site.btaMore than 80% of Bulgarians Consider Reading Important - Survey

More than 80% of Bulgarians consider reading important, according to a survey commissioned by the 24 Chasa daily and conducted by the Trend polling agency.

The survey was carried out between May 12 and 18 through semi-standardized face-to-face interviews with tablets with 1,001 Bulgarians aged 18 and over.

According to the survey, 42% of respondents deem reading particularly important, 41% consider it relatively important, 7% believe it is not important, 6% regard it as not important at all, and 4% remain undecided. 

Meanwhile, four in ten respondents, or 43%, admit that they have not read a single book in the past year. This percentage rises with age, reaching 50% among those over 70. The share of non-readers is significantly lower among university graduates.

The survey shows that 24% of respondents read between one and three books over the past year, 16% read between four and six, 7% read between seven and ten, and 9% read more than ten books.

The most common reason for not reading, cited by 43% of respondents, was a lack of interest. Another 34% pointed to a lack of time, while 7% mentioned vision problems, 4% cited financial difficulties, and 11% said they could not decide on what to read. Lack of interest was especially pronounced among those under 30, according to Trend. 

Paper books remain the most preferred medium for 61% of respondents. E-books are favoured by 21%, and 4% of respondents said they listen to audiobooks. Preferences vary by age: younger readers are just as likely to choose e-books as paper editions, while older respondents show a stronger preference for paper editions.

Nearly a third of Bulgarians, 30%, said they do not read books at all. This group is largely made up of older individuals, the poorly educated, and residents of small villages.

Crime novels and thrillers are the most preferred literary genres (24%), followed by contemporary fiction  (23%), historical novels (22%), classical literature (22%) and romantic novels (20%). 

When it comes to choosing what to read, 49% of respondents said they rely on suggestions from friends, family, or acquaintances, 26% are influenced by bookstore titles, and 19% look to social media. More specialized sources such as reviews, blogs, and literary websites are mentioned by 13%, while 11% are influence by media coverage, and 7% by recommendations from educational or workplace settings.