Between paper and screen: the new era of the kazakh reader

In an age of constant digital distraction, Kazakhstan’s readers are quietly reshaping how – and where – they read. From buses in Astana to libraries in Aktau, smartphones and audiobooks are finding their place alongside well-loved paperbacks. Over the past five years, the country’s reading culture has entered a new chapter: one where tradition meets technology. While many still cherish the feel of a printed page, a growing number are turning to screens – not as a replacement, but as a complement. This article explores the evolving habits of Kazakh readers through the latest national data, uncovering what they read, how they read it, and how these trends mirror – or diverge from – the global literary landscape.

How many people read in Kazakhstan?

Kazakhstan has a strong core of book readers. A nationwide survey in April 2025 (with over 46,000 participants) found that 57.3% of Kazakhstani citizens read books on a regular basis. This suggests that despite concerns about declining readership, a majority still engage with books. In fact, about 31% of respondents manage to read 1–3 books per year, and another 26.3% read more than three books annually – indicating that a significant segment of the population maintains an active reading habit. Such figures reflect a sustained interest in reading for knowledge and information among Kazakhstani readers. 

At the same time, the survey highlighted the reasons some do not read. Roughly one-third (30.6%) of respondents admitted they do not read books at all due to lack of time, and a smaller 6.2% said they have no interest in readingq. These numbers underscore modern life’s pressures – many people are too busy to pick up a book – rather than a simple lack of a reading culture. Notably, only a very small fraction outright lack the desire to read (just 6%), which “demonstrates a high potential interest in books if conditions permit” (as the survey analysis observed). In other words, if given time and opportunity, many non-readers might become readers.

Women in Kazakhstan are slightly more likely to be readers than men. The poll showed that 58.7% of women identified as regular book readers compared to 55% of men. This aligns with a common trend seen in many countries where women tend to read more fiction and literature. Age is another factor: young adults (18–29 years old) and the older generation (61+ years) turned out to be the most avid readers, whereas people in their 30s and 40s read comparatively less. Mid-career adults often cite time constraints due to work and family – indeed, that 30.6% who don’t read largely falls into the working-age group. The encouraging news is that youth and seniors in Kazakhstan show strong interest in books, which bodes well for both the future of reading and the preservation of literary heritage.

Favorite genres and reading Interests

What kinds of books do Kazakh readers prefer? The 2025 survey provides a fascinating snapshot of genre popularity. Historical literature is the undisputed leader, topping the list of favorite genres. Over a quarter of readers (about 26.4%) chose books with historical content as their top picks. This category includes history books, historical novels, biographies, and documentary nonfiction, which collectively attract roughly one-fifth or more of readers. In other words, many Kazakh readers gravitate toward history – whether it’s scholarly works on history, novels set in the past, life stories of notable figures, or popular history nonfiction. This trend suggests a widespread interest in understanding heritage, identity, and real-world narratives.

Fiction genres are not far behind. About one in six Kazakh readers (16.3%) enjoys adventure novels, romance, and detective stories. These genres – thrillers, love stories, mysteries – form the core of popular fiction and clearly have a solid audience in Kazakhstan. Following closely, self-improvement and psychology books account for 15.4% of preferences. It appears that books about personal development, motivation, and psychological advice have a strong appeal, reflecting a broader trend of readers seeking knowledge for self-betterment. Indeed, an increasing demand for business and self-help literature has been observed in recent years, indicating that many readers are looking to books for guidance in career and personal growth.

Other genres have smaller but notable followings: academic and scientific literature (textbooks, professional books) make up about 8.2% of preferences, and classic literature accounts for 7.7%. While classics and scholarly books attract fewer readers than popular fiction does, the fact that nearly 1 in 12 readers still favor classic works is significant. Classics – whether Kazakh, Russian, or world literature – remain an essential part of the reading diet for a minority who seek out timeless literary works.

