Bangladesh ranks near bottom in global reading habit survey
In a world ruled by scrolling thumbs, the joy of turning pages is slowly disappearing – and Bangladesh is falling far behind. A 2024 survey by CEO World magazine on the reading habits of citizens in 102 countries has revealed that Bangladesh ranks 97th, with people spending only 62 hours a year on reading – roughly 2.75 books per person annually.
While smartphones and social media continue to dominate attention, the study shows that many nations still treasure the written word. But in South Asia, reading seems to be fading fast.
The world’s reading leaders
At the top of the global list, Americans emerged as the world’s most avid readers, spending an average of 357 hours a year reading – about seven hours per week. Close behind are Indians, who devote 352 hours annually, followed by the United Kingdom (343 hours).
The French (305 hours) and Italians (278 hours) round out the top five, proving that Europe remains a continent of book lovers.
Asian nations such as China, Japan, and South Korea sit mid-table, while India stands tall as the region’s reading powerhouse. But Bangladesh (62 hours), along with Pakistan (60) and Afghanistan (58), are among the world’s least book-engaged nations.
Bangladesh: A culture losing its pages
Once home to a proud literary heritage, Bangladesh now finds itself struggling to maintain a culture of reading. Teachers and publishers say that the habit of reading beyond textbooks has almost vanished, replaced by endless scrolling on phones.
“Children spend hours on TikTok and Facebook, but not five minutes with a book,” said a librarian in Khulna. “Even educated families rarely keep books at home anymore.”
While Ekushey Boi Mela and online bookstores have kept reading visible, the data shows that engagement is sporadic. Outside major cities, libraries are rare and many rural students never own a single storybook.
The Global Reading Ranking 2024
According to the Global Reading Ranking 2024, which measures average annual reading time per person in hours, the United States tops the list with 357 hours, followed closely by India at 352 hours and the United Kingdom at 343 hours. France ranks fourth with 305 hours, while Italy comes in fifth with 278 hours. These top five countries demonstrate a strong commitment to reading, each exceeding 275 hours per year.
Canada and Russia follow with 232 and 223 hours respectively, and Australia records 217 hours. Spain and the Netherlands are next, with 187 and 182 hours annually. Switzerland and Taiwan are tied at 157 hours, just ahead of Belgium, Singapore, and Hong Kong (China), all reporting 155 hours. South Africa and China each show 154 hours, while Norway and Austria both stand at 153 hours. Israel, Thailand, and Iran share 149 hours, followed by Colombia and Romania at 147 hours, and Chile at 144 hours.
Germany and Japan report 141 and 135 hours respectively, with the Czech Republic at 133 hours and Finland at 131 hours. Turkey, Indonesia, Mexico, South Korea, and Brazil fall between 130 and 125 hours, while the Philippines and Vietnam each record 123 hours, and Malaysia stands at 122 hours. Denmark and Egypt both report 121 hours, as do Portugal and Peru at 120 hours. New Zealand follows with 119 hours, and Greece, Hungary, and Ukraine all sit at 117 hours. Slovakia records 116 hours, while Cuba and the Dominican Republic report 115 hours, and Ecuador and Puerto Rico each show 113 hours.
Further down the list, Kenya reports 108 hours, Bulgaria 106, Luxembourg 105, Venezuela 104, Argentina 103, Costa Rica 102, and Panama and Lithuania both at 101 hours. Slovenia records 100 hours, while Estonia and Macau (China) each report 98 hours. Iceland follows with 97 hours, Georgia and Armenia at 96 hours, and Albania, Malta, and North Macedonia all at 94 hours.
The lowest-reading nations include Mauritius and Tajikistan at 89 hours, Namibia at 88, Kyrgyzstan at 87, Nicaragua and Niger at 86 hours, and Moldova at 85 hours. Jamaica and Syria both report 80 hours, Cambodia and Zimbabwe 78 hours, Lebanon and Bahrain 77 hours, Jordan and Sri Lanka 76 hours, and Myanmar, Azerbaijan, and Turkmenistan each at 74 hours. Angola, Oman, Kuwait, and Ethiopia all record 69 hours, Morocco and Qatar 67 hours, Algeria and Kazakhstan 65 hours, Iraq 64 hours, Bangladesh 62 hours, and the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Brunei each at 60 hours. Afghanistan ranks lowest on the list with just 58 hours of average annual reading time per person.
The reading divide: Books vs screens
Globally, the survey paints a picture of two worlds – one where books remain part of daily life, and another where reading has been pushed aside by short videos and social media feeds.
While Americans and Indians spend nearly an hour a day reading, the average Bangladeshi spends less than five minutes.
Experts say that unless schools and families nurture curiosity and storytelling, the next generation may grow up disconnected from books entirely.
“The decline in reading isn’t just about books – it’s about imagination, empathy, and knowledge,” said a Dhaka publisher. “If we lose that, we lose something far bigger than pages.”
As Bangladesh sits near the bottom of the global reading list, one question looms larger than ever:
In a world that still reads, can we afford not to?