One in four Portuguese students has fewer than 20 books at home
The study highlights a strong correlation between the number of books at home, parents’ educational background, and family engagement with reading.
A new study by the Portuguese Observatory of Cultural Activities for the National Reading Plan reveals that nearly one in four students in Portugal’s basic and secondary education levels has fewer than 20 books at home.
The study, “Reading Practices of Basic and Secondary Education Students – Barometer ‘23”, analyzed data from over 31,000 students in collaboration with the Directorate-General for Education and Science Statistics and the School Library Network, with McDonald's Restaurants Association as a sponsor.
While the average number of books per household ranges between 112 and 129, depending on the education level, more than 20% of students in all school cycles report having fewer than 20 books.
Meanwhile, around 6% of students in each cycle own more than 500 books.
Parental Education and Household Libraries Influence Reading Habits
The majority of students fall into the category of having between 20 and 100 books at home, with nearly half in primary school and 38.2% in secondary school.
Around one-third report having more than 100 books, ranging from 28.8% in primary school to 34% in secondary education.
The study highlights a strong correlation between the number of books at home, parents’ educational background, and family reading habits.
Parental education levels have a greater impact on book ownership than family reading habits, reinforcing the role of educational and economic capital in book acquisition decisions.
Despite a high percentage of students (over 90%) stating they own books at home, this number gradually decreases as they progress through school—97% in primary education, 93.5% in middle school, and 90.3% in secondary education.
Declining Interest in Reading Among Older Students
The study also found that students’ enthusiasm for reading declines significantly with age.
While 73.3% of primary school students say they enjoy reading, this figure drops to just 35.4% in secondary school.
Girls tend to own more books than boys across all education levels.
Additionally, students who are older than the expected age for their grade—often due to grade repetition—tend to have fewer books and weaker reading habits, suggesting a link between academic struggles and limited engagement with reading.
The study aims to establish a system for regularly monitoring students’ reading habits in Portugal, addressing a long-recognized need among organizations responsible for promoting literacy.