Interestingly, reading preferences diverge by gender. Men and women in Kazakhstan tend to favor different genres in their leisure reading. The survey found that male readers gravitate towards “masculine” genres like historical books and scientific/professional literature, whereas female readers more often choose “feminine” genres such as adventure, romance, detective fiction, as well as books on psychology and self-improvement. Of course, these are general trends – there are men who enjoy romance novels and women who read history – but the data highlights distinct patterns. Overall, the strong interest in substantial, informative books (history, biography, psychology, etc.) suggests a drive for intellectual development and self-improvement among Kazakh readers. At the same time, the enduring popularity of fiction genres shows that entertainment and storytelling remain central to the reading experience.

Print books vs. Digital reading

A central question in the “paper vs. screen” era is how many people have shifted to digital formats. In Kazakhstan, print books still reign supreme, but digital reading has made significant inroads. According to the 2025 survey, just over half of readers (50.8%) continue to read books in the traditional paper format. This means hardcovers and paperbacks remain the most common way to read for about half the population – a testament to the lasting appeal of holding a physical book. Indeed, despite the proliferation of gadgets, “printed books have not lost their popularity among Kazakhstani people”, as the report emphasized.

That said, digital devices are now part of many people’s reading habits. The same survey shows that 28% of respondents read books on their smartphones. In a country where smartphone usage is very high, nearly a third of readers are using their phones as e-readers – whether via e-book apps, PDF files, or online articles. Another 5.3% use tablets or dedicated e-readers to read books, and 3.8% read on a computer. These numbers indicate that roughly one-third to two-fifths of Kazakh readers are engaging with e-books or other electronic text. (For context, a media consumption study in 2021 found that the share of the population reading electronic books, newspapers, or magazines was on the order of 40–50%, suggesting nearly half the populace had tried some form of e-reading.) Clearly, digital reading is not a niche in Kazakhstan – it’s become a mainstream complement to print.

One particularly quirky statistic: about 1.25% of people said they sometimes print out digital books on paperIn other words, a small fraction of readers download e-books or online texts and then use a printer to create a personal hardcopy. This practice, while uncommon, shows the creative ways readers bridge digital and physical formats – especially if they prefer reading on paper but only have the text in electronic form.

Crucially, many readers now use multiple formats rather than sticking to just one. The survey noted that respondents “prefer not one, but several convenient reading formats”, and the most widespread combination is reading both print books and smartphone e-books. This combo is especially popular among youth and middle-aged readers. A typical Kazakh reader today might read a paper book at home and use a phone to read on the go (for instance, during a commute or lunch break). The data shows that digital devices have not fully displaced paper books in Kazakhstan – far from it. In fact, the analysts concluded that “there are no grounds yet to assert that digital devices will completely oust printed books from Kazakhstani reading practices.” Print and screen are coexisting.

Age dynamics play a role here as well. Young people (18–29) are the most active users of e-books via smartphones, tablets, and computers, which is not surprising in the digital native generation. Meanwhile, middle-aged and older adults (46–60 and 61+ years) are more inclined to stick with traditional printed books. These older groups did not grow up with smartphones and often find reading on paper more comfortable. The result is a generational gap in format preference – but importantly, even younger Kazakh readers have not abandoned print. The “paper + phone” dual habit suggests that while youths readily embrace online reading, they also value a physical book when possible. Kazakhstan’s experience thus mirrors a global pattern: print remains resilient, and the future of reading looks hybrid.

E-Books and audiobooks: a growing trend

If e-books are now common, what about audiobooks? In Kazakhstan, audiobook listening is on the rise, but it remains a minority practice compared to reading text. A 2022 informal survey by a local literature blogger gives insight into audiobook habits. Out of about 3,000 respondents (mostly young, literature-inclined followers of the blogger), only 5% said they listen to audiobooks as their primary way of “reading”. Another 15% reported they use audiobooks occasionally, for example listening during commutes. On the other hand, 35% of these respondents declared that they only like to read paper books at home, and 46% said they do not listen to audiobooks at all. While this was not a nationwide scientific poll, it suggests that roughly half to two-thirds of active readers in Kazakhstan have little interest in audiobooks, preferring to read with their eyes. Only about one-fifth are incorporating audiobooks into their reading life, often as a supplement (when multitasking or traveling) rather than a full replacement for reading pages.

