Printed books continue to dominate Italy’s reading culture despite the growing availability of digital alternatives, according to the latest Istat report on reading habits and library attendance for 2024 and 2025.
The survey shows that 71.5% of readers in Italy read exclusively paper books even though the continued strength of traditional publishing even as e-books and audiobooks become more widely accessible.
Istat estimates that more than 20 million Italians aged six and above read printed books, representing 36.9% of the total population and 88.7% of all leisure readers. By comparison, e-books and online books are used by 10.7% of the population, or roughly six million people.
Audiobooks remain a much smaller segment of the market. Only 2.5% of the population, about 1.4 million people, reported listening to audiobooks.
It shows that the format is still relatively niche despite growing international popularity.
The report suggests that digital reading expanded during the pandemic, when people relied more heavily on online content and remote access to cultural services. However, that momentum has weakened since 2022 with paper books maintaining a clear lead over digital formats.
Istat also found that exclusive paper reading is particularly common among children under 10 and adults over 65.
Among young children, 90.8% of readers use only printed books, while the figure remains high at 83.6% among people aged 65 and above.
Digital reading is more common among teenagers and adults aged 15 to 44, who are more likely to switch between printed and electronic formats.
The survey identified a growing group of hybrid readers who combine paper books with e-books or online reading, accounting for 17.6% of readers. Although this share has increased gradually, it remains far below the proportion of readers who rely solely on printed books.
Clear demographic differences also emerged. Women are more likely than men to read only paper books, with 73.3% of female readers choosing print exclusively, compared with 69.2% of male readers. Men are slightly more likely to use e-books as their primary format.
Digital reading is more widespread in northern and central Italy than in the south, and people with higher levels of education are far more likely to read in digital formats.
Among adults with a university degree or other high educational qualifications, digital reading is significantly more common than among those with only primary education.
Even for reading related to work or study, printed books remain the dominant format. 59% of readers use only paper books for professional or educational purposes, while 31.7% combine paper and digital formats and just 7.3% rely exclusively on digital reading.
The findings also point to the emergence of social reading practices, where readers discuss books, exchange opinions and publish reviews through online platforms such as Wattpad and aNobii. While still a minority activity, it is more common among women and younger readers, particularly those aged 11 to 17.
The Istat survey shows that digital reading is growing in Italy, but printed books are still the most popular choice. The data suggest that e-books and other digital formats are becoming more common, but they are adding to, rather than replacing, traditional paper books.
