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Sleep statistics 2025

The average person gets less than seven hours of sleep every night and 50 to 70 million adults in the U.S. are affected by a sleep disorder. Get more sleep stats here.
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By | Updated on Feb. 5, 2025 Medically reviewed by Josephine Bawab, Pharm.D.
Map of America with charts and graphs: Updated sleep statistics

Key takeaways

  • About 70 million U.S. adults are affected by a sleep disorder, and the majority of high schoolers do not get enough sleep.

  • Worldwide, more than one-third of adults report experiencing insomnia, two-thirds report sleep disturbances at least once per night, and 80% state they want to improve their sleep.

  • Sleep disorders and inadequate sleep can lead to other health issues, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, memory loss, and increased mortality.

  • Getting too much sleep can also lead to health problems, so it’s important to get the recommended amount of sleep each night for your age group.

In this article:

Getting a good night’s sleep is one of the most important things you can do for your health. During sleep, the body can rest and recover for a new day. Not getting enough sleep because of a sleep disorder can negatively impact your health, happiness, and longevity. Let’s look at recent sleep statistics to better understand sleep disorders and how they affect overall health. 

How much sleep should you get?

Not getting enough sleep can be bad for your physical and mental health and cause some unwelcome symptoms. Not meeting your sleep needs can cause a lack of energy, trouble remembering things, a reduced attention span, slowed thinking, a reduced sex drive, poor decision-making, irritability, daytime sleepiness, and other mood changes.

The exact amount of sleep you need will depend on age, but children generally need more sleep than adults to support their growth and development. Here’s a helpful guide from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on the recommended amount of sleep that someone should get based on their age: 

Sleep requirements by age
Age  Hours of sleep needed
0-3 months  14-17
4-11 months  12-16
1-2 years old  11-14 
3-5 years old  10-13 
6-12 years old  9-12
13-18 years old  8-10
18-64 years old  7-9
65+ 7-8

What is a sleep disorder?

Not getting good sleep regularly may be a sign that you have a sleep disorder. A sleep disorder is a condition that causes chronic sleep deprivation and negatively impacts a person’s quality of life. “Sleep disorders are a group of conditions that are characterized by either poor quality or quantity of sleep,” says Abhinav Singh, MD, the medical director of the Indiana Sleep Center. “In some instances, this can include poor quality of wakefulness that interferes with optimal daytime functioning.” 

A healthcare professional can diagnose someone with a sleep disorder if they have certain symptoms, such as difficulty sleeping at night and excessive sleepiness in the daytime. “After a thorough clinical evaluation by your physician, which typically involves a detailed history of presenting complaints, sleep logs, and possibly sleep studies, the diagnosis can be generally obtained,” says Dr. Singh. There are seven categories of sleep disorders listed in the third edition of the International Classification of Sleep Disorders (ICSD-3): 

  1. Insomnia, especially chronic insomnia
  2. Sleep-related breathing disorders, such as snoring and obstructive sleep apnea
  3. Central disorders of hypersomnolence, such as narcolepsy and idiopathic hypersomnia
  4. Circadian rhythm sleep-wake disorders, including jet lag and delayed sleep-wake phase disorder
  5. Parasomnias, such as sleepwalking, rapid eye movement (REM) behavior disorder, and sleep paralysis
  6. Sleep-related movement disorders, like restless leg syndrome
  7. Other sleep disorders

How common are sleep disorders? 

