Importance of reading.
Being able to read is one of the most important basic skills that a person must acquire. In fact, reading is very important to be able to relate to society and participate in social activities. It is needed for various daily tasks, especially for knowing medical instructions and reading the news. In addition, reading helps to keep people educated and aware of the world around them by finding/gathering information online or in books and magazines. Continuous development of the human brain requires reading through a variety of mediums. Reading helps people have a more active imagination and also leads to higher levels of creativity. So, where in the world do people spend the most time reading?
Countries that spend the most time reading.
The World Culture Score Index is a global study done to measure the amount of time people spend reading on a weekly basis. The results of this study do not specifically indicate what type of material is being read. It can be any medium from online news to e-mail, newspapers to printed books. Additionally, the study did not capture specific information about the people surveyed (such as age, educational level, or gender) or how many people were surveyed. The findings are as follows:
India
According to research-based data, Indians read an average of 10 hours 42 minutes a week and consequently topped the list. Achieving the number 1 spot in the list is quite an achievement for this country.
India's current literacy rate is 74.4% (male 82.14%, female 65.46%). This rate is lower than the global average. This rate, however, has increased more than 6 times since the country's independence in 1947, which may be indicative of a growing interest in reading. This time spent reading does not reflect the amount of printed books read. Rather, it may include time spent reading online or in electronic format.
Many readers in India are first generation English readers. Urban children in India probably read most for pleasure. Schools place considerable emphasis on inculcating children's love of books. Book festivals are regularly celebrated in this country. The annual Jaipur Literature Festival, which is the largest in the world, is held here. Schools organize book-weeks dedicated to reading.
Thailand.
Thailand is the second country in the world for spending maximum time on reading.
Here, surveyors reported that Thais spend an average of 9 hours and 24 minutes a week studying. Additional studies have shown that about 88% of the population reads printed books and spends about 28 minutes per day reading them. This means that significantly more time is spent reading online. As seen in India, smartphones and tablets have significantly increased reading habits in Thailand. In fact, the amount of time spent reading print books has decreased compared to reports published in previous years.
A 2010 study found that the average student reads for pleasure about 20 minutes a day. Fiction ranks low on the list of Thai readers' preferences. Journals top the list, followed by articles on the Internet.
China
China ranks third for spending the most time reading. Surveyors report that Chinese residents spend an average of about 8 hours per week reading. The country has a literacy rate of 96.4%, which is higher than the global average of 86.3%. Out of the mentioned eight hour period, about 11 minutes a day is spent reading newspapers and magazines. In a study conducted by the OECD, researchers found that more than 90% of students in Shanghai, China read for entertainment. This is an increase over the previous year. This increase indicates that education is probably gaining popularity among the citizens of this country.
A 2009 survey found that a little over 70 percent of people in China read. Fifty percent read books, while 58 percent read newspapers, and 46 percent read magazines. 7 percent read online texts. On an average, 15 minutes are spent reading books, 21 minutes reading newspapers and 16 minutes reading magazines.
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