30+ Powerful Insomnia Statistics [2024 Update]

Posted on June 1, 2021 | by Darko Jacimovic

Reading this article in the middle of the night might be a sign of chronic sleep deprivation or something else entirely.

There are plenty of reasons that lead to insomnia and sleep disorders, but ultimately we know that lack of sleep is not beneficial for mental and physical well-being.

For that reason, scientists and researchers have spent decades researching this condition and gathering fascinating insomnia statistics that have proven to be of great help so far.

Naturally, there’s much more that needs to be accomplished in order for insomnia to be successfully cured.

For now, we have numerous papers and research that can shed a light on the condition that troubles millions of Americans. Let’s dive in and see what these statistics on sleep deprivation can teach us.

Insomnia Stats to Blow Your Mind (Editor’s Pick)

About 30% of American adults suffer from occasional insomnia while 10% have chronic insomnia.
Sleeping disorder statistics show women are twice as likely to suffer from insomnia.
Insomnia stats show adults sleep less than 7 hours per night.
Insomniacs have 28% more chance of getting diabetes.
58% higher death risk with untreated insomnia.
50% of the world’s population suffers from insomnia according to stats on sleep deprivation.

Insomnia Age Groups Statistics

1. About 30% of American adults suffer from occasional insomnia while 10% have chronic insomnia.

(Sleep Advisor)

Insomnia is the most common sleeping problem affecting many people of all ages worldwide. In the US, insomnia statistics from 2020 show nearly 30% of adults have occasional insomnia while 10% are suffering from chronic insomnia.

Globally, this disease can affect up to 60% of the population, an indication that this illness is a serious one.

2. 25% of children have trouble sleeping through the night.

(National Center for Biotechnology Information)

As you’re probably aware, children and teenagers need more sleep compared to adults. However, around 25% of children suffer from some type of sleep disorder.

Interestingly, insomnia rates are higher with children whose mothers suffer from insomnia. Furthermore, untreated insomnia can lead to adolescent or teenage depression.

3. Insomnia prevalence in seniors is at 50%.

(National Center for Biotechnology Information)

As adults get older, they tend to have more issues falling asleep or staying asleep during the night.

Both men and women over 65 years of age have complained of at least one sleeping problem, if not more. Insomnia is the most common sleep disorder, but many more appear for seniors.

4. 15% to 20% of adults are affected by short-term insomnia in the US.

(Sleep Education)

People aged 20 to 39 have reported that they have trouble falling asleep at night or maintaining their sleeping schedule.

That translates to roughly a fourth of Americans having short-term insomnia symptoms. With such numbers, we can deduct that insomnia is a serious problem that affects a large portion of the US population.

5. 27% of working women vs 20% of working men suffer from insomnia.

(American Academy of Sleep Medicine)

Not surprisingly, adult women suffer from insomnia more than men. The case is no different when it comes to employed people.

According to data by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine conducted on 7,428 respondents, around 27% of adult working women suffer from insomnia compared to nearly 20% of adult working men.

The study followed their sleeping habits and work performance, taking into consideration education levels.

Statistics of Insomnia in Women vs Men

6. Sleeping disorder statistics show women are twice as likely to suffer from insomnia.

(Michigan Health)

This is where hormones play another important role in a woman’s life. Due to the role hormones play in sleep quality and overall sleep habits, women are twice as likely to experience insomnia and other sleep disorders compared to men.

Hormones tend to affect mood disorders which leads to overwhelming feelings causing sleep disorders, lack of sleep, interrupted sleep, and insomnia, according to insomnia statistics.

7. 78% of pregnant women experience insomnia.

(American Pregnancy)

Thanks to extensive research and some fascinating insomnia facts, we’re now aware that pregnant women have plenty of trouble staying asleep during the night.

Around 12.6% of women experience trouble sleeping during the first trimester, while around 78% find it difficult to sleep through the night in a comfortable position at the end of the pregnancy.

It doesn’t seem unusual since it gets more challenging to find a comfortable sleeping position as the pregnancy progresses.

8. Sleep deprivation statistics show menopause causes insomnia.

(National Center for Biotechnology Information)

As hormone levels change with age, women aged 50 and over experience sleep deprivation and insomnia during menopause.

Around 40% to 75% of menopausal women have reported having trouble sleeping or staying awake during the night.

9. 25 million Americans suffer from obstructive sleep apnea.

(American Academy of Sleep Medicine)

Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common form of apnea among Americans.

Roughly 25 million Americans suffer from OSA, with between 9% and 21% of women, and 24% and 31% of men struggling.

People suffering from OSA have trouble breathing at night, having frequent pauses as the muscles in the back of the throat relax, obstructing the airway.

10. Insomnia stats show adults sleep less than 7 hours per night.

(National Center for Biotechnology Information)

Both men and women aged 20 to 39 have reported that they spend less than 7 hours sleeping per night. The typical 24 hour period requires adults to sleep at least 7 hours per night.

However, between 50 and 70 million Americans lack sleep due to various sleep deprivation issues.

Facts About Insomnia: Causes and Consequences

11. 70 million Americans suffer from a sleeping disorder.

(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Roughly 70 million Americans suffer from some type of sleep disorder, including insomnia.

Most Americans have problems with chronic sleep problems, which leads to poor quality of life, less productivity, injuries, increased health care costs, and more.

12. Around 75% suffering from depression also suffer from insomnia, according to sleep statistics 2020.

(Johns Hopkins Medicine)

While researching depression, scientists have found out that there is a strong relationship between this mental health problem and insomnia.

