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

Japan: Proportion of youth and adults that read or downloaded newspapers was 73.8% in 2022. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2022)
73.8%
Change on year
down 0.1%
World rank
16th
of 60 countries
All-time high
73.9%
in 2021
All-time low
6.3%
in 2013
Years of data
10
2013–2022

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

0204060802013201720222013: 6.3 %2014: 7.5 %2015: 8 %2016: 60.9 %2017: 62.8 %2018: 57.9 %2019: 68.4 %2020: 73.7 %2021: 73.9 %2022: 73.8 %

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.

Analysis

In 2022, proportion of youth and adults that read or downloaded newspapers in Japan stood at 73.8%.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.1% on the previous year and up 1,071.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, proportion of youth and adults that read or downloaded newspapers in Japan peaked at 73.9% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 6.3%, in 2013.

Japan ranks 16th of 60 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, 25-74 years old, male (%) in Japan, 2013 to 2022.
Year % Change
2013 6.3%
2014 7.5% +19.0%
2015 8.0% +6.7%
2016 60.9% +661.2%
2017 62.8% +3.1%
2018 57.9% -7.8%
2019 68.4% +18.1%
2020 73.7% +7.7%
2021 73.9% +0.3%
2022 73.8% -0.1%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2010s 38.8% 6.3% 68.4% 7
2020s 73.8% 73.7% 73.9% 3

Countries ranked near Japan

  1. 13 Luxembourg 77.1% compare
  2. 14 Spain 75.6% compare
  3. 15 Netherlands 74.3%
  4. 17 Montenegro 73.2% compare
  5. 17 Serbia 73.2% compare
  6. 19 Austria 71.8% compare

See the full ranking of 60 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 73.8% 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 73.9% in 2021.
What is the lowest proportion of youth and adults that read or downloaded newspapers recorded in Japan?
The lowest recorded value was 6.3% in 2013.
How does Japan rank for proportion of youth and adults that read or downloaded newspapers?
Japan ranks 16th out of 60 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 1,071.4%. 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, 25-74 years old, 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 10 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/proportion-of-youth-and-adults-that-read-or-downloaded-newspapers-magazines-or-electronic-7/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, 25-74 years old, male (%)
Unit
%
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics)
Coverage
60 places, 757 data points, 2002–2024
Last refreshed

February 2026 Data Release