New data shows that children from countries such as Kazakhstan and Albania are more likely to pick up a book, newspaper or magazine on a daily basis than those from Britain.
In a table based on the number of teenagers who read regularly, the UK was ranked 47th out of 65 nations, behind countries such as France, Australia, Italy, Canada and Singapore.
The data, compiled by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development and reported on in the The Daily Telegraph, also showed that just four-in-ten 15-year-olds read for enjoyment outside school.
Tests taken by students in 2009 showed teenagers from Kazakhstan, Albania, China and Thailand were keen readers, with over 90 per cent reading books, newspapers or magazines for pleasure.
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