A good night’s sleep empowers us to recover and to wake up refreshed and ready to take on the day. Unfortunately, many people have sleep problems and don’t get the rest that they need.

Insufficient sleep and poor quality sleep can be the result of diverse factors, including sleep disorders,  medical conditions, and mental health. Sleep issues affect people of all ages, and their impacts touch many parts of our lives.

While sleep is too complex to sum up with only numbers, reviewing basic facts and figures about sleep can help you understand how sleep works, why it’s important, and how widespread sleep issues are.

  • On average, we spend about two hours per night dreaming. Trusted SourceNational Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)NINDS aims to seek fundamental knowledge about the brain and nervous system and to use that knowledge to reduce the burden of neurological disease.View Source 
  • In a normal sleep period, a person experiences four to six sleep cycles. Trusted SourceNational Center for Biotechnology InformationThe National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information.View Source 
  • REM sleep makes up 20% to 25% of total sleep  Trusted SourceDivision of Sleep Medicine at Harvard Medical SchoolA production of WGBH Educational Foundation and the Harvard Medical School Division of Sleep Medicine.View Source in healthy adults.
  • 80.7% of U.S. adults have taken a nap of 10 minutes or longer in the past three months, according to a survey by Sleep Cycle and SleepFoundation.org. | Learn more
  • The key driver of the body’s circadian rhythm is the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) in the brain, which is made up of around 20,000 neurons  Trusted SourceNational Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)The NIGMS supports basic research that increases our understanding of biological processes and lays the foundation for advances in disease diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.View Source .
  • 7% of adults nap every day, according to a survey by Sleep Cycle and SleepFoundation.org.
  • The average nap is about one hour, or 60.2 minutes, according to a survey by Sleep Cycle and SleepFoundation.org.
  • Metabolism drops by around 15%  Trusted SourceNational Library of Medicine, Biotech InformationThe National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information.View Source during NREM sleep.
  • 53.2% of U.S. adults sleep with their bedroom windows closed, according to a SleepFoundation.org survey, and 60.9% sleep with their door closed. | Learn more

Statistics About Insufficient Sleep and Sleep Inequity

  • Short sleep, or less than seven hours of sleep a night, is 10.7% more common among Black adults  Trusted SourceJAMA NetworkJAMA and the Specialty Journals help readers stay up to date with the latest research, author interviews, apps, and learning courses.View Source than whites. Oversleeping, or sleeping more than nine hours per night, is 1.4% more common among Blacks versus whites.
  • Adults ages 18 and 64 need seven or more hours of sleep  Trusted SourceNational Library of Medicine, Biotech InformationThe National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information.View Source per night. Adults ages 65 or older need seven to eight hours.
  • 4.8 of 10 U.S. of workers say they are regularly tired during the day, and 6.9 of 10 say they are tired when their work day is done, according to a SleepFoundation.org survey. | Learn more
  • More than one-third of U.S. adults  Trusted SourceNational Library of Medicine, Biotech InformationThe National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information.View Source sleep less than seven hours per night, on average.
  • Among all states, Hawaii has the highest percentage of adults (43.2%) who get seven or fewer hours of sleep each night. | Learn more

 

  • Among U.S. counties, Boulder County in Colorado has the lowest percentage of adults (23.2%)  Trusted SourceCenters for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)As the nation’s health protection agency, CDC saves lives and protects people from health threats.View Source who get seven or fewer hours of sleep each night.
  • 42.6% of single parents  Trusted SourceCenters for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)As the nation’s health protection agency, CDC saves lives and protects people from health threats.View Source sleep less than seven hours per night, compared to 32.7% of adults in two-parent homes and 31% of adults with no children.
  • More than twice as many of SIDS deaths  Trusted SourceCenters for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)As the nation’s health protection agency, CDC saves lives and protects people from health threats.View Source occur among non-Hispanic Black, American Indian, and Alaska Native babies per 100,000 live births than non-Hispanic white babies. | Learn more
  • 51.2% of short-sleepers say that sleep problems run in their family, according to a SleepFoundation.org survey. | Learn more
  • Active-duty service members are 34% more likely to report insufficient sleep  Trusted SourceNational Library of Medicine, Biotech InformationThe National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information.View Source than people with no history of military service.
  • Insufficient sleep has an estimated economic impact of more than $411 billion each year  Trusted SourceNational Library of Medicine, Biotech InformationThe National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information.View Source in the United States alone.
  • Drowsy driving is responsible for more than 6,000 fatal car crashes  Trusted SourceNational Library of Medicine, Biotech InformationThe National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information.View Source every year in the United States.

