WASHINGTON — The share of U.S. children who read books for fun almost every day has continued to decline, reaching record lows in recent years, according to federal data released by the National Center for Education Statistics.
The long-term trend assessment showed that 37 percent of 9-year-olds reported reading for fun almost every day in 2025, down from 53 percent in 2012, the National Assessment of Educational Progress data indicated. Among 13-year-olds, the figure stood at 14 percent in 2025, compared with 27 percent in 2012.
The declines represent some of the lowest levels recorded since the survey began tracking the question in 1984, when about 53 percent of 9-year-olds and 35 percent of 13-year-olds said they read for pleasure nearly daily, officials said.
The National Center for Education Statistics, part of the U.S. Department of Education, released the latest long-term trend results this week. The data come from student surveys conducted alongside the assessments.
“Fewer students are reading for pleasure — than ever,” an analysis of the findings noted. The drop has been particularly pronounced since 2012, with additional declines observed in more recent years.
The report did not detail specific reasons for the trend. Education researchers have pointed to increased screen time and competing digital activities as potential factors in broader discussions about youth reading habits, though the assessment itself does not attribute causation.
The findings align with other surveys tracking reading enjoyment. For example, earlier data from the National Assessment of Educational Progress showed similar downward patterns in the years leading up to 2025.
A spokesperson for the National Center for Education Statistics said the long-term trend assessments provide important context on student experiences beyond test scores. “These surveys capture how often students engage with reading outside of school requirements,” the official noted in materials accompanying the release.
The data come as overall reading proficiency scores have also faced challenges. Average reading scores for 4th and 8th graders have shown declines in recent assessment cycles, though the long-term trend report highlighted some areas of stability or improvement in other metrics for younger students.
No immediate details were available on whether schools or libraries have adjusted programs in response to the latest figures. The U.S. Department of Education has not issued a formal statement on potential interventions tied specifically to pleasure reading trends.
The survey results are based on representative samples of U.S. students. Further breakdowns by demographics, including gender and race, were included in the full report but showed consistent patterns of decline across groups.
Investigations and analysis of the full dataset are ongoing, officials said. The complete long-term trend report is available on the National Assessment of Educational Progress website.
