STUDY: Average American Now Sleeping Just 5.5 Hours Each Night

• Annual survey reveals adults are sleeping a staggering 47 minutes less than they did in 2018.
• Respondents had 105 “terrible” nights of sleep on average in 2019 — up from 99 in 2018.

NEW YORK — As the years press forward, sleep is becoming a frustratingly harder challenge for many Americans. That’s the main finding of a recent survey consisting of 2,000 adults that asked about sleeping habits, satisfaction, and frequency.

Perhaps the most stunning result of all is the drop in total average sleep time for Americans. It seems logging six hours is a struggle for many. Consider this finding: In 2018, the average respondent reported about six hours and 17 minutes of sleep per night. By 2019, however, that average shrunk to only five-and-a-half hours each night. If the trend continues, 2020 will be even worse for many in search of some shuteye.

Those numbers are a far cry from the recommended eight full hours of sleep, but apparently these disturbing dips in sleep patterns aren’t for a lack of trying; respondents said they do their best to attain the “perfect night’s sleep” whenever possible. In fact, in 2019 the average respondent said they would pay $316.61 for just one night of perfect sleep. That’s quite an increase over the $290 respondents said they would be willing to pay in 2018.

All in all, the survey, which was commissioned by Mattress Firm, found that one in four Americans consistently slept poorly in 2019. Additionally, respondents had an average of 105 “terrible” nights of sleep last year, compared to 99 in 2018. With these numbers in mind it also makes sense that Americans took more naps last year too, averaging 115 afternoon snoozes in comparison to 93 in 2018.

Of course, many naps never actually get started either. Respondents reported roughly 102 failed naps in 2019.

www.studyfinds.org/tired-nation-americans-now-averaging-less-than-6-hours-sleep-per-night/