Home > Statistics > Time use > 2009 > Cultural and sports hobbies 1981-2009 > Regular reading of newspapers has diminished

Published: 17 May 2011

Regular reading of newspapers has diminished

Even though Finland is still a strong newspaper country, regular reading of newspapers printed on paper has decreased. Young people and young adults, in particular, read less newspapers regularly than at the start of the 1990s. In contrast, more than nine out of ten persons aged 45 or over follow newspapers regularly. These data derive from Statistics Finland's Time Use Survey conducted in 2009.

Regular reading of newspapers by sex and age in 1991, 2002 and 2009, %

There have been quite considerable changes in regular reading of magazines or periodicals related to age groups from the beginning of the 1980s. People aged under 25 now read magazines clearly less than in the early 1980s. In contrast, those aged 65 or over read magazines considerably more than before. They are now the biggest magazine reading age group.

Reading of books has diminished from the early 1990s, although there have been no great changes in reading over the last ten years.

Nearly all Finns practise physical exercise. Over 90 per cent of the Finnish population aged over 10 had practised at least one form of physical exercise during four weeks in 2009. Ten years ago the proportion was nearly the same. Those aged 10 to 14 were most active at physical exercises, as 98 per cent of them had taken some form of physical exercise during the month.

Physical exercise hobbies in 1999 and 2009, %

The most popular form of physical exercise is walking, which in this survey also includes Nordic walking. That had been practised by three-quarters of the respondents. The next most popular were exercises at home, cycling and swimming. Jogging, gym exercises and exercises at home had increased their popularity over the 2000s..

Walking, exercises at home and cycling are practised often. Nearly one-third of those having been walking and cycling had taken their form of exercise nearly daily, or at least 20 times during four weeks. One quarter of those having taken exercises at home had been equally active. Other forms of physical exercise were taken less frequently.

Source: Time Use Survey 2009, Statistics Finland

Inquiries: Riitta Hanifi (09) 1734 2946, Hannu Pääkkönen (09) 1734 3229, ajankaytto@stat.fi

Director in charge: Riitta Harala

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Updated 25.5.2011