Proportion of youth and adults that read or downloaded newspapers in Japan

Japan: Proportion of youth and adults that read or downloaded newspapers was 66.4% in 2022. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2022)
66.4%
Change on year
up 1.5%
World rank
29th
of 64 countries
All-time high
66.4%
in 2022
All-time low
4.8%
in 2013
Years of data
10
2013–2022

Proportion of youth and adults that read or downloaded newspapers in Japan, 2013–2022

02040602013201720222013: 4.8 %2014: 5.9 %2015: 6.1 %2016: 51.7 %2017: 52.4 %2018: 48.5 %2019: 59.6 %2020: 64.7 %2021: 65.4 %2022: 66.4 %

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.

Analysis

The most recent figure for proportion of youth and adults that read or downloaded newspapers in Japan is 66.4%, measured in 2022. That is the highest value across all 10 years on record.

That represents a change of up 1.5% on the previous year and up 1,283.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, proportion of youth and adults that read or downloaded newspapers in Japan peaked at 66.4% in 2022 and was at its lowest, 4.8%, in 2013.

Japan ranks 29th of 64 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Proportion of youth and adults that read or downloaded newspapers in Japan, year by year

Annual values for Proportion of youth and adults that read or downloaded newspapers, magazines or electronic books in digital format, male (%) in Japan, 2013 to 2022.
Year % Change
2013 4.8%
2014 5.9% +22.9%
2015 6.1% +3.4%
2016 51.7% +747.5%
2017 52.4% +1.4%
2018 48.5% -7.4%
2019 59.6% +22.9%
2020 64.7% +8.6%
2021 65.4% +1.1%
2022 66.4% +1.5%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2010s 32.7% 4.8% 59.6% 7
2020s 65.5% 64.7% 66.4% 3

Countries ranked near Japan

  1. 26 Poland 69.2% compare
  2. 27 Malaysia 67.6% compare
  3. 28 Belgium 67.1% compare
  4. 30 Germany 66.2% compare
  5. 31 Hungary 65.7% compare
  6. 32 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 65.6%

See the full ranking of 64 places →

More education data for Japan

All data for Japan →

Frequently asked questions

What is proportion of youth and adults that read or downloaded newspapers in Japan?
Proportion of youth and adults that read or downloaded newspapers in Japan was 66.4% in 2022, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest proportion of youth and adults that read or downloaded newspapers recorded in Japan?
The highest recorded value was 66.4% in 2022.
What is the lowest proportion of youth and adults that read or downloaded newspapers recorded in Japan?
The lowest recorded value was 4.8% in 2013.
How does Japan rank for proportion of youth and adults that read or downloaded newspapers?
Japan ranks 29th out of 64 countries with data for 2022.
Is proportion of youth and adults that read or downloaded newspapers rising or falling in Japan?
Over the last ten years it is up 1,283.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Japan data come from?
The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Proportion of youth and adults that read or downloaded newspapers, magazines or electronic books in digital format, male (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Proportion of youth and adults that read or downloaded newspapers in Japan. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 09 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/proportion-of-youth-and-adults-that-read-or-downloaded-newspapers-magazines-or-electronic-2/japan/

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About this data

Indicator
Proportion of youth and adults that read or downloaded newspapers, magazines or electronic books in digital format, male (%)
Unit
%
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics)
Coverage
64 places, 804 data points, 2002–2024
Last refreshed

February 2026 Data Release