Public library usage in England by gender 2019

From 2005 to 2019, the share of visitors in public libraries in England decreased overall. Especially, the percentage of male respondents claiming to have visited a public library in the year previous to the survey dropped significantly, passing from 43.8 percent in 2005 to 26 percent in 2019.

Share of visitors in public libraries in England from 2005 to 2019, by gender

Characteristic	Male	Female
2019	26%	36.7%
2018	28.4%	37.3%
2017	27%	38.1%
2016	29.6%	38.3%
2015	29.2%	37.4%
2014	29.8%	39%
2013	29.7%	40.8%
2012	31.4%	42.3%
2011	33.6%	43.8%
2010	34.3%	44.8%
2009	35.5%	43.2%
2008	35.3%	46.5%
2007	40.2%	49.6%
2006	42.1%	49.9%
2005	43.8%	52.3%

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Release date

September 2020

More information

Region

United Kingdom (England)

Survey time period

2005 to 2019

Number of respondents

7,502*

Special properties

visited within the year previous to survey

Supplementary notes

*Base of most recent survey. n (2018) = 8,161, n (2017) = 7,715, n (2016) = 9,352; n (2015) = 10,171; n (2014) = 9,817; n (2013) = 10,355; n (2012) = 9,838; n (2011) = 9,188; n (2010) = 14,102; n (2009) = 6,097; n (2008) = 14,452; n (2007) = 25,720; n (2006) = 24,174; n (2005) = 28,117.

The source indicates that the survey was a household survey. The results presented are based on interviews.
Figures exclude those who visited a library for the purposes of paid work or academic study except in 2008/09 and 2009/10.

The source specifies that: 'from 2018-19 onwards, respondents were asked 'Which of the following describes how you think of yourself?' and were asked to select either 'male', 'female' or 'in another way'. Estimates broken down by gender do not include those who selected ‘in another way’ due to small sample sizes'.
This statistic is using original data from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport and includes copyright material from © Crown, licensed under the Open Government License v3.0

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