Sleep is a natural, recurring state of altered consciousness and reduced responsiveness that is essential for the overall well-being and functioning of living organisms, particularly animals and humans. It is characterized by specific patterns of brain activity, distinct sleep stages, and changes in physiological processes.

As important as sleep is to the human existence, there are several factors that may affect our quality of sleep. These factors lead to a condition known as sleep-related disorders. Sleep disorders are conditions that affect the ability to have restful, consistent, and healthy sleep. They include a range of disruptions to sleep patterns, including difficulties in falling asleep, staying asleep, or experiencing quality rest. 

Common Sleep Disorders:

• Insomnia: this is described as difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or experiencing non-restorative sleep, often linked to stress, anxiety, or other underlying conditions.
• Sleep Apnea: sleep apnea is characterized by interruptions in breathing during sleep, leading to brief awakenings. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) occurs when the airway is blocked, while central sleep apnea involves a failure of the brain to signal breathing.
• Narcolepsy: Involves excessive daytime sleepiness, sudden loss of muscle tone (cataplexy), sleep paralysis, and vivid hallucinations during sleep onset or awakening.
• Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS): Causes discomfort or an irresistible urge to move the legs, often interfering with sleep.
• Parasomnias: Include abnormal behaviors during sleep, such as sleepwalking, night terrors, and sleep-related eating disorder.

Factors that may contribute to sleep-disorders

Factors that may contribute to sleep-related disorders include but are not limited to the following; 

• Stress and Anxiety 
• Medical Conditions like chronic pain, respiratory disorders, or neurological issues can disrupt sleep.
• Medications 
• Lifestyle Habits: Poor sleep hygiene, irregular sleep schedules, and excessive use of electronic devices can contribute to sleep disturbances.

Major sleep statistics 

• About 50 to 70 million Americans suffer from sleep disorders, including insomnia, sleep apnea, and restless leg syndrome.
• Approximately 62% of adults globally report challenges in getting quality sleep, impacting their mood, cognitive sharpness, and daily functioning.
• Over 50% of teens aged 15 and above get less than 7 hours of sleep per night, with 85% failing to meet the recommended 8-10 hours.
• Women experience more sleep-related problems than men, including insomnia and restless legs syndrome, influenced by hormonal fluctuations and life stages like pregnancy and menopause.
• Short sleep duration is most prevalent among those in production (42.9%), healthcare support (40.1%), and healthcare practitioner and technical roles (40%).
• In countries like Japan and China, the average sleep duration is about 6.5 hours per night, with long work hours contributing to shorter sleep spans and increased stress.
• Inadequate sleep affects the U.S. economy significantly, with productivity losses tied to sleep-related health issues, such as fatigue and cognitive impairment.
• Daily sleep requirements vary by age group—from 14-17 hours for newborns to 7-8 hours for older adults aged 65 and above—reflecting the changing nature of sleep needs throughout life.

How many people have sleep disorders?

• Information from the National Library of Medicine shows that about 50-70 million Americans suffer with wakefulness and sleep disorders. 

How many hours of sleep is needed daily?

• The amount of sleep needed daily varies by age group. Information from the CDC shows that Newborns, aged 0–3 months, need about 14–17 hours of sleep.
• Moving into the infant stage (4–12 months), the advised sleep duration is 12–16 hours per 24 hours, including naps. 
• Toddlers, aged 1–2 years, are encouraged to target 11–14 hours of sleep per 24 hours, including naps. 
• The preschool age group (3–5 years) is recommended to aim for 10–13 hours of sleep per 24 hours, with naps.
• As children progress to the school-age bracket (6–12 years), the recommended sleep duration narrows to 9–12 hours per 24 hours. 
• During adolescence, teenagers (13–18 years) are advised to seek 8–10 hours of sleep per 24 hours.
• As individuals transition into adulthood (18–60 years), the general guideline is to aim for 7 or more hours of sleep per night. 
• The age group of 61–64 years is encouraged to secure 7–9 hours of sleep, and for those aged 65 years and older, the recommendation is to target 7–8 hours of sleep per night. 
• As important as sleep is, information from Philips Sleep survey shows that about 62% of adults globally report experiencing difficulties in achieving restful sleep when they retire to bed.
• In the 2020 Sleep in America Poll by the National Sleep Foundation, over a third of adults revealed they don't get the recommended amount of sleep. They feel sleepy for at least half the week, affecting their mood, mental sharpness, and daily productivity. Survey participants noted that fatigue impacts work, exercise, and relationships with friends and family. 

