50+ Sleep Deprivation Statistics for 2024
Sleep deprivation is a widespread and complex issue that affects people of all ages and lifestyles. Nowadays, many of us sacrifice sleep to meet work, social, or entertainment demands, leading to consequences. The consequences of sleep deprivation, as seen in these sleep deprivation statistics, go beyond just feeling tired— they include a range of mental and physical impairments that significantly impact overall health and functionality.
Key Findings
Getting good sleep is the highest priority for 55% of individuals.
It takes approximately 28.6 minutes on average to fall asleep.
Montana, Colorado, and Vermont rank highest with the best sleep quality.
Men are more likely than women to report sleeping better with a partner, with 51% of men indicating so compared to 40% of women.
Adults who reported being dissatisfied with their sleep showed a significant 31% occurrence of moderate to severe depressive symptoms.
Mood and performance at work are equally impacted by sleep, with 49% of individuals citing each aspect as significantly influenced by their sleep quality.
General Sleep Statistics
Sleep, to many, is more important than we think. According to the data, getting good sleep is the highest priority for 55% of individuals, followed by spending time with family/friends, while eating healthy ranks third, and having fun/entertainment and exercising rank as lower priorities.
Women are notably more inclined than men to prioritize sleep.
The average time it takes to fall asleep
Did you know it takes approximately 28.6 minutes on average to fall asleep? Further statistics show that:
34%
fall asleep in 16-30 minutes
20%
fall asleep in 31-45 minutes
9%
fall asleep in 46-60 minutes
10%
fall asleep in 60 minutes
Sleep quality by state
Based on a recent sleep survey, sleep quality differs across regions. Montana, Colorado, and Vermont rank highest, above 79%, while Hawaii, Maryland, and Nevada rank lowest, with each below 77.6%. Overall, there is a relatively small difference in average sleep quality percentages, indicating a consistent trend across the surveyed regions.
Sleep Deprivation Statistics
A significant portion of U.S. adults are concerned about their ability to fall asleep, with only 40% reporting not worrying about it.
The rest of the respondents express varying degrees of concern, with 26% indicating a little concern, 24% reporting some concern, and 9% expressing a lot of concern.
Common obstacles to getting a good night’s sleep
The data highlights several common obstacles to getting a good night’s sleep among adults. Body pain or aches rank as the top barrier, with 39% of respondents citing it. Financial concerns follow closely behind, with 36% reporting that worrying about money or finances impacts their sleep. Additionally, environmental factors and external disturbances contribute significantly, ranging from 10% to 28%.
Sleeping preferences
Another contributing factor to sleep deprivation is sleeping with a partner. While adults are generally evenly split on whether they experience a better night’s sleep alone or with a partner, there is a notable gender difference. Men are more likely than women to report sleeping better with a partner, with 51% of men indicating so compared to 40% of women.
Sleeping duration vs. satisfaction
The data illustrates a clear correlation between sleep duration and perceived sleep quality among adults in the United States.
Those obtaining 8 to less than 9 hours of sleep have the highest proportion reporting excellent or very good sleep (49%), while those getting 4 to less than 5 hours of sleep have the highest proportion reporting poor sleep (65%), underscoring the importance of adequate sleep duration in maintaining good sleep quality and overall well-being.
Mattresses vs. sleep satisfaction
Mattress quality significantly influences Americans’ sleep quality. 92% of those experiencing excellent sleep in the past month are highly satisfied with their mattress, whereas only 54% of those with poor sleep report satisfaction with their mattress. Moreover, data shows that sleeping on a hard mattress increases the likelihood of a poor night’s sleep by 78%.
But what do people look for in a mattress for a good night’s sleep? Here’s what a survey found:
Sleep Deprivation Statistics by Gender
Women are more likely to prioritize sleep, with 61% of women compared to 48% of men considering it a major priority.
Men are more likely to report no trouble sleeping than women, with 51% of men and 41% of women indicating so.
Women are more likely to report having trouble staying asleep (17% vs. 12% for men) and experiencing difficulty falling asleep (29% vs. 28% for men).
A higher percentage of women than men report struggling with both falling and staying asleep (13% vs. 9% for men).
Effects of Sleep Deprivation
There is a strong relationship between sleep quality and mental health, demonstrated by the association between sleep dissatisfaction and depressive symptoms.
In the United States, adults who reported being dissatisfied with their sleep showed a significant 31% occurrence of moderate to severe depressive symptoms, whereas only a few individuals who reported satisfaction with their sleep experienced such symptoms.
Depressive symptoms by sleep duration
The data reveals a significant association between weekday sleep duration and depressive symptoms among adults in the United States. Notably, those who slept less than 7 hours on weekdays had the highest prevalence of moderate to severe depressive symptoms at 21%. In contrast, individuals who slept between 7 to 9 hours exhibited a lower prevalence of depressive symptoms at 7%.
Surprisingly, those who slept more than 9 hours also showed a relatively high prevalence of depressive symptoms at 13%, showing the importance of maintaining a balanced weekday sleep duration, as both insufficient and excessive sleep may contribute to an increased risk of depressive symptoms.
The impact of sleep on various aspects of life
Mood and performance at work are equally impacted by sleep, with 49% of respondents citing each aspect as significantly influenced by their sleep quality, underscoring the critical role sleep plays in regulating emotions and cognitive function during professional activities.
Additionally, a substantial portion of respondents, 45%, acknowledge the profound impact of sleep on their overall health.
Solutions and Recommendations
Findings highlight a diverse range of approaches to address sleep concerns. Approximately 21% of individuals utilize environmental factors such as opening windows or air conditioning.
Additionally, 12% use noise machines to create a soothing sleep environment. Other sleep aids, including herbal teas or melatonin, are utilized by 11% of adults.
Moreover, 8% opt for special sheets or blankets for better sleep, while another 8% resort to prescription medications.
In addition, the majority of adults perceive cuddling as having numerous personal benefits, with 61% stating that they sleep better when cuddling with a partner.
Other studies have shown additional successful solutions for avoiding sleeping challenges, such as:
Increasing regular exercise – 44%
Changing temp humidity – 43%
Reading near bedtime – 41%
Decreasing caffeine – 35%
Changing the bed or pillows – 33%
Sleeping alone – 31%
Decreasing fluids near bedtime – 32%
Changing sleep schedule – 31%
Not using screens before bed – 28%
Changing the type of mattress – 28%
Bottom Line
Sleep deprivation is a widespread problem that can negatively impact our mental, physical, and emotional well-being. Statistics highlight the importance of prioritizing good quality sleep and addressing common obstacles that prevent us from achieving it. The link between sleep quality and various aspects of life, such as mood, performance, and overall health, underscores the need for effective solutions and recommendations to overcome sleep difficulties and improve our overall quality of life.
