News
The reading boom in Spain: women and young people lead the change
Reading breaks records in Spain in 2025, with comics on the rise and Madrid and Catalonia leading the way.
Reading in Spain is experiencing a boom: in 2025, 66.2% of the population say they read books in their free time, according to the latest data. This figure represents an increase of 0.7% compared with 2024 and a rise of 6.5% compared with 2017.
The most notable phenomenon is the growth of comics, which have attracted 14.3% of readers, 38% more than in 2020. The profile of Spanish readers is increasingly defined by women and young people, who lead the reading statistics.
Five autonomous communities exceed the national average: Madrid leads with 72.8%, followed by the Basque Country (70.1%), Catalonia (69.5%), Navarre (68.5%) and La Rioja (68.0%).
Paper remains the preferred format, although digital is advancing: 33.2% of readers choose e-books, and half of them download them free of charge. The Spanish literary landscape never ceases to surprise.