Scottish Household Survey 2025 findings: Cultural Engagement

Participation in cultural activities by population subgroup

Participation in cultural activities varied across population groups in 2025. Some of the largest differences were associated with qualification level and age. Differences were also observed by area deprivation, household income, sex, disability status, sexual orientation, ethnicity and urban-rural classification (Tables 22 to 35 in the accompanying Excel workbook).

Participation was strongly associated with qualification level. Respondents with a degree or professional qualification were substantially more likely to participate in cultural activities than respondents with no qualifications (89% compared with 53%) (Figure 14). A similar pattern was observed when reading was excluded, with participation ranging from 68% among respondents with a degree or professional qualification to 27% among respondents with no qualifications.

Figure 14: Participation in cultural activities increased with qualification level in 2025

Percentage of respondents who participated in cultural activities in the last 12 months, by highest level of qualification, Scotland, 2025.

Differences by qualification level were evident across a range of cultural activities. Respondents with a degree or professional qualification were significantly more likely than those with no qualifications to read books, poetry or graphic novels/comics for pleasure (79% compared with 42%), view cultural content online (18% compared with 1%), play a musical instrument or write music (18% compared with 5%) and participate in painting, drawing, printmaking or sculpture (19% compared with 6%).

Age differences were less apparent when overall participation was considered but became more pronounced when reading was excluded (Figure 15). Around three quarters of respondents in every age group reported participating in at least one cultural activity during the previous 12 months, ranging from 75% among respondents aged 75 and over to 78% among those aged 16 to 24. However, participation excluding reading ranged from 65% among respondents aged 16 to 24 to 41% among respondents aged 75 and over.

Figure 15: Participation in cultural activities varied by age when reading was excluded

Percentage of respondents who participated in cultural activities in the last 12 months, by age, Scotland, 2025.

Reading for pleasure was significantly more common among older respondents than younger respondents. Sixty eight percent of respondents aged 60 to 74 and 67% of those aged 75 and over reported reading books, poetry or graphic novels/comics for pleasure during the previous 12 months, compared with 55% of respondents aged 16 to 24.

By contrast, younger respondents were significantly more likely to participate in a range of creative, artistic and digital cultural activities. Respondents aged 16 to 24 were around four times more likely than those aged 75 and over to play a musical instrument or write music (22% compared with 6%) and to participate in painting, drawing, printmaking or sculpture (25% compared with 6%). Participation in dance was also higher among younger respondents (16% compared with 5% of respondents aged 75 and over).

Participation was also associated with area deprivation and household income. Respondents living in the 20% least deprived areas of Scotland were more likely to participate in cultural activities than those living in the 20% most deprived areas (86% compared with 65%). Similarly, participation was higher among respondents living in households with a net annual income of £30,001 or more than among those living in households with an income of up to £10,000 (79% compared with 66%). These differences remained when reading was excluded from the measure of participation.

Women were more likely to participate in cultural activities than men (82% compared with 70%). Women were particularly more likely to participate in crafts, reading and dance activities, while men were more likely to play a musical instrument or write music.

Participation was slightly lower among disabled respondents than non-disabled respondents (72% compared with 77%). However, the differences between disabled and non-disabled respondents were generally smaller than those observed by qualification level, deprivation and household income. Disabled respondents were more likely than non-disabled respondents to participate in crafts (22% compared with 16%).

Participation was also slightly higher among respondents living in rural Scotland than among those living in the rest of Scotland (80% compared with 75%).

There was some variation in cultural participation by ethnic group. White: Other British adults were more likely than other groups to participate in cultural activities (88%). When reading was excluded, similar levels of participation were observed among White: Other British adults (65%) and White: Other adults (64%). Participation among Minority Ethnic Groups was similar to that of White Scottish adults both when reading was included and excluded.

More detailed subgroup results are available in the accompanying data tables (Tables 22 to 35 in the accompanying Excel workbook).

Aspirations of participation in cultural activities

Respondents who had participated in cultural activities during the previous 12 months were asked whether there were any cultural activities they would like to do, or do more often. In 2025, around one third of respondents (32%) reported an aspiration to participate in at least one cultural activity. This was an increase from 23% in 2023. The majority of respondents (68%) reported no aspiration to participate in any of the activities asked about, although this was lower than in 2023 (77%) (Table 37 in the accompanying Excel workbook).

Among those who had participated in cultural activities in the last 12 months, the most commonly identified aspirations were reading books, poetry or graphic novels (10%), playing a musical instrument or writing music (7%), and crafts (7%). Compared with 2023, aspirations increased across a number of activities, including painting, drawing, printmaking or sculpture (4% to 7%), reading (8% to 10%), playing a musical instrument or writing music (5% to 7%), crafts (5% to 7%) and singing in a group or choir (1% to 3%) (Table 38 in the accompanying Excel workbook).

Among those who had not participated in any cultural activities in the last 12 months, 13% identified one or more activities they would like to take part in, compared with 8% in 2023. The majority (87%) still reported no interest in participating in any of the activities asked about, although this was down from 92% in 2023.

Factors limiting or preventing participation in cultural activities

Respondents were asked what, if anything, limited or prevented them from participating in cultural activities. As with attendance at cultural events and places, practical barriers were more commonly reported than issues relating to access or transport.

Lack of time (16%) was the most commonly reported factor limiting or preventing participation in cultural activities (Figure 16 and Table 39 in the accompanying Excel workbook). Five per cent of respondents reported that they had “just not got round to it”, while smaller proportions cited health problems (3%), not knowing how to get started (3%) and a lack of facilities in their area (3%). Less commonly reported barriers included a lack of money, a lack of equipment, a lack of information about available opportunities, not having people to take part with, lack of childcare and lack of transport (Table 39 in the supporting Excel workbook).

Figure 16: Lack of time remained the most commonly reported barrier to participation in cultural activities in 2025

Percentage of respondents reporting factors that limited or prevented participation in cultural activities, Scotland, 2025.

All the barriers shown in Figure 16 were reported more frequently in 2025 than in 2023. The proportion reporting a lack of time increased the most from 12% in 2023 to 16% in 2025. Reports of ‘don’t know how to get started’ increased from 1% to 3% and health problems increased from 2% to 3%. (Table 39 in the accompanying Excel workbook).

Footnotes