Sleep Aid Statistics & Trends (2022)
Written by: Derek Hales
Published on: October 31, 2022
Looking for a little help getting the shut-eye you need? You’re not alone. According to the CDC, 70% of adults in the U.S. report insufficient sleep at least one night a month, and 11% report insufficient sleep every night.
It is estimated that sleep-related problems affect 50 to 70 million Americans of all ages and socioeconomic classes.
So what can be done? Today’s guide will look at the most popular sleep aids among U.S. adults to help you get back to bed.
This analysis includes statistics on the following topics.
Sleep Aid Stats (Editor’s Picks)
- Reading: 71% of worldwide adults have used reading to get better sleep.
- THC & CBD: 15% of US adults have used marijuana and CBD oil to get better sleep. Worldwide adult use is slightly lower at 14%.
- Legal Drugs: 69% of worldwide adults have never used an over-the-counter drug to aid in sleep. The same is true for 71% of worldwide adults with respect to prescription drugs.
- Monitoring: 76% of worldwide adults have never monitored their sleep.
- Traveling: Using a white noise machine is the most common sleep aid for travelers. 23% of US hotel room sleepers use one.
Top U.S. Sleep Tactics
For the shortlist, here are the top five most popular tactics for getting better rest among U.S. adults.
#1
#2
#3
#4
#5
Over 50% of all adult U.S. sleepers have tried one or more of the tactics above to get better sleep. In addition to these five strategies, there are 13 additional sleep tactics listed in the table below.
| Rank | Action | Percent of U.S. Adults Who Have Done This Get Better Sleep |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | Reading | 71% |
| #2 | Watching TV | 61% |
| #3 | Sleep apnea therapy | 58% |
| #4 | Set a bedtime / wakeup schedule | 52% |
| #5 | Soothing music | 52% |
| #6 | Reducing caffeine consumption | 48% |
| #7 | OTC sleep aids / drugs | 42% |
| #8 | Natural / organic sleep aids | 38% |
| #9 | Meditation | 35% |
| #10 | Consuming alcohol prior to bedtime | 33% |
| #11 | Prescription sleep aids / drugs | 29% |
| #12 | Specialized bedding | 29% |
| #13 | Sunrise alarm clocks | 26% |
| #14 | Ambient white noise / sound machine | 25% |
| #15 | Sleep trackers / monitoring my sleep | 24% |
| #16 | Marijuana | 15% |
| #17 | CBD oil | 15% |
| #18 | Other | 15% |
In addition to the list above, we found additional sleep aids from the study below.
This study revealed that up to 21% of U.S. adults preferred sleeping with an open window or air conditioning.
Noise machines, tea, melatonin, special sheets or blankets, and prescription medications were among the other aids documented.
Source: Statista
Worldwide Sleep Aids
Similarly to the U.S. results, the top four tactics in the U.S. were consistent with global trends, including watching television, sleep apnea therapy, setting a schedule, and reading.
Worldwide, respondents prefer reducing caffeine consumption over soothing music, but the margins are slim.
The table below shows the percentage of respondents worldwide who used select tactics to ensure a good night’s sleep (2020).
Source: Statista
Sleep Aids When Traveling
What about when you’re on the go? Traveling of any kind can oftentimes cause disturbances to your sleep. And sleep habits that are created at home don’t always translate well in a temporary setting.
Routines are disturbed and creature comforts of home may be missing. The table below lists 12 of the most popular strategies for getting better sleep in hotels.
Among the tactics, having a white noise machine, essential oils, teas, and earplugs topped the list.
Source: Statista
Final Thoughts
Overall, not getting enough sleep can lead to exhaustion, poor mood, poor work performance, and even poor health. In an effort to do whatever is necessary to get good sleep, you may want to try out one of the many tips and tricks listed above.
While everyone may respond differently to the tactics, within the lists above, I hope you find what you need to improve your sleep.
Don’t see your favorite sleep tactic listed? Shoot us a message and let us know that you lean on for better sleep!
