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The following Roy Morgan Research information on “Book reading” and “Australian football participation/viewing” was prepared for the non-profit The Age Melbourne Writers’ Festival.

For information on how to attend call (03) 9645 9244 or visit www.mwf.com.au

Almost 10.5 million Australians aged 14 and over (62%) have read a book in the last three months compared to seven million (42%) who either participated in Australian Rules Football (AFL) or watched it on television.  Almost nine million Australians (52%) have read a novel in the last three months while just over six million (37%) have read a non-fiction book.

Women are more likely than men to have read a book in the last three months (70% cf. 53%) and, perhaps unsurprisingly, less likely to have watched or played Australian Rules Football (34% cf. 50%).  Novels are the most popular form of literature amongst both women (62% having read one in the last three months) and men (42%).

A non-fiction book has been read by 40% of women and 34% of men in the last three months. Incidentally, 59% of Australians who play Australian rules have read a book in the last three months.

Roy Morgan Single Source also reveals that 18% of Australians have bought at least one book in the last four weeks.  Just over one-in-five Australian women (21%) and 14% of Australian men have bought books in the last four weeks.

An international comparison reveals that New Zealanders (69%) are more likely than Australians and Brits (both 62%), and Americans (55%) to have read a book in the past three months.  Seventy-six percent of New Zealand women say they have read a book in the last three months compared to 62% of Kiwi men.

Despite Australians’ passion for football, Australians are the least likely (42%) to have participated in or watched AFL (the national football code) on television — New Zealand (Rugby Union: 66%); UK (Soccer: 51%); and the US (Gridiron: 54%). 

Australian men (50%) are less likely than their New Zealand (74%), American (67%) and British (66%) counterparts to have participated in, or watched, their national football code on television. 

New Zealand is the only country in which a majority of women (59%) participate in, or watch, football on television — USA (42%), UK (37%); and Australia (34%).

Gary Morgan says:

“A majority of Australians (62%) have read a book in the last three months, which is greater than the number of Australians (42%) who watch or play the national sport, Australian Rules.  Novels and non-fiction books are both popular forms of literature with almost nine million Australians having read a novel and six million having read a non-fiction book in the last three months.

“Last year we ran this special survey for a ‘Talking Footy’ event at the Melbourne Writers’ Festival and we think the comparison of readers and football fans is a great one.  Australians enjoy their football but clearly they also like a good read.  With 59% of those who play football having read a book in the last three months it goes to show that brains and brawn aren’t mutually exclusive!”

“Read a book” refers to both fiction and non-fiction in the last three months.

“Football” refers to the following:
• Australia: Australian Rules Football;
• New Zealand: Rugby Union;
• UK: Soccer; and
• US: Gridiron.

Respondents either “participate in football regularly or occasionally” or “almost always or occasionally watch football on television.”

These are the main findings of the latest Roy Morgan International Survey of:
• 24,315 people aged 14 and over in Australia; April 2006 — March 2007;
• 2,724 people aged 14 and over in the UK; March 2006 - February 2007;
• 3,650 people aged 14 and over in the USA; March 2007 — February 2007; and
• 11,629 people aged 14 and over in New Zealand; May 2006 — April 2007.

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