However, interest in audiobooks is growing, following a worldwide trend. By 2025, even Kazakhstan’s government took note of the popularity of audio formats. In March 2025, the Prime Minister highlighted that “audiobooks are very popular now” and instructed officials to increase the creation and distribution of audiobooks by Kazakh authors on various platforms (in multiple languages). The idea is to capitalize on the audiobook boom to promote Kazakh literature both domestically and abroad. This high-level recognition suggests that we may soon see a greater supply of Kazakh-language audiobooks, making it easier for people to listen to local novels, poetry, and non-fiction.

Globally, audiobooks still comprise a relatively small share of the book market, and Kazakhstan is no exception. A recent international survey found that only about 14% of people prefer audiobooks to other formats, whereas 65% still favor print books and 21% prefer e-books. Kazakh readers seem even more print-oriented by comparison. Yet, audiobooks serve a niche that print and e-books cannot – allowing “reading” while driving, exercising, or doing chores. In Kazakhstan, as elsewhere, the most popular audiobook genres tend to be non-fiction: for example, motivational and business books top the audiobook charts. This makes sense – such books are often consumed for information and can be listened to in pieces. The least listened genre in audio form is literary fiction. Many readers find that novels, especially classics or complex literature, are better enjoyed by reading, whereas simpler or more straightforward content can be absorbed by ear. (Interestingly, one observation was that audiobook listeners often enjoy novels that feel like serial dramas – they “binge-listen” to plot-driven books much like following a TV series).

In summary, e-books have established a firm foothold among Kazakh readers, and audiobooks, while still emerging, are on the radar. The post-2020 period (with the pandemic forcing people to stay home and seek digital content) likely accelerated these trends. One report noted that after 2020, more people worldwide embraced electronic media, yet as of 2022 only 9% of readers globally were “all-digital” (reading no print at all). The majority still read either exclusively print or a mix of print and digital. Kazakhstan fits this profile: most people mix formats, a few have gone fully digital, and a good number remain loyal to paper only. Audiobooks add another layer to this mix without yet becoming dominant. As technology and content availability improve, we can expect the share of audiobook users to increase, but it may take time for listening to approach the popularity of reading on page or screen.

Reading via Online platforms and digital libraries

The rise of online platforms has significantly influenced reading habits, especially for younger generations. In Kazakhstan, a range of digital library services and e-book platforms has made literature more accessible than ever. For instance, the national “e-government” electronic library system already offers access to a broad range of books “from classics to modern publications”, all available online. Readers can download or read books on these platforms, which is especially valuable in a country as vast as Kazakhstan where not everyone has a well-stocked bookstore nearby. The government has plans to further expand the number of titles and work with existing private platforms to reach readers everywherep. As digital library founder Zhuldyz Omarbek points out, digitalization has even made rare manuscripts and archival materials available to the public – treasures that were once accessible only in person at libraries can now be read on a screen. This democratization of knowledge is a big win for readers and researchers.

Online reading platforms are not limited to formal libraries. Many Kazakhstanis also consume fiction and non-fiction through websites, social media, and messaging apps. For example, serialized stories on platforms like Wattpad or Telegram channels with short stories have their own following. Social media has become a double-edged sword: on one hand, it competes with books for people’s attention (endless scrolling leaves less time for reading novels), but on the other, it can be used to promote books and share reading recommendations. Authors and publishers in Kazakhstan have active Instagram and Facebook presences, and there are online communities (on VKontakte, Telegram, etc.) where readers discuss and exchange e-books. In a 2021 media survey, nearly 98% of Kazakh respondents were using the internet daily, and unfortunately reading books for education or leisure was a relatively low priority online (only 17% said they use the Internet for that). Most were online for social networking or entertainment. This reflects a challenge: even though literature is online, it competes with many other digital temptations.

A concerning trend noted by some educators is the emergence of shortcut reading methods. For instance, some young people now use AI tools or summary websites to consume only the synopses of books instead of reading the full text. Mariya Omarbek, who organizes the Kitap Fest book festival, observed that with today’s technology, some youths “read” by skimming summaries and thus miss out on deep, thoughtful reading. This highlights a cultural challenge in the digital age: ensuring that digital convenience doesn’t undermine comprehension and critical thinking. Traditional reading – especially of fiction – develops imagination and empathy in ways that a quick summary or a TikTok video cannot. Kazakh journalist Alexander Vervekin noted that if people abandon reading long-form texts, they risk losing “part of their brain’s development,” as reading without visual aids (no videos or images, just text) exercises the imagination. These voices in Kazakhstan echo global concerns about the impact of digital media on concentration and deep reading skills.

