More than 50 percent of Romanian have not read a single book so far this year, according to the Romanian Institute of Social Studies.  Of the people surveyed, 21 percent managed to finish one or two books, exposing the low interest among Romanians for reading.

The survey revealed  a worrying lack of interest among young people, a third of the respondents ages between 18 and 30 years said that they didn’t pick up any books this year. Half of those aged 30 to 50 have had a book free year and the majority of those aged over 55 have not read a book in 2012.

From the total of all the respondents, 15 percent had read five or more books, and 11 percent  had read three or four.

The printed book market reflects the trend, it is 50 percent (EUR 60 million) smaller than in 2007. Producers and distributors of e-books appear to be the only winners as more and more Romanians own various digital devices and e-books are up to 30 percent cheaper than their printed brethren.

Ioana Toader, ioana.toader@romania-insider.com