Sleep statistics by age

• American Academy of Pediatrics over 50% of teenagers aged 15 and above get less than seven hours of sleep each night, with approximately 85% of teens falling short of the recommended 8-10 hours. The age bracket of 14-15 appears pivotal, marking a significant decline in nightly sleep hours for adolescents.
• Another information published by Norwegian health and wellness publication, Helsestart  shows that Over 25% of adults between 18 and 24 face insomnia every night, marking the highest insomnia rate among all age groups in the United States. 

Sleep statistics by gender

• Information from Naplab shows women experience more sleep related problems than men. Several factors contribute to this disparity, including hormonal fluctuations, life stages such as pregnancy and menopause, and higher prevalence of conditions like insomnia and restless legs syndrome among women.
• Hormonal changes, particularly during the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and menopause, can impact women's sleep. Fluctuations in estrogen and progesterone levels may lead to changes in sleep architecture, contributing to difficulties falling asleep or staying asleep.
• Pregnancy introduces additional challenges, with discomfort, hormonal shifts, and increased frequency of nocturnal awakenings affecting sleep quality. Postpartum sleep disturbances may also arise due to the demands of caring for a newborn.
• Menopause brings its own set of sleep-related issues. Hormonal changes, hot flashes, and night sweats can disrupt sleep for many women during this transitional phase.

Sleep statistics by profession 

• According to the CDC the highest rates of short sleep duration were observed in production (42.9%), healthcare support (40.1%), and healthcare practitioners and technical (40.0%) occupations. Earlier studies have indicated that these three groups also exhibit some of the highest rates of alternative shift work.

Sleep disorder statistics

• Insomnia: 1 in 3 adults report some form of insomnia during their lifetime. Insomnia is more common in women than men, with nearly 40% of women experiencing symptoms compared to 30% of men.
• Sleep Apnea: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) affects around 25% of men and 10% of women in the U.S. An estimated 29.4 million Americans suffer from sleep apnea, with 80% of moderate to severe OSA cases going undiagnosed.
• Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS): RLS affects about 10% of the U.S. population, with women being twice as likely to experience it as men.
• Narcolepsy: Narcolepsy affects approximately 1 in 2,000 individuals in the U.S., impacting about 200,000 Americans. It often goes undiagnosed or misdiagnosed, with symptoms commonly appearing in adolescence or young adulthood.

 Sleep statistics by country 

• United States: About 35% of U.S. adults sleep less than 7 hours per night, which is below the recommended amount. Around 50 to 70 million Americans have some form of sleep disorder, with insomnia affecting 30% of adults occasionally and 10% chronically. An estimated 22 million Americans suffer from sleep apnea, with 80% of moderate to severe cases undiagnosed.
• United Kingdom: Approximately 60% of adults in the UK report sleeping less than 6 hours per night. Roughly 36% of the population experiences difficulty sleeping weekly. Poor sleep costs the UK economy about £40 billion annually due to decreased productivity and health expenses.
• Canada: 1 in 5 Canadian adults sleep fewer than 7 hours per night. About 20% of Canadians report symptoms of insomnia. Insufficient sleep results in an economic loss of about $21.4 billion CAD annually due to reduced productivity.
• Australia: Over 33% of Australian adults do not get the recommended 7 hours of sleep each night. 1 in 10 Australians are affected by a sleep disorder, with obstructive sleep apnea being common. It’s estimated that poor sleep contributes to health issues that cost Australia $66.3 billion annually.
• Japan: Japan has one of the shortest sleep durations globally, with an average of 6.5 hours per night. Over 40% of Japanese adults report not getting adequate sleep, often due to long work hours. Poor sleep has been linked to high rates of stress, fatigue, and mental health challenges.
• Germany: About 25% of Germans sleep less than 7 hours per night. 10% of the population has chronic insomnia. Sleep issues are estimated to cost Germany €60 billion each year in lost productivity and healthcare costs.
• China: Average sleep duration in China is around 6.5 hours per night. Up to 38% of adults in China experience sleep disturbances, including insomnia. Approximately 7% of the Chinese population are shift workers, impacting their sleep patterns and health.

