How Are We Sleeping Around The World?

Insomnia isn’t just a problem for Americans brought on by our work-centric culture, long hours and stressful lives, it is plaguing the rest of the world  as well.

The problem is international and trending poorly; in fact UK adults are getting less sleep than they did a year ago. 65% are sleeping an average of just 6 hours and 27 minutes every night, according to the survey conducted by the hotel company Travelodge. The troubling statistic is just 30 minutes shy of the general recommendation that adults should aim for 7-9 hours of sleep night.  Research has proven that sleeping less than 7 hours per night increases health risks, including memory and heart problems, cancer, diabetes and earlier death.

According to a 2011 OECD report, China recorded the most sleep, clocking in more than 9 hours of sleep. That fact could have something to do with the highly-accepted practice of public sleeping.

On the other hand, Japan sleeps average of 7 hours and 14 minutes each weekday according to a time use report. Time sleeping has been steadily declining since the 1970s, while internet usage has been on the up and up.

Other countries, like Spain, may be benefiting from the common practice of having a daily nap. The famed Spanish siestas were built in to the typical work day, although some may have been forced to skip napping in times of economic crisis.

Despite how often Americans are told we’re not sleeping enough, the latest statistics suggests we are averaging nearly 8 hours and 30 minutes a night.

In 2009, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), a France-based group that aims to promote democracy and a market economy, compiled available data from its 30 member nations on time use, including how much time the average person spent asleep.

Who Gets The Most Sleep? (avg. sleep time per day, in minutes)

Although some of the latest available data is from around 2006 – or earlier, it is probably safe to say that many nations are averaging less sleep in 2013, technology has only become more disruptive.

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