KUWAIT CITY, Oct 13: According to a recent study conducted by the specialized magazine CEOworld, Kuwait ranks third in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and 90th globally for the average number of books read and hours spent reading annually, reports Al-Seyassah Daily. A Kuwaiti citizen on average reads 3.08 books per year and spends about 69 hours reading, says the study.

The survey, which assessed the global book and reading market in 102 countries, gathered insights from 6.5 million people worldwide. It found that the highest readership is in the United States, followed closely by India, which leads in both the number of hours spent reading and the average number of books read per person. Bahrain topped the GCC rankings, placing 82nd globally, with an average of 3.44 books read per person per year and 77 hours of reading. Oman followed in second place within the Gulf, ranking 89th globally with 3.13 books read annually and 69 hours of reading. Qatar ranked fourth in the Gulf and 93rd worldwide, averaging 2.93 books and 67 hours of reading each year. The United Arab Emirates came in next at 98th globally, with an average of 2.71 books and 60 hours of reading, while Saudi Arabia ranked 99th, averaging 2.69 books and 60 hours of reading annually.

American citizens lead the world in reading, averaging 17 books per year, followed by Indians, who read about 16 books annually. The survey noted a preference for physical books over e-books or audiobooks, despite the growing popularity of digital media. Additionally, the value of the global book market reached approximately $144.6 billion in 2023, with expectations of a compound annual growth rate of 1.8% from 2024 to 2030.