1984 by the numbers
George Orwell · first published 1949 · dataset 2026-10-24
Who it is not for: readers below 9th grade: no school list in our data assigns it earlier.
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Length and reading time
| Pages (dataset edition) | 328 |
|---|---|
| Estimated words | 90,000 |
| Reading time, 300 wpm (fast) | 5 h 1 min |
| Reading time, 250 wpm (average adult) | 6 h 1 min |
| Reading time, 200 wpm (careful / younger reader) | 7 h 31 min |
| Days at 20 minutes a day | 19 |
| Lexile measure | 1090L |
At 328 pages, 1984 is longer than 84.6% of the 2,330 books on the reading lists we track whose page count we know (2,809 books are tracked in all). It is longer than the median book listed for grades 9-12 (273 pages).
1984 is 328 pages; the median book listed for grades 9-12 is 273 pages and the median of all 2,330 listed books with a page count is 187.
Source: Page counts of 2,330 books on U.S. school reading lists, bookstatistics.com · Dataset snapshot 2026-10-24
Show the numbers
| Book | Pages |
|---|---|
| 1984 | 328 pages |
| Median book listed for grades 9-12 | 273 pages |
| Median of all listed books | 187 pages |
Word counts and reading times are estimates: pages × 275 words, divided by the reading speed. Your edition's page count and your own pace will differ.
Where 1984 is on school reading lists
10 appearances (0.0% of all 20,804 listings in the dataset), drawn from 6 published lists, in grades 9th–12th. 10 of the 10 carry a link to the published source document.
States (3): Maryland, Massachusetts, North Carolina.
| Grade | Listings |
|---|---|
| 9th | 1 |
| 10th | 1 |
| 11th | 4 |
| 12th | 4 |
Sources
- Middleborough High School (MA) — Summer Reading 2025, choose one per incoming grade · checked 2026-10-07
- George Orwell is on the IB Diploma Programme English A: Literature Prescribed Reading List (author-eligible; schools select from the full PRL). Verified via independent author-roster cross-reference, 2026-09-04. · checked 2026-09-04
- NCSLMA High School Battle of the Books — official 2017-2018 list · checked 2026-08-11
- MCPS grade 11 ELA core text · checked 2026-05-29
- AP Lit — frequently cited in free-response questions · checked 2026-05-29
- CCSS ELA Appendix B, grades 11-CCR exemplar · checked 2026-05-29
Questions
How many pages is 1984?
1984 by George Orwell is 328 pages in the edition recorded in our dataset. Page counts vary by edition and format; at about 275 words per page that is roughly 90,000 words. See how long assigned books are, grade by grade.
How long does it take to read 1984?
About 6 h 1 min at an average adult pace of 250 words per minute (5 h 1 min at 300 wpm, 7 h 31 min at 200 wpm). At 20 minutes a day that is about 19 days. Compare a book of about the same length: Beloved.
Is 1984 on school reading lists?
Yes. It appears 10 times on the U.S. school reading lists, award lists and curricula in our dataset, in 3 states plus 4 national-curriculum listings, most often in grades 9-12. That ranks it #372 of 2,809 listed books. See the most assigned books, ranked.
When was 1984 first published?
1984 was first published in 1949, 77 years ago. See how old assigned books are, decade by decade.
Related
- 1984: reading level, grades and similar booksOn ReadingList, our sister site for school reading lists.
- More by George OrwellAnimal Farm
- Books of about the same lengthBeloved (324 pp.) · The First Cat in Space Ate Pizza (323 pp.) · Unwind (335 pp.) · Wonder (320 pp.)
- The most assigned books, rankedAll 2,809 listed books start here.
- Book length statisticsHow long assigned books are, by grade.
Cite this page
<a href="https://bookstatistics.com/books/1984/">1984 statistics</a>. Book Statistics, a Figures Bureau site. [1984 statistics](https://bookstatistics.com/books/1984/). Book Statistics, a Figures Bureau site. [url=https://bookstatistics.com/books/1984/]1984 statistics[/url]. Book Statistics, a Figures Bureau site.