Statistics About Insomnia, Sleep Apnea, and Other Sleep Disorders

  • According to estimates, 50 million to 70 million people in the U.S. have ongoing sleep disorders  Trusted SourceNational Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)The NHLBI is the nation's leader in the prevention and treatment of heart, lung, blood and sleep disorders.View Source .
  • 9% to 15% of U.S. adults  Trusted SourceUpToDateMore than 2 million healthcare providers around the world choose UpToDate to help make appropriate care decisions and drive better health outcomes. UpToDate delivers evidence-based clinical decision support that is clear, actionable, and rich with real-world insights.View Source have insomnia that affects their daytime activities.
  • Women are 40% more likely to have insomnia  Trusted SourceNational Library of Medicine, Biotech InformationThe National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information.View Source than men are. 
  • 76% of U.S. adults with a sleep issue or disorder share a household with at least one other person who does, according to a SleepFoundation.org survey.
  • 55% of nurses  Trusted SourceJournal of Occupational and Environmental MedicineJournal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine is an indispensable guide to good health in the workplace for physicians, nurses, and researchers alike. In-depth, clinically oriented research articles and technical reports keep occupational and environmental medicine specialists up-to-date on new medical developments in the prevention, diagnosis, and rehabilitation of environmentally induced conditions and work-related injuries and illnesses.View Source say they experience insomnia. | Learn more
  • 32% of people snore, according to a survey of visitors to SleepFoundation.org. 20.6% of them have been diagnosed with sleep apnea.
  • About 44% of men and 28% of women  Trusted SourceThe New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM)The NEJM is recognized as one of the world’s leading medical journals. Published continuously for over 200 years, NEJM delivers high-quality, peer-reviewed research and interactive clinical content to physicians, educators, researchers, and the global medical community.View Source snore.
  • 17% of children  Trusted SourceThe Journal of PediatricsThe Journal of Pediatrics is an international, peer-reviewed journal that advances pediatric research and serves as a practical guide for pediatricians who manage health and diagnose and treat disorders in infants, children, and adolescents. Published monthly since 1932, it promotes the latest developments in pediatric medicine, child health, policy, and advocacy.View Source ages 2 to 14 snore.
  • A 10% increase in body weight may make you six times more likely  Trusted SourceNational Library of Medicine, Biotech InformationThe National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information.View Source to have OSA.
  • Some 0.9% of adults ages 40 and older  Trusted SourceNational Library of Medicine, Biotech InformationThe National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information.View Source experience central sleep apnea (CSA).
  • You may exert as much as 250 pounds of force  Trusted SourceMSD ManualsFirst published in 1899 as a small reference book for physicians and pharmacists, the Manual grew in size and scope to become one of the most widely used comprehensive medical resources for professionals and consumers.View Source of force when you grind your teeth. | Learn more
  • Restless legs syndrome (RLS) affects 5% to 10% of adults and 2% to 4% of children  Trusted SourceMedline PlusMedlinePlus is an online health information resource for patients and their families and friends.View Source . | Learn more
  • 1 in every 2,000 adults  Trusted SourceMedline PlusMedlinePlus is an online health information resource for patients and their families and friends.View Source has narcolepsy. In the U.S., that equates to about 165,950 people.
  • People with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are 37.6% more likely  Trusted SourceSaudi Journal of GastroenterologyView Source than others to have a sleep disorder.
  • 66.8% of adults say they have talked in their sleep  Trusted SourceSleep Medicine ResearchSleep Medicine Research (Sleep Med Res) is an official journal of the Korean Society of Sleep Medicine (KSSM), Asian Society of Sleep Medicine (ASSM), Korean Society of Sleep Research, and Korean Society of Sleep and Breathing.View Source .
  • 22.4% of adults  Trusted SourceCenters for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)As the nation’s health protection agency, CDC saves lives and protects people from health threats.View Source say they have had a sleepwalking episode.
  • 7.6% of people  Trusted SourceSleep Medicine ResearchSleep Medicine Research (Sleep Med Res) is an official journal of the Korean Society of Sleep Medicine (KSSM), Asian Society of Sleep Medicine (ASSM), Korean Society of Sleep Research, and Korean Society of Sleep and Breathing.View Source have had an episode of sleep paralysis.

 

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Statistics About Sleep Disruptions

  • 69% of men ages 40 and older and 76% of women in that age group get up to go to the bathroom  Trusted SourceNational Center for Biotechnology InformationThe National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information.View Source at least once per night.

Did you know?

Jet lag is worse when you fly eastwards because our circadian cycle is slightly longer than 24 hours.

