Since 1982, the percentage of adult Americans who read fiction has fallen across all age groups, according to the findings of a new research report, "Reading at Risk" (see story titled "NEA Finds Rapid Decline in Reading"). Dana Gioia, chairman of the NEA, which sponsored the study, said he was particularly alarmed by how rapidly literary reading has declined among young adults. Over the past 20 years, adults age 18 to 34 have declined from the group most likely to read literature to the group least likely, Gioia observed, noting that the decline in reading among young adults accelerated over the last 10 years.
Literary Reading by Age
| 1982 | 1992 | 2002 | |
| Percentage by Group | |||
| 18—24 | 59.8 | 53.3 | 42.8 |
| 25—34 | 62.1 | 54.6 | 47.7 |
| 35—44 | 59.7 | 58.9 | 46.6 |
| 45—54 | 54.9 | 56.9 | 51.6 |
| 55—64 | 52.8 | 52.9 | 48.9 |
| 65—74 | 47.2 | 50.8 | 45.3 |
| 75 & Older | 40.9 | 40.4 | 36.7 |
| TOTAL | 56.9 | 54.0 | 46.7 |
| Source: "Reading at Risk" | |||