  • Twenty-five percent of survey respondents have been reportedly diagnosed with a sleep disorder. (SingleCare, 2024)
  • About 70 million adults in the U.S. have a sleep disorder (Sleep Doctor, 2024). 
  • An estimated 10% to 30% of U.S. adults have obstructive sleep apnea. (Sleep Doctor, 2024) 
  • About 30% to 40% of U.S. adults report symptoms of insomnia at some point each year. (American Journal of Managed Care, 2020) 

Sleep statistics worldwide

  • More than 30% of adults have reported experiencing insomnia symptoms worldwide. (The Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience, 2021) 
  • Sixty-two percent of adults around the world say they sleep somewhat well or not at all well. (Philips, 2019) 
  • As many as 67% of adults worldwide report sleep disturbances at least once every night. (Philips, 2019) 
  • Eight in 10 adults around the world want to improve their sleep, but 60% of these adults have not sought help from a medical professional. (Philips, 2019) 
  • Forty-four percent of adults around the world say that the quality of their sleep has gotten worse over the past five years. (Philips, 2019)
  • Twenty-six percent of adults worldwide report that their sleep quality has improved over the past five years. (Philips, 2019)

National sleep statistics

The prevalence of sleep disorders in the United States is so high that the CDC declared insufficient sleep a public health problem. Here are some national statistics on sleep loss in the U.S.:

Sleep statistics by sex

Sleep statistics by age

  • A range of 30 % to 45% of U.S. adults reported not getting enough sleep in 2022, depending on the state, which is defined as less than 7 hours of sleep per night for this age group. (CDC, 2024)
  • About three-quarters of high schoolers reported not getting enough sleep in 2021, which is defined as less than 8 hours of sleep per night for this age group. (CDC, 2024)
  • Among children ages 4 months to 14 years, 25% to 50% had insufficient sleep from 2020 to 2021, depending on the state, which is defined by various sleep amounts per year of age. (CDC, 2024)
  • As many as 60% of college students have poor sleep quality (Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment, 2017). 
  • Between 40% and 70% of older adults have chronic sleep problems, half of which are undiagnosed. (Sleep Medicine Clinics, 2016) 

Sleep aid statistics

One Consumer Reports survey found that melatonin is the most popular natural sleep remedy. While melatonin is a popular insomnia remedy, it’s not well-known exactly how effective it is for sleep. According to Consumer Reports, only 5% to 10% of people may feel sleepy after taking melatonin, and it could cause drowsiness or fogginess the day after taking it. When natural remedies aren’t helpful, some people turn to over-the-counter (OTC) medicine, prescription drugs, or other substances that cause sleepiness. In a sleep survey, SingleCare found the following sleep aid statistics:

  • 20% took natural vitamins and supplements (like melatonin or magnesium)
  • 10% took OTC pain relievers (like Tylenol PM or ZzzQuil)
  • 9% used marijuana
  • 8% used OTC sleep aids (such as Unisom)
  • 7% used antihistamines that cause drowsiness (like Benadryl)
  • 7% used prescription sleep aids (such as Lunesta, Ambien, or Restoril)
  • 6% drank alcohol
  • 5% used CBD oil
  • 3% reported using other substances for sleep (such as tea or antidepressants)

RELATED: A guide to sleep aids: What are your options?

Sleep and overall health

Consistently getting a good night’s sleep is correlated with better overall health and a higher quality of life. “Current sleep research has shown that sleep may be associated with memory consolidation and emotional regulation, and a lack of sleep may adversely impact these. Improving sleep has shown to increase performance, cognition, and even help regulate appetite and weight,” says Dr. Singh. 

  • People who sleep less than seven hours per night are more likely to develop obesity than those who sleep more. (BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine, 2018)
  • The risk of diabetes increases with too little sleep (less than seven hours) and too much sleep (more than nine hours). (Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health)
  • Those who sleep less than six hours per night are 20% to 32% more likely to develop hypertension than people who get seven to eight hours of sleep per night. (Sleep Medicine Clinics, 2016)
  • Driving while sleepy, driving after less than or equal to 5 hours of sleep, and driving between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m. are risk factors that cause about 19% of car crash injuries. (British Medical Journal, 2002) 
  • Although both chronic lack of sleep (less than seven hours) and long sleep durations (more than nine hours) are associated with a higher risk of mortality, longer sleep durations come with the highest risk of mortality. (Journal of the American Heart Association, 2017)

