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

Japan: Proportion of youth and adults that read or downloaded newspapers was 76.3% in 2022. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2022)
76.3%
Change on year
up 3.7%
World rank
18th
of 62 countries
All-time high
76.3%
in 2022
All-time low
2.8%
in 2013
Years of data
10
2013–2022

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

0204060802013201720222013: 2.8 %2014: 4.6 %2015: 4.1 %2016: 57.4 %2017: 56.1 %2018: 52.6 %2019: 68.1 %2020: 73 %2021: 73.6 %2022: 76.3 %

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.

Analysis

Japan recorded 76.3% for proportion of youth and adults that read or downloaded newspapers in 2022. That is the highest value across all 10 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.7% on the previous year and up 2,625.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, proportion of youth and adults that read or downloaded newspapers in Japan peaked at 76.3% in 2022 and was at its lowest, 2.8%, in 2013.

That places Japan 18th out of 62 countries with data for 2022, putting it 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, 15-24 years old, both sexes (%) in Japan, 2013 to 2022.
Year % Change
2013 2.8%
2014 4.6% +64.3%
2015 4.1% -10.9%
2016 57.4% +1300.0%
2017 56.1% -2.3%
2018 52.6% -6.2%
2019 68.1% +29.5%
2020 73.0% +7.2%
2021 73.6% +0.8%
2022 76.3% +3.7%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2010s 35.1% 2.8% 68.1% 7
2020s 74.3% 73.0% 76.3% 3

Countries ranked near Japan

  1. 15 Montenegro 79.8% compare
  2. 16 Hungary 78.8%
  3. 17 Greece 76.9%
  4. 19 Austria 73.1% compare
  5. 20 Spain 72.7% compare
  6. 21 Netherlands 67.9%

See the full ranking of 62 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 76.3% 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 76.3% in 2022.
What is the lowest proportion of youth and adults that read or downloaded newspapers recorded in Japan?
The lowest recorded value was 2.8% in 2013.
How does Japan rank for proportion of youth and adults that read or downloaded newspapers?
Japan ranks 18th out of 62 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 2,625.0%. 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, 15-24 years old, both sexes (%). 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 10 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/proportion-of-youth-and-adults-that-read-or-downloaded-newspapers-magazines-or-electronic-5/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, 15-24 years old, both sexes (%)
Unit
%
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics)
Coverage
62 places, 774 data points, 2002–2024
Last refreshed

February 2026 Data Release