The number of people reading paper and e-books has plateaued in China while audiobook figures continue to rise considerably, according to an annual survey.

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The results from the nationwide survey, which has been conducted by the Chinese Academy of Press and Publication (CAPP) since 1999, showed that on average each adult Chinese read 4.66 paper books in 2017, which was basically the same as 2016 (4.65).

The average Japanese person reads 11 books a year, nine in South Korea, seven in the United States and eight in France, Xinhua reports.

The figures for e-books stood at 3.12 last year - slightly lower than 2016 (3.21).

However, the percentage of Chinese adults listening to audiobooks, mainly through mobile app platforms, rose to 22.8 percent in 2017 - nearly six percentage points higher compared to last year.

22.7 percent of minors under 18 years old also said they listen to audiobooks, with 14 to 17 year olds reporting the highest ratio at more than 28 percent.

The trend is a result of Chinese citizens' lack of time, due to increasingly busy lifestyles, and their growing desire to learn, the CAPP report explained.

Noticeably, the number of those listening foreign language learning books declined sharply compared to previous years, with audiobook lovers tending to indulge more in literature and the arts.

CAPP researchers received 18,666 eligible samples from across 29 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities.

The survey comes days before World Book and Copyright Day (April 23), an annual event organised by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, to promote reading, publishing and copyright.

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