The cost of sleeping problems

  • The U.S. has the highest annual economic loss due to insufficient sleep in the world, with up to $411 billion lost per year (Rand Health Quarterly, 2017)
  • Each year, about 100,000 deaths occur in U.S. hospitals due to medical errors. Sleep deprivation is a significant contributor to this. (American Academy of Sleep Medicine, 2019)
  • The cost of an in-center sleep study ranges from $500 to $3,000. In-home sleep tests typically cost $300 to $600. (Advanced Sleep Medicine Services, Inc.)
  • Insomnia treatment costs upwards of $1,400 per year, which includes a generic sleeping pill and behavioral therapy. (American Academy of Sleep Medicine, 2011)

Causes of sleep disorders

Sleep disorders can be complex to understand because multiple factors can cause them. According to Dr. Singh, there are four potential causes of sleep disorders: 

  1. Genetic risk factors: Having a family history of similar disorders may leave you with an increased risk of having a sleep disorder.
  2. Anatomy: A narrow oral-nasal passage, a large neck circumference, and jaw shape and size can affect your sleep. Anatomy is a risk factor for sleep-disordered breathing, such as sleep apnea. A common risk factor is increased body weight. 
  3. Extrinsic factors: Having poor lifestyle habits, anxiety, stress, consuming alcohol or tobacco close to bedtime, and excessive LED exposure in the evening hours before bed (phones, tablets, etc.) can lead to the onset of sleep disorders. 
  4. Medical conditions and medications: Certain medical conditions can adversely impact sleep and ultimately lead to sleep disorders. Things like heartburn, diabetes, depression, PTSD, and schizophrenia can keep people up at night. 

Treating sleep disorders

Sleep disorders are typically treated with a combination of medical treatments and lifestyle changes. “The body of sleep research is rapidly growing. Wearable technology and home testing have increased sleep health awareness. Behavioral techniques, medications, and medical devices are being researched, and several have been successfully invented and are used to alleviate several sleep disorders,” says Dr. Singh. 

Medications like Silenor (doxepin), Belsomra (suvorexant), and Restoril (temazepam) are used to treat sleep disorders.

RELATED: Restoril vs. Ambien

Making certain lifestyle changes can also help improve your sleep quality and overall well-being. Reducing stress, avoiding alcohol and caffeine, creating good sleeping habits, and sleeping with a sleep machine are all examples of ways to reduce your sleeplessness at home. The exact lifestyle changes you may need to make will vary based on the specific sleep disorder you have, so it’s always a good idea to talk with your healthcare provider before making a major change to your daily routine. 

Sometimes, surgery is necessary to treat sleep disorders like sleep apnea and snoring. Hyoid suspension surgeries, genioglossus advancement, palatal implants, and uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) are all examples of surgeries for sleep apnea and snoring. Surgeries are usually performed as a last resort after lifestyle changes and sleep medications have failed. 

If you have trouble sleeping and are wondering how to fix it, the best thing to do is make an appointment with your healthcare provider. He or she will be able to tell you whether you have a sleep disorder and create a treatment plan that fits your lifestyle. 

Sleep questions and answers

What percentage of the population has trouble sleeping?

According to Philips, more than 60% of people sleep somewhat well or not at all well. About 70 million Americans have chronic sleep disorders.

In 2020, the CDC reported that 35% of all adults in the U.S. experience short sleep duration (less than seven hours). About one-third of the U.S. adult population does not get enough sleep regularly. 

How much sleep does the average person get at night?

According to a Gallup poll, the average person gets between six and seven hours of sleep every night.

Which age group needs the most sleep?

Infants 0-3 months old need the most sleep. They need about 14 to 17 hours in a 24-hour period. 

Do females need more sleep than males?

A lot of published research suggests that men need less sleep than women. Studies show women not only need more sleep than men, but they also tend to sleep about 11 minutes longer every night. 

Is there such a thing as too much sleep? 

Getting enough sleep is important, but sleeping too much can be just as bad for your health as being chronically sleep-deprived. Regularly getting too much sleep can increase your risk of getting diabetes, heart disease, depression, obesity, and even strokes.