Proportion of youth and adults that read or downloaded newspapers in Belgium
Belgium: Proportion of youth and adults that read or downloaded newspapers was 62.6% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Proportion of youth and adults that read or downloaded newspapers in Belgium, 2005–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for proportion of youth and adults that read or downloaded newspapers in Belgium is 62.6%, measured in 2023.
The figure is up 10.0% on the previous year and up 26.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, proportion of youth and adults that read or downloaded newspapers in Belgium peaked at 67.9% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 17.4%, in 2005.
That places Belgium 29th out of 62 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.
Proportion of youth and adults that read or downloaded newspapers in Belgium, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 17.4% | — |
| 2006 | 21.5% | +23.6% |
| 2007 | 20.5% | -4.7% |
| 2008 | 26.6% | +29.8% |
| 2009 | 37.3% | +40.2% |
| 2010 | 39.6% | +6.2% |
| 2011 | 41.4% | +4.5% |
| 2012 | 49.7% | +20.0% |
| 2014 | 59.9% | +20.5% |
| 2015 | 58.9% | -1.7% |
| 2019 | 62.5% | +6.1% |
| 2020 | 67.9% | +8.6% |
| 2021 | 65.9% | -2.9% |
| 2022 | 56.9% | -13.7% |
| 2023 | 62.6% | +10.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 24.7% | 17.4% | 37.3% | 5 |
| 2010s | 52.0% | 39.6% | 62.5% | 6 |
| 2020s | 63.3% | 56.9% | 67.9% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Belgium
- 26 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 65.0% compare
- 27 Macau, China 63.4% compare
- 28 Latvia 63.1% compare
- 30 Luxembourg 62.2% compare
- 31 Bahrain 61.0% compare
- 32 Brazil 59.5% compare
More education data for Belgium
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 137,795 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 17,384 (2022)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 221,494 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 210,503 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 1.18 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 814,388 (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.1356 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0691 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is proportion of youth and adults that read or downloaded newspapers in Belgium?
- Proportion of youth and adults that read or downloaded newspapers in Belgium was 62.6% in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest proportion of youth and adults that read or downloaded newspapers recorded in Belgium?
- The highest recorded value was 67.9% in 2020.
- What is the lowest proportion of youth and adults that read or downloaded newspapers recorded in Belgium?
- The lowest recorded value was 17.4% in 2005.
- How does Belgium rank for proportion of youth and adults that read or downloaded newspapers?
- Belgium ranks 29th out of 62 countries with data for 2023.
- Is proportion of youth and adults that read or downloaded newspapers rising or falling in Belgium?
- Over the last ten years it is up 26.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Belgium 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, 15-24 years old, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release