The National Reading Survey (NRS) is a nationally representative survey of the adult population aged 16+. It profiles adults’ reading practices, preferences and contexts, and includes questions on reading with children, digital reading, library use and language preferences. Read more
The National Reading Barometer maps the health of the South African reading ecosystem, using National Reading Survey findings and published secondary data.
The Barometer assesses four dimensions of the reading ecosystem:
There is not one right way to read: people read for different reasons and in different ways. To understand South Africa’s diverse reading cultures, we used statistical clustering to identify five distinct Reader Personas. The Personas can help us understand different audiences, and develop targeted messaging and strategies to support them.
Find out by taking our Reader Persona quiz.
It takes 5 minutes and you'll get the answer right away.
The quiz is completely anonymous.
The National Reading Barometer project describes adult reading culture and the broader reading ecosystem in South Africa. It is led by the Nal'ibali Trust in partnership with the National Library of South Africa (NLSA). The Survey and Barometer will be repeated in 2026 and 2030.
The project includes two components:
The National Reading Survey (NRS) is a nationally representative survey of the adult population aged 16+. It profiles adults’ reading practices, preferences and contexts, and includes questions on reading with children, digital reading, library use and language preferences. The Survey was designed to enable limited continuity with the 2016 National Reading Survey run by the South African Book Development Council (SABDC).
The National Reading Barometer (NRB) is a new compilation of secondary datasets, plus selected data points from the NRS above, that collates and tracks changes in the overall health of the South African reading ecosystem.
