Danes Abandon Screens as Print Books Surge

Josephine Wismar

December 23, 2025
12:18 pm

Physical books are making a strong comeback in Denmark. More Danes are buying and borrowing printed books while increasingly seeking a break from constant screen time.

Book Sales and Library Loans Are Rising

The past year has been exceptional for printed books in Denmark. According to the Danish Book Panel’s latest annual report, released in December, physical books are far from disappearing. In 2024 alone, Danes borrowed about 32 million physical books, e-books, and audiobooks, marking the highest number in a decade.

At the same time, book sales increased by 8.5 percent in the second quarter of 2024 compared with the year before, figures from the Ministry of Culture show. The trend suggests that more readers are turning to the printed page for a different experience.

Interestingly, this growth comes even before the government’s decision to eliminate the value-added tax on books fully takes effect. The move is part of a larger cultural investment plan announced in 2025 to strengthen Denmark’s creative industries.

While the tax policy may influence sales, experts also link the renewed interest to a wider weariness with screens. Many Danes feel that constant exposure to phones, laptops, and tablets has limits, and reading physical books offers a way to slow down.

Is It Really About Escaping the Screen?

Some researchers caution against oversimplifying the trend. Behavioral expert Pelle Guldborg Hansen argues that the renewed enthusiasm for printed books might not be solely about rejecting digital media. He suggests that social and commercial factors could play a role. New marketing strategies for publishers and libraries have often made books more visible and inviting again.

In fact, if this shift were truly rooted in a conscious move away from digital culture, data across all areas of consumption would likely show the same pattern. Instead, the rise seems to reflect a blend of cultural awareness, nostalgia, and efforts by the book industry to reconnect with readers.

Libraries Are Transforming

Public libraries have played a major role in this development. Over recent years, Danish libraries have evolved into community spaces focused not just on lending books but also on hosting events, workshops, and shared reading gatherings. Their continuous reinvention has helped attract a new wave of visitors.

Local libraries report a growing number of family visitors, especially among people aged 30 to 50—an age group often associated with parents who value reading together with their children. As a result, libraries have become vibrant cultural centers rather than quiet, traditional book halls.

At the same time, think tanks like the “Future Libraries” project credit this success to staff innovation. Librarians have strategically focused on engagement, seeing their institutions as gateways to lifelong learning and cultural connection.

The Decline of Nonfiction

Despite the overall optimism, one category continues to struggle: nonfiction. The number of Danish publishers releasing new academic or factual titles fell from 609 to 463 in just one year.

Writers and experts say the reason is partly practical. Nonfiction books are harder to adapt into audio format, which has become a preferred way to consume content. Popular genres like crime, romance, or feel-good fiction work better on streaming platforms because listeners can follow them casually while doing other tasks.

For nonfiction, however, readers must devote full attention. That level of focus has become rare in a multitasking digital world. Yet authors stress the importance of keeping such literature accessible, as it helps readers understand complex topics and builds the ability to interpret information critically.

Encouraging more people to explore all types of literature, from light entertainment to deeper analytical works, remains a key goal. As readers grow more confident and experienced, they are likely to branch out into more demanding genres, which benefits everyone involved in Denmark’s literary ecosystem.