  • Jet lag most often affects people when they fly across five or more time zones  Trusted SourceNational Library of Medicine, Biotech InformationThe National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information.View Source with jet lag worsening the more time zones that they cross.
  • 41% of primary care patients say that they experienced night sweats  Trusted SourceNational Library of Medicine, Biotech InformationThe National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information.View Source at least once in a monthlong period.
  • 94.8% of adults lose at least an hour of sleep to pain in a given week, according to a SleepFoundation.org survey. | Learn more

 

  • 63% of U.S. adults with heartburn  Trusted SourceNational Library of Medicine, Biotech InformationThe National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information.View Source say it has affected their ability to sleep well.
  • Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) makes women at least two times as likely to report insomnia-like symptoms  Trusted SourceNational Library of Medicine, Biotech InformationThe National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information.View Source before and during their period.
  • Around 50% of pregnant women  Trusted SourceNational Library of Medicine, Biotech InformationThe National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information.View Source experience insomnia-like symptoms.
  • 30% of couples who started sleeping in separate beds cited their sleep habits as the reason, according to a SleepFoundation.org survey | Learn more

Statistics About How Children and Teens Sleep

  • Babies up to 1 year old need 12 to 16 hours of sleep  Trusted SourceNational Library of Medicine, Biotech InformationThe National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information.View Source each day.
  • Children 1 to 2 years old need 11 to 14 hours of sleep  Trusted SourceNational Library of Medicine, Biotech InformationThe National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information.View Source each day, and children ages 3 to 5 need 10 to 13 hours.
  • Children ages 6 to 12 years old need nine to 12 hours of sleep  Trusted SourceNational Library of Medicine, Biotech InformationThe National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information.View Source each day.
  • 20% to 30% of children have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep  Trusted SourceUpToDateMore than 2 million healthcare providers around the world choose UpToDate to help make appropriate care decisions and drive better health outcomes. UpToDate delivers evidence-based clinical decision support that is clear, actionable, and rich with real-world insights.View Source .
  • Babies born prematurely may spend around 90% of their day asleep  Trusted SourceNational Library of Medicine, Biotech InformationThe National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information.View Source .
  • Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is a leading cause of death  Trusted SourceCenters for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)As the nation’s health protection agency, CDC saves lives and protects people from health threats.View Source for babies younger than 1 year old.
  • From the ages of 13 to 19, average total sleep per night drops by 40 to 50 minutes  Trusted SourceNational Center for Biotechnology InformationThe National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information.View Source .
  • 57.8% of middle schoolers and 72.7% of high school students  Trusted SourceCenters for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)As the nation’s health protection agency, CDC saves lives and protects people from health threats.View Source get less than the recommended amount of sleep for their age.
  • 30.8% of parents and guardians say their school-age children are not getting enough sleep, according to a SleepFoundation.org survey. | Learn more
  • Up to 27% of children  Trusted SourceNational Library of Medicine, Biotech InformationThe National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information.View Source have minor and infrequent snoring.
  • According to estimates, 10% to 50% of children ages 3 to 6  Trusted SourceAmerican Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM)AASM sets standards and promotes excellence in sleep medicine health care, education, and research.View Source have occasional nightmares.
  • As many as 70% of children  Trusted SourceNational Library of Medicine, Biotech InformationThe National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information.View Source with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have mild to severe sleeping problems.
  • Children who lose 39 minutes of sleep or more have a harder time coping at school  Trusted SourceJAMA NetworkJAMA and the Specialty Journals help readers stay up to date with the latest research, author interviews, apps, and learning courses.View Source and typically feel worse than those getting enough sleep.
  • 77.9% of adults say getting enough sleep is more important than being successful at a video game, compared to 60.1% of adolescents, according to a SleepFoundation.org survey. | Learn more

 

  • Adolescents push their bedtime back by 16 minutes for every 30 minutes  Trusted SourceNational Library of Medicine, Biotech InformationThe National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information.View Source they spend playing video games.
  • Kids share a bedroom in 70.4% of U.S. households with two or more children, according to a SleepFoundation.org survey of parents. | Learn more

