Costa Rica is experiencing a paradox in its reading culture. According to the 2025 National Cultural Survey (Encuesta Nacional de Cultura 2025) conducted by CID-Gallup for the Ministry of Culture, the percentage of the population reading books has dropped significantly over the past decade. However, active readers—particularly young adults and senior citizens—are reading more books per year than before.

The Big Picture: A Decadal Drop in Overall Readers

Only 29.6% of Costa Ricans aged 18 and older currently read books, down nearly 10 percentage points from 38.7% in 2016.

• Gender Parity: The decline is sharper among women, dropping from 43.4% to 29.9% and matching the male readership level (29.2%).
• Geographic Gaps: Urban readership fell from 41.3% in 2016 to 32.3% today, while rural readership stands at 22.4%.
• Regional Highlights: The Pacífico Central region registered the lowest reading rate nationwide at 15.9%, while Huetar Norte dropped from 41.5% to 24.2%.

Why Aren’t Costa Ricans Reading?

For non-readers, two main obstacles stand in the way:

1. Lack of Interest (50.1%): The primary reason given, especially among men (52.5%) and urban residents (50.7%).
2. Lack of Time (26.2%): The leading barrier for women (26.9%).

Youth and Seniors Lead Book Consumption

Despite fewer overall readers, overall volume among readers remains steady at 5.57 books per year. Specific demographics are driving notable increases:

Digital Reading vs. Print

While printed books remain the favorite format at 60.6%, digital reading has surged. Digital book consumption rose from 22.4% in 2016 to 39.4% in 2025—a 17 percentage point jump.

High Engagement at the International Book Fair

Despite survey findings showing lower overall participation, real-world enthusiasm remains vibrant at major events. The 24th International Book Fair at La Aduana in San José drew over 43,000 attendees over 9 days, doubling the attendance of the previous year’s edition in Heredia.

“In this space, you see a massive number of people who read and love literature… it’s clear there is a large number of youth, children, and adults passionate about reading.”

— Alex Cuadra, Fair Producer

The success of the fair highlights an appetite for literature, pointing to the need to expand cultural events beyond the capital and into regional areas where access remains limited.

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