A survey of French-speaking Belgians in 2021 revealed that 34 percent read print books exclusively, and 10 percent only read e-books. The share who preferred to read only print fell year over year, whereas for e-books the percentage doubled. However, most respondents read a combination of both formats.
Francophones who read at least one book in the last year in Belgium from 2016 to 2021, by format
Characteristic
Printed books
E-books
Both
2021
34%
10%
56%
2020
41%
5%
54%
2019
42%
6%
52%
2018
49%
7%
44%
2017
52%
5%
43%
2016
53%
5%
42%
0%25%50%75%100%125%
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among those living in the Walloon or Brussels-Capital region
Method of interview
Online panel
Supplementary notes
This question was phrased by the source as follows: "Durant l’année écoulée, avez-vous lu ou consulté au moins 1 livre (hors journaux et magazines), que ce soit pour vos loisirs, votre travail ou vos études?" (English: During the past year, have you read at least one book (besides newspapers and magazines) as a hobby, for work or your studies?)
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Association of Belgian Publishers. (October 26, 2021). Francophones who read at least one book in the last year in Belgium from 2016 to 2021, by format [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved June 02, 2025, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1033185/share-of-the-population-reading-books-in-french-speaking-belgium-by-format/
Association of Belgian Publishers. "Francophones who read at least one book in the last year in Belgium from 2016 to 2021, by format." Chart. October 26, 2021. Statista. Accessed June 02, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1033185/share-of-the-population-reading-books-in-french-speaking-belgium-by-format/
Association of Belgian Publishers. (2021). Francophones who read at least one book in the last year in Belgium from 2016 to 2021, by format. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: June 02, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1033185/share-of-the-population-reading-books-in-french-speaking-belgium-by-format/
Association of Belgian Publishers. "Francophones Who Read at Least One Book in The Last Year in Belgium from 2016 to 2021, by Format." Statista, Statista Inc., 26 Oct 2021, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1033185/share-of-the-population-reading-books-in-french-speaking-belgium-by-format/
Association of Belgian Publishers, Francophones who read at least one book in the last year in Belgium from 2016 to 2021, by format Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1033185/share-of-the-population-reading-books-in-french-speaking-belgium-by-format/ (last visited June 02, 2025)
Francophones who read at least one book in the last year in Belgium from 2016 to 2021, by format [Graph], Association of Belgian Publishers, October 26, 2021. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1033185/share-of-the-population-reading-books-in-french-speaking-belgium-by-format/
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