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

Japan: Proportion of youth and adults that read or downloaded newspapers was 62.6% in 2022. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2022)
62.6%
Change on year
up 1.6%
World rank
33rd
of 65 countries
All-time high
62.6%
in 2022
All-time low
3.9%
in 2013
Years of data
10
2013–2022

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

02040602013201720222013: 3.9 %2014: 4.8 %2015: 5.2 %2016: 46 %2017: 46.5 %2018: 43.7 %2019: 55.1 %2020: 60.5 %2021: 61.6 %2022: 62.6 %

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.

Analysis

Japan recorded 62.6% for proportion of youth and adults that read or downloaded newspapers in 2022. That is the highest value across all 10 years on record.

The figure is up 1.6% on the previous year and up 1,505.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, proportion of youth and adults that read or downloaded newspapers in Japan peaked at 62.6% in 2022 and was at its lowest, 3.9%, in 2013.

That places Japan 33rd out of 65 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, both sexes (%) in Japan, 2013 to 2022.
Year % Change
2013 3.9%
2014 4.8% +23.1%
2015 5.2% +8.3%
2016 46.0% +784.6%
2017 46.5% +1.1%
2018 43.7% -6.0%
2019 55.1% +26.1%
2020 60.5% +9.8%
2021 61.6% +1.8%
2022 62.6% +1.6%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2010s 29.3% 3.9% 55.1% 7
2020s 61.6% 60.5% 62.6% 3

Countries ranked near Japan

  1. 30 Belgium 63.2% compare
  2. 31 Germany 62.9% compare
  3. 32 Bahrain 62.7% compare
  4. 34 Austria 62.2% compare
  5. 35 Slovakia 61.6% compare
  6. 36 Bulgaria 59.0% compare

See the full ranking of 65 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 62.6% 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 62.6% in 2022.
What is the lowest proportion of youth and adults that read or downloaded newspapers recorded in Japan?
The lowest recorded value was 3.9% in 2013.
How does Japan rank for proportion of youth and adults that read or downloaded newspapers?
Japan ranks 33rd out of 65 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 1,505.1%. 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, 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 09 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/proportion-of-youth-and-adults-that-read-or-downloaded-newspapers-magazines-or-electronic/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, both sexes (%)
Unit
%
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics)
Coverage
65 places, 841 data points, 2002–2024
Last refreshed

February 2026 Data Release