On a positive note, the digital era has enabled a revival of Kazakh-language literature among youth. Research on Kazakhstani youth found that the younger generation is reading much more content in the Kazakh language than older generations did. For example, among university students surveyed, the language of books read was 33% Kazakh, 64% Russian, and 3% English, and younger students were far more likely to choose Kazakh-language fiction compared to doctoral students (of whom only 15% read in Kazakh). This shift can be partly attributed to deliberate efforts to translate world literature into Kazakh and to publish new Kazakh authors, many of which are available digitally. As Kazakhstan promotes the Kazakh language in education and media, having e-books and audiobooks in Kazakh lowers barriers and encourages bilingual readers to include more Kazakh literature in their reading mix. The result is a new generation that is comfortable reading in Kazakh on their phones or tablets, contributing to the language’s vitality in the literary sphere.

Kazakh readers in global perspective

Kazakhstan’s reading trends do not exist in isolation – they mirror many global patterns while also showing some local specifics. Globally, print books remain the preferred format for most readers, and Kazakhstan is aligned with this. Surveys indicate that about two-thirds of readers worldwide still like physical books best, with only a minority preferring e-books or audiobooks. Kazakhstan’s 50.8% print readership (and even higher when including those who use both print and digital) underscores that paper is far from obsolete. Conversely, the roughly one-third of Kazakh readers who use digital devices is comparable to other countries. In the United States, for instance, only 9% of people read exclusively digital content in the past year, whereas the rest either read only print or a mix of print and digital. When we exclude non-readers, that U.S. study found the remainder divided almost equally between print-only and mixed-format readers. This 50/50 split between print and mixed mirrors what we see in Kazakhstan’s data – a significant portion mixes paper and screen, and relatively few are all-screen or all-audio.

Another point of comparison is the share of people who don’t read at all. In Kazakhstan about 30% of adults said they didn’t read any books (mostly due to time constraints). This figure is actually quite typical internationally. For example, a Russian study in 2019 found roughly 28% of adults did not read books (and that was an improvement from earlier years). In the U.S., a Gallup poll in 2021 showed 17% of Americans read zero books in a year, while a Pew Research study in 2021 put it higher, at 23% of Americans not reading any book in the past 12 months. So Kazakhstan is in a similar ballpark, perhaps a bit on the higher side of non-readers. This could be due to socio-economic factors – access to books, reading habits shaped during the Soviet era, etc. – but broadly, the challenge of a sizable minority not reading is a global one. The Kazakh government’s push to foster a “reading nation” (for example, instituting a National Book Day on April 23 starting in 2025) is aimed at reducing this figure.

In terms of how much people read, Kazakhstan still lags behind the world’s most bookish nations, but there are signs of progress. On average, estimates suggest a Kazakhstani reads about 3 books per yearThis is lower than in countries like France (14 books/year) or the UK (15 books/year), and far behind the United States (where the average is about 12–17 books/year depending on the survey). Part of this gap is historical – during the 1990s and 2000s, economic hardships and shifts in language policy affected publishing and reading habits in Kazakhstan. But the trend may be changing. Library attendance in Kazakhstan is very robust, indicating people are reading even if they may not be buying new books. According to the Bureau of National Statistics, the country had 3,920 public libraries as of 2025, and these libraries saw nearly 52 million visits in 2023, rising to over 55 million visits in 2024. That is an impressive number of library visits (for reference, Kazakhstan’s population is about 19 million). It suggests that on average, each library was visited thousands of times and many individuals likely visited libraries multiple times a year. This heavy library usage is something not all Western countries can claim, and it reflects both the availability of public libraries and the public’s continued reliance on them for books (especially in smaller towns or for students). So while the average number of books read is not as high as in some countries, Kazakhstanis are actively using resources to get books, whether by borrowing or buying.