• India: Many urban Indians sleep less than 6 hours a night, with a significant portion reporting insufficient rest due to work stress. 93% of urban Indians are sleep-deprived, and 11% face severe insomnia. Lack of sleep is linked to rising levels of stress, lifestyle diseases, and productivity loss in India.

Studies show that females tend to feel sleepier and report more sleep problems than males. Hormonal changes, multitasking, and higher rates of anxiety or insomnia may contribute to this. Women also experience more interruptions in sleep, especially during pregnancy and menopause.

Sources

• American Academy of Pediatrics. (2015). The great sleep recession: Changes in sleep duration among U.S. adolescents, 1991–2012. Pediatrics, 135(3), 460-468. https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article-abstract/135/3/460/75421/The-Great-Sleep-Recession-Changes-in-Sleep
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2017, March 6). Short sleep duration by occupation. NIOSH Science Blog. https://blogs.cdc.gov/niosh-science-blog/2017/03/06/sleep-by-occupation/
• National Sleep Foundation. (2020). 2020 sleep in America poll shows alarming level of sleepiness. https://www.thensf.org/2020-sleep-in-america-poll-shows-alarming-level-of-sleepiness/
• NapLab. Sleep statistics: Men vs. women. https://naplab.com/guides/sleep-statistics-men-vs-women/#:~:text=Women%20reported%20more%20sleep%20problems%20than%20men.
• National Library of Medicine. The state of sleep health in America. SleepHealth. https://www.sleephealth.org/sleep-health/the-state-of-sleephealth-in-america/
• Narcolepsy Network. Narcolepsy fast facts. https://narcolepsynetwork.org/about-narcolepsy/narcolepsy-fast-facts/
• Statista. (2018). Lack of sleep costs the UK economy £40 billion a year. https://www.statista.com/chart/7039/lack-of-sleep-costs-the-uk-economy-40-billion/#:~:text=For%20the%20UK%2C%20the%20estimated,to%2047%20billion%20by%202030.
• WebMD. Restless legs syndrome (RLS). https://www.webmd.com/brain/restless-legs-syndrome/restless-legs-syndrome-rls#:~:text=Restless%20legs%20syndrome%20affects%20up,or%20don%27t%20happen%20often.

• Hakami, A., Hakami, R. A., Al-Amer, M. A., Sharahili, L. M., Zuqayl, A. H., Hakami, T. K., & Dighriri, I. M. (2023). Prevalence of Sleep Disorders Among the General Population of the Jazan Region of Southwest Saudi Arabia. Cureus, 15(9). https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.46218

• Katherine M. Keyes, Julie Maslowsky, Ava Hamilton, John Schulenberg; The Great Sleep Recession: Changes in Sleep Duration Among US Adolescents, 1991–2012. Pediatrics March 2015; 135 (3): 460–468. 10.1542/peds.2014-2707

• Alhola P, Polo-Kantola P. Sleep deprivation: Impact on cognitive performance. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2007;3(5):553-67. PMID: 19300585; PMCID: PMC2656292.

• Global Sleep survey. https://www.sleephealth.org/sleep-health/the-state-of-sleephealth-in-america/. Accessed 1/12/2024.