How many books does the average person read a year?

The average adult in the United States reads approximately five books in one year, according to the Pew Research Internet Group's poll from January 2014. These figures include e-books, audio books and hard copies.

Readers are taking advantage of new formats available in addition to traditional hard copy books. Audio books and e-books offer alternatives to their more cumbersome counterparts. However, the Pew Research study suggests that readers are accepting new formats without giving up their previous loyalties to the printed book industry. Fewer than 7 percent of all U.S. readers gave up printed books in favor of exclusively reading audio books or e-books.