In 2023, only 2 in 5 (43.4%) children and young people aged 8 to 18 told us that they enjoyed reading in their free time. Despite this, 2 in 5 (40.7%) told us that they read comics or graphic novels in their free time at least once a month. Comics are a diverse medium, growing steadily in popularity over recent years, and research highlights the potential for comics to improve comprehension and understanding in learners.
This report draws on data collected in early 2023 from 64,066 children and young people aged 8 to 18 from across the UK to explore the attitudes and beliefs of comic readers.
Key Findings
- Comics were a popular format of reading for children and young people: 2 in 5 (40.3%) children and young people aged 8 to 18 told us they read comics or graphic novels on paper, screen, or both at least once a month.
- More boys than girls read comics in their free time at least once a month (44.6% vs 34.8%).
- The percentage of those who read comics decreased with age: 49.7% of 8-to-11-year-olds, 40.5% of those aged 11 to 14, 31.4% of those aged 14 to 16 and 32.1% of those aged 16 to 18 read comics at least once a month.
- Children and young people who read comics were more engaged with reading, regardless of their age:
- Nearly twice as many children and young people who read comics in their free time told us that they enjoy reading compared with those who didn’t read comics in their free time (58.6% vs. 33.1%).
- More of those who read comics rated themselves as ‘very good’ or ‘good’ readers compared with those who didn’t read comics (86.0% vs 76.3%).
- More of those who read comics told us that they read something daily in their free time compared with peers who did not read comics (35.7% vs. 22.8%).
- Readers of comics were motivated to read for a diverse range of reasons:
- Children and young people told us that they read comics because they were accessible and engaging, supported their wellbeing, and provided opportunities to learn about different cultures.
These findings highlight the importance of children and young people having access to a diverse range of reading materials, including comics. By advocating for comics as a fun and legitimate reading format, we can continue to inspire a future generation of readers and creators.