Statistics About Sleep and Mental Health

  • 70% of adults with seasonal affective disorder (SAD) feel tired in the winter, compared to 44.2% of those without it, according to a SleepFoundation.org survey. | Learn more
  • 40% of people with insomnia  Trusted SourceJAMAJAMA, published continuously since 1883, is an international peer-reviewed general medical journal.View Source may have a diagnosable mental-health condition.
  • 83% of adults with depression  Trusted SourceNational Library of Medicine, Biotech InformationThe National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information.View Source may have at least one symptom of insomnia.
  • 58.2% of respondents with SAD use sleep aids, compared to 26.3% of those without SAD, according to a SleepFoundation.org survey.
  • 54.4% of respondents to a SleepFoundation.org survey say stress and anxiety were the top reasons they have trouble falling asleep. Sunday was the night of the week in which they had the most trouble falling asleep. | Learn more
  • As much as 91% of U.S. adults with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)  Trusted SourceCNS DrugsView Source have symptoms of insomnia.
  • 80% of people with PTSD have nightmares  Trusted SourceAmerican Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM)AASM sets standards and promotes excellence in sleep medicine health care, education, and research.View Source within three months of experiencing trauma.
  • Wildfires can cause as much as 134.9 hours of lost sleep per year for a U.S. adult, according to a SleepFoundation.org survey. 76.6% of adults who have lost sleep to wildfires cite anxiety as the reason. | Learn more

 

  • 72.5% of wildfire survivors  Trusted SourceNational Center for Biotechnology InformationThe National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information.View Source experience insomnia.

Statistics About Sleep Hygiene

  • On average, U.S. adults sleep on their side 54.1% of the time  Trusted SourceNational Library of Medicine, Biotech InformationThe National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information.View Source , on their back 37.5% of the time, and on their stomach 7.3%.
  • 58.3% of adults who shower or bathe before bed say that doing so helps them sleep, according to a SleepFoundation.org survey. | Learn more
  • Watching TV is the top bedtime ritual among U.S. adults, with 52.7% of respondents to a SleepFoundation.org saying they do it before bed. 50.4% of people who watch TV before bed get less than seven hours of sleep. | Learn more

 

  • Drinking more than two servings of alcohol per day for men and more than one serving per day for women can decrease sleep quality by 39.2%  Trusted SourceNational Library of Medicine, Biotech InformationThe National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information.View Source .
  • 51.2% of U.S. adults who sleep more than normal over Thanksgiving cite overeating and alcohol consumption as the reason, according to a SleepFoundation.org survey. | Learn more
  • Adults in the U.S. spend 3 hours, 30 minutes on social media before bed every night, according to a OneCare Media survey for SleepFoundation.org. | Learn more
  • YouTube is the most popular social media platform used before bed, with 73.8% of SleepFoundation.org survey respondents using it for at least one minute for an average of 48 minutes a night.

 

  • On average, adults snack before bedtime 3.9 nights each week, according to a SleepFoundation.org survey. Adults who snack on seeds and nuts before bed sleep 32 minutes more, on average, than those who snack on chips, crackers, or pretzels. | Learn more

Statistics About Melatonin and Sleep Aids

  • 55.8% of adults have consumed at least one sleep aid in the past month, according to a SleepFoundation.org survey. 49.1% of adults have used melatonin, which is the most popular sleep aid. | Learn more
  • The average melatonin dosage for adults is 4.8 milligrams, according to a SleepFoundation.org survey. 71.2% of adults take 5 milligrams of melatonin or less. | Learn more
  • 79.4% of adults who take prescription sleep medication  Trusted SourceNational Library of Medicine, Biotech InformationThe National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information.View Source experience a residual effect such as oversleeping, feeling groggy, or having a hard time concentrating the next day.
  • On average, U.S. adults who take melatonin do it 211 days each year, according to a SleepFoundation.org survey. 38.6% of adults take melatonin every day.
  • 8.2% of adults  Trusted SourceCenters for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)As the nation’s health protection agency, CDC saves lives and protects people from health threats.View Source say they took medication to help them sleep at least four times in the past week.
  • 20% of U.S. adults use marijuana or cannibidiol (CBD)  Trusted SourceAmerican Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM)AASM sets standards and promotes excellence in sleep medicine health care, education, and research.View Source as a sleep aid. | Learn more
  • 88% of adults who take melatonin say it helps them fall asleep faster, according to a SleepFoundation.org survey.
  • 23.4% of U.S. adults have taken Benadryl, or diphenhydramine, as a sleep aid in the past month, according to a SleepFoundation.org survey. | Learn more
  • Melatonin use increased 425%  Trusted SourceJAMA NetworkJAMA and the Specialty Journals help readers stay up to date with the latest research, author interviews, apps, and learning courses.View Source between 1999 and 2018 among U.S. adults.
  • Melatonin supplements may include 478% more melatonin per dose  Trusted SourceNational Library of Medicine, Biotech InformationThe National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information.View Source than what is advertised.
  • Sleep trackers are projected to become a $11.2 billion business by 2028.
  • 28.2% of adults use a cellphone  Trusted SourceNational Library of Medicine, Biotech InformationThe National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information.View Source to track their sleep. These include sleep-tracker apps.

Last modified: Sunday, December 24, 2023, 7:37 AM