An inquiry presented by the Portuguese Association of Publishers and Booksellers (APEL) reveals that only 62% of Portuguese people say they read for leisure, meaning that less than two-thirds of the population practices this activity in their free time. The study shows a clear preference of Portuguese people for social media over traditional reading.
APEL, the entity responsible for presenting the results, has been monitoring the reading habits of the Portuguese population through these periodic surveys. The data collected allows comparisons with previous years and identifies trends in citizens' cultural behavior.
The 62% result contrasts with the time Portuguese people spend on social media, platforms that seem to be capturing a significant share of the population's leisure time. This competition between reading and social media reflects a broader trend of change in cultural habits.
The survey was presented today and its results raise an alert about the decline in reading rates in Portugal. APEL uses this data to raise awareness among the population and competent authorities about the importance of promoting reading habits among Portuguese people.