read three or more books. Another 15% did not read a single book per year, which leaves every seventh survey participant outside the scope of reading practice.
The noticeable advantage of bookstores over libraries shows how the Ukrainian way to a book is changing. Only 30% of respondents use bookstores, another 21% combine bookstores and libraries, and only 8% choose libraries. This distribution shows that people are more likely to look for new publications, a modern assortment and quick access to current books, while libraries remain an important but less popular channel.
Paper books retain their strongest positions. They are chosen by 75% of Ukrainians, although the electronic format has also become familiar to a significant part of readers – 55% of those surveyed use it. Audiobooks have a smaller, but already noticeable audience: they are chosen by 24% of respondents. This shows that Ukrainian reading is no longer limited to traditional books, but printed publications still remain the main format.
The research was conducted using online interviews among 2,000 respondents. The audience covered the adult urban population in the territory of Ukraine controlled by the government. Therefore, these results primarily describe the reading practices of urban adult Ukrainians and provide insight into how books maintain their place in the cultural life of the country during long-term social changes.
