The second edition of the book voucher program ended on August 31 with the issuance of 52,448 vouchers, of which 45,075 were used, representing a usage rate of 85.9%. The program was aimed at 207,086 young people residing in Portugal, born in 2007 and 2008, corresponding to about 25% of the total eligible beneficiaries. The Ministry of Culture, under Margarida Balseiro Lopes, announced that this was the best edition since the program's launch in 2024.
Compared to the first edition, which ran from November 2024 to July 2025, 4,797 more vouchers were issued, an increase of 10.1%, and 5,805 more were used, representing a growth of 14.8%. The usage rate also improved, rising from 82.4% to 85.9%. In the first edition, in an estimated universe of 220,000 young people, approximately 47,000 vouchers were issued and nearly 35,000 were used, with an execution rate of 20%.
The second edition brought significant changes, including the increase in voucher value from 20 to 30 euros and the possibility of using the voucher to purchase books of lower value. Initially planned to end on June 30, the edition was extended until August 31. The participating network decreased, going from 128 bookstores and 306 stores to 95 bookstores and 299 stores across the country. Lisbon, Maia, Vila Nova de Gaia, Porto, and Braga were the municipalities with the highest participation.
Minister Margarida Balseiro Lopes considered that the growing participation is a good sign about young people's interest in reading, emphasizing that encouraging this habit is investing in access to culture. The program was developed by the Directorate-General for Books, Archives, and Libraries, in coordination with other entities. The DGLAB is expected to present a final report by October 31 and the continuation of the program will be evaluated after the analysis of all results.
