Average number of books owned by children in Ireland falls to just 23
A new report from Children’s Books Ireland reveals that the average number of books owned by children on the island has fallen to 23, down from 30 in 2023. Parents identified digital devices and the cost of books as primary barriers to encouraging reading at home.
Why it matters
The decline in physical book ownership among children suggests a significant shift in cultural habits and potential long-term impacts on literacy and educational engagement.
THE AVERAGE NUMBER of books owned by a child on the island of Ireland has dropped to just 23.
That’s a drop of seven from just two years previous, in 2023, when the figure stood at 30.
The findings were published today in the annual report of charity and arts organisation Children’s Books Ireland.
This year’s report was extended to include Northern Ireland for an overall picture of behaviours and attitudes to reading across the whole island of Ireland.
The report is based on data collected in December 2025 in a nationally representative online survey and the findings capture data for some 1,197 children.
While the average book ownership figure for children is 23, half of children on the island of Ireland own 15 books or fewer.
Only 17% of children own more than 50 books.
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