Digital reading reaches 49% of the Brazilian population

A new study titled ‘Perfil e Hábito do Leitor Digital Brasileiro’, conducted by NielsenIQ BookData and funded by Skeelo, reveals that 49% of the Brazilian population aged 10 and older used digital reading formats in the last 12 months.

Smartphones are the preferred device for digital consumption, used by 72% of readers. Other devices include computers (23%), e-readers (19%), and tablets (16%). The research suggests that digital formats act as an entry point for new readers rather than replacing physical books, with an estimated 18 million people reading more after adopting digital formats.

The study highlights significant challenges regarding digital piracy. Approximately 48.8% of respondents admitted to downloading content from unofficial sites or links, and 41.5% received files from acquaintances. Furthermore, 67% of respondents could not identify whether a free book was being distributed legally.

Demographically, women represent 58% of the digital reading audience, and 47% of consumers are between 25 and 44 years old. Fiction is the most popular genre for e-book readers (57.1%), while technical and professional works lead in audiobook consumption (38.5%).