Sleep, constituting about one-third of people’s lives, is a vital element for overall well-being, influencing both physical and mental health. Despite cultural and regional variations in sleep duration, surprisingly little is known about the comparative quality of sleep, such as whether those in East Asia experience better or worse sleep than their counterparts in America or Europe.
Globally sleeping patterns vary significantly, with Asian countries experiencing shorter weeknight sleep durations of less than six and a half hours, approximately 30 minutes less than the global average.
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Conversely, northern European nations and Australia/New Zealand demonstrate better sleep habits, logging a solid seven hours on average. Although bedtimes and wake-up times generally align globally, Asian sleepers tend to fall asleep 35 minutes later than the average, waking up around the same time as individuals elsewhere.
Researchers from the National University of Singapore and Oura Health, a Finnish sleep-tech startup, analyzed anonymized data from over 220,000 people across 35 countries using a popular wearable device.
Unlike traditional survey methods, this study utilized sleep-tracker apps to objectively monitor sleep patterns, providing a more comprehensive and long-term perspective on global sleep habits. The results, showcased in an interactive Lie-in-dex, offer insights into how different countries compare in terms of sleep duration and quality.
Contrary to previous research, this study reveals that in Asia, where people go to bed later and sleep less than in other parts of the world, sleep quality is compromised. Despite the expectation of more significant weekend catch-up sleep, Asian sleepers exhibit both shorter weekday sleep durations and less compensatory sleep on Saturdays and Sundays compared to their European counterparts.
According to “Country differences in nocturnal sleep variability” by Adrian Willoughby, these 10 countries get the best weekend time spent sleeping
Finland
On weekdays, Finns enjoy an average sleep duration of 7.4 hours, with an impressive 86.4% sleep efficiency.
Estonia
Estonians mirror their Finnish neighbors with an identical weekday sleep duration of 7.4 hours and an 86.2% sleep efficiency.
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New Zealand
New Zealanders prioritize sleep with a weekday duration of 7.3 hours and a commendable 85.5% sleep efficiency.
Austria
Austrians demonstrate a consistent sleep pattern, averaging 7.3 hours on weekdays with an 86.0% sleep efficiency.
Switzerland
Swiss individuals maintain a weekday sleep duration of 7.3 hours, with an 86.3% sleep efficiency.
Netherlands
The Dutch prioritize sleep with a weekday duration of 7.3 hours and an 85.5% sleep efficiency.
Sweden
Swedes maintain a consistent sleep pattern, averaging 7.3 hours on weekdays with an 86.1% sleep efficiency.
Czech Republic
Czechs showcase a commitment to a healthy sleep routine, averaging 7.3 hours on weekdays with an 86.3% sleep efficiency.
Belgium
Belgians prioritize sleep with a weekday duration of 7.3 hours and an 85.7% sleep efficiency.
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Slovakia
Slovaks exhibit a consistent sleep pattern, averaging 7.3 hours on weekdays with an 86.5% sleep efficiency.
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