Another global comparison is in the shift to digital during the pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 forced many readers worldwide to switch to e-books when bookstores and libraries were closed. E-book sales surged in 2020 globally. In Kazakhstan, we don’t have precise public data on 2020–2021 book sales, but the anecdotal evidence and the 2021 Internews survey indicate that electronic reading saw growth during that period. By 2021, a larger proportion of Kazakhs were willing to pay for digital content than before. It’s reasonable to assume Kazakhstan followed the global trajectory: after an initial boost in digital reading in 2020, the balance may have settled back somewhat, but overall a higher baseline of e-book use persists post-pandemic. And unlike some countries where e-book adoption plateaued, in Kazakhstan there is still plenty of room for growth in the digital realm as internet access expands and more Kazakh-language digital titles become available.

A сhanging literary landscape in Kazakhstan

All these statistics paint a picture of a literary landscape in transition. Kazakhstan is embracing a new era where readers comfortably move between paper and screen. The government and cultural institutions are actively encouraging reading as a cornerstone of personal and national development. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, in establishing National Book Day, emphasized that through books, young people gain the ability to think broadly and progressively, and that a love of reading is foundational for “shaping a new, forward-looking national identity”. Such high-level advocacy underlines that fostering reading is seen not just as an educational matter, but as a societal value in Kazakhstan.

On the ground, there are signs of a reading revival. Book festivals and fairs have gained momentum. For instance, Kitap Fest in Almaty has grown remarkably since its start in 2014. In its first year, only 13 publishing houses took part; now around 70 publishers participate, and book sales at the festival have gone from a humble ₸100,000 to over ₸3,000,000 (about $5,800) for a single publisher in recent years. This reflects both a greater supply of books (especially in Kazakh) and a growing demand among readers. There are more Kazakh writers coming out with new works, and interest in local stories and Kazakh-language literature is increasinga. In the past, many readers defaulted to Russian or translated foreign literature due to limited Kazakh content; now that gap is closing. The boom in children’s literature is also notable – children’s books are selling very well, which is crucial because childhood reading often creates lifelong readers.

At the same time, Kazakhstan’s readers are diversifying in how they consume books. They attend writing workshops, poetry readings, and even new concepts like “poetry therapy” sessions where people read poems on stage. The literary culture is adapting to contemporary tastes and technologies. For example, an emerging trend is using social media and AI – some authors are experimenting with interactive storytelling online, and as mentioned, some readers use AI summaries (a practice that librarians and teachers are trying to discourage in favor of full reading).

In this “new era of the Kazakh reader,” print and digital will likely continue to co-evolve rather than one replacing the other. The data and trends we’ve discussed illustrate a balance: Kazakh readers are adopting e-books and audiobooks where it makes sense – for convenience, price, or availability – but they also remain attached to the printed page. In many households, one might find a shelf of books and, right next to it, a tablet loaded with an e-library. In public, it’s common to see someone reading from a smartphone on the bus, while another person nearby has a paperback novel in hand. This duality is captured in the phrase “Between paper and screen” – it’s not a battle, but a synergy.

Kazakhstan’s challenge and opportunity now is to leverage this synergy to build a stronger reading culture overall. Initiatives to modernize school libraries (800 school libraries were modernized and 1.7 million new books added in the past year) are underway. Ensuring that digital content is high-quality and that readers have the media literacy to navigate the “information overload” online is also crucial. Libraries are positioning themselves as guides in the digital age – helping readers verify sources and find trustworthy information amid the internet chaos.

In conclusion, Kazakhstan’s readers stand at the crossroads of tradition and innovation. The statistics from the last five years show a story of continuity and change: a continuity in the love for books and learning, and a change in the formats and channels through which this love is pursued. As one expert optimistically noted, Kazakhstan may not yet have exhaustive metrics on reading habits, but there is a clear positive shift, and a strong belief in creating a “reading nation” – because only a reading nation can lead a country forward. In the new era between paper and screen, the Kazakh reader is finding new ways to keep turning pages – whether real or virtual – and that is good news for the country’s cultural and intellectual future.