Most popular book genres read in France 2023
A passion for hobbies and personal activities
When looking at the statistic it appears that the most popular book genres in France concern leisure activities, hobbies and education. History books were mentioned by 48 percent of French surveyed, as well as art and photography books which were preferred by 43 percent of interviewees. Fiction, with the exception of comics, does not seem to delight the hearts of French people when it comes to reading. Comic books of all kinds are experiencing an unprecedented popularity boost among French readers.
A major market
In 2021, almost 490 million book copies were sold in France. The French book market is one of the most important in Europe, while the average French reports reading 5 to 9 books print books per year. Even though e-books are getting popular, especially among younger generations, the French seem to prefer print format. In 2021, 83 percent of the population in France read print books, compared to 23 percent for digital books.