Maltese buy on average three books a year, survey finds

The average person in Malta purchases around three books a year, with English remaining the dominant language of choice for readers, a survey has found.

The findings come from research by Vincent Marmarà, presented during the Annual Book Conference organised by the National Book Council, held on 8 May at the DoubleTree by Hilton.

According to the survey, 53% of respondents prefer reading books in English, while 46% favour Maltese-language titles.

Among those who said they do not buy books, the main reasons cited were a preference for reading online content, a lack of time or opportunity to read, and low interest in reading altogether.

The study also identified three key factors influencing book purchases, which were genre, language, and price, in that order. In addition, 62.5% of respondents said they believe there are enough bookstores in Malta.

The findings were presented during a conference themed “The Economy and the Book”, which brought together professionals from publishing, public policy, and economics to examine the structure and sustainability of Malta’s book sector.

The programme included two main sessions, “Publishing in Microeconomics” and “Bookstores, Booksellers, and Consumption Dynamics”, alongside working groups where participants discussed industry challenges and later presented their conclusions.

Keynote speaker Stephen Reid of Ireland’s Lilliput Press highlighted challenges facing small-market publishing ecosystems, noting similarities between Ireland and Malta, particularly the pressures of operating alongside larger markets. He also stressed that small-scale literary environments can represent cultural and economic opportunity rather than limitation.

During the conference, Chief Executive Mark Camilleri said the event offered a platform for open discussion on the state of Malta’s publishing sector and its future direction.

He said that the conference will become an annual event as part of the National Book Council’s Five-Year Strategy 2025–2030, alongside ongoing support measures for the industry.

These include the Printed Books Subsidy Scheme, which assists publishers facing high paper costs, and value-added vouchers introduced during the National Book Festival, which generated around €306,000 in combined activity across publishers and booksellers.

Camilleri said that the Malta Book Fund will increase from €140,000 to €159,000 in 2026, aimed at supporting both traditional publishing and emerging formats such as ebooks and audiobooks.

“The NBC has never shied away from acknowledging the challenges our industry faces on a daily basis,” Camilleri said. “However, we would not be truthful if we said that the future of the book industry in Malta is only a mess and a disappointment. That is why we have gathered here today, so that with your direct participation we can light a lamp for the future.”

The conference was boycotted by leading publishers, who warned of “existential threats” facing the sector and accused organisers and authorities of failing to adequately address structural issues affecting Malta’s publishing industry.