Upon further research, they have found out that insomnia is one of the causes of depression. Unfortunately, more than 75% of Americans that suffer from depression also experience insomnia.

13. 23% of adults reported that anxiety and stress caused their insomnia.

(Sleep Foundation)

Anxiety, stress, and insomnia form a vicious circle together. About 23% of adult Americans have reported that anxiety and stress cause them severe sleeping problems.

Similarly, the lack of a proper night’s sleep can cause stress and anxiety. It’s challenging to leave this endless loop that leads to unhealthy sleeping habits and health problems.

14. Around 40% of people have reported that sleep disorders run in the family.

(American Family Physician)

Sleep disorder statistics show that 39.1% of people claim that sleep disorders, including insomnia, run in the family.

Unfortunately, it’s difficult to confirm this report since there hasn’t been enough research on the topic.

We can conclude that people with regular sleeping patterns haven’t reported any sleep disorders in their family. However, it’s too early to make any direct connections between insomnia and genetic factors.

15. Sleep deprivation facts and statistics show that drinking increases sleep deprivation.

(American Academy of Sleep Medicine)

Americans tend to binge drink or drink more than twice a week which can be one of the causes of sleep deprivation in adults.

People that have the tendency to drink a few times a week have a higher chance to develop insomnia — around 84%, research on adults over the age of 55 shows.

16. 18% of obese Americans suffer from insomnia.

(Science Daily)

Insomnia statistics in America show that people aged 20 to 39 have a higher chance of gaining weight if they have trouble sleeping, which can lead to obesity.

This just might be the case since many people find it challenging to lay awake in bed at night which can lead to frequent trips to the kitchen.

17. 4% of Americans take sleep prescription pills.

(Live Science)

Roughly 4% of Americans over 20 go to the doctor to get a prescription for sleeping pills. When it comes to older Americans, unfortunately, the number is higher.

Around 6% of people aged 50 to 59 take prescription pills, and 7% of people older than 80 have stated the same.

18. Research suggests insomnia causes back pain.

(National Center for Biotechnology Information)

If you’ve been having trouble sleeping, you might also have trouble with back pain. Interestingly, insomnia facts show that back pain doesn’t cause insomnia but the other way around.

The increase of insomnia symptoms foresees onset of back pain as proven by the researches at the University of Haifa in Israel.

19. Insomnia affects 27.5% of truck drivers in the USA.

(National Center for Biotechnology Information)

If not treated correctly, insomnia can become a major cause of car crashes in the US, especially when talking about truck drivers — a common career choice for many Americans.

Insomnia facts and statistics show that 27.5% of drivers have trouble staying awake at the wheel. They have caused twice as many car crashes as people that have had a good night’s sleep.

20. Insomniacs have 28% more chance of getting diabetes.

(British Medical Journal)

People suffering from insomnia have 28% higher chances of developing diabetes as well. Since diabetes is a serious medical condition, it’s crucial to discover and treat insomnia on time, insomnia statistics in the world show.

21. Insomniacs tend to have more hallucinations.

(National Center for Biotechnology Information)

Studies have shown that people suffering from insomnia might develop hallucinations.

Compared to people with regular sleeping patterns, insomniacs are 2 to 3 times more likely to experience hallucinations according to insomnia data.

Be aware that hallucinations can lead to dangerous situations so it’s important to treat this condition.

22. 58% higher death risk with untreated insomnia.

(ABC News, Medical News Today)

Many people might not consider insomnia to be a serious and life-threatening condition, but persistent insomnia is linked to a 58% higher risk of death.

It can also lead to coma, as proven by the case of a 53-year-old Italian man from 1984.

Sleep Disorders Statistics Worldwide — Does Everyone Have the Same Insomnia Problems as the USA?

23. 20% of people around the world lack proper sleep.

(India Today)

According to research, around 20% of people worldwide suffer from sleep deprivation.

Sleep deprivation is a rising problem worldwide and many people have reported it to their physicians, but there’s still a stigma that follows this common health problem.

24. 50% of the world’s population suffers from insomnia according to stats on sleep deprivation.

(Hillarys)

It sounds terrifying that half of the planet suffers from insomnia. However, this isn’t any available information about which country loses the most sleep.

25. Sleep deprivation statistics worldwide prove that China might be the country with the lowest rate of insomniacs.

(Plos One)

China might have set the record with only 15% of people suffering from insomnia.

We don’t know the secret that helps Chinese people sleep better, but we’re aware that insomnia in China has not been cured.

Younger people have the most trouble sleeping and the number of adolescents with insomnia is rising.

26. 76% of Brazil’s population has at least one sleep disorder problem.

(National Center for Biotechnology Information)

Facts about sleep disorders indicate that Brazil has the highest rate of people with sleep disorders in South America, and possibly the world, with 76% of people reporting having at least one type of sleep disorder.

Many believe that these problems are caused by socioeconomic factors in the country.

27. In 2023, there will be 130.48 million cases of acute insomnia.

(Sleep Review)

Research shows that by 2023 there could be about 130,482,156 cases of acute insomnia among adults in the following countries — the USA, the UK, France, Japan, Italy, Spain, and Germany. This increase suggests an annual growth rate of 0.71%.

Interesting Facts About Insomnia Costs

28. Untreated insomnia was associated with an increase of $63,607 in healthcare costs.

(American Journal of Managed Care)

The annual costs related to insomnia in the US are rising thanks to a higher number of diagnosed patients with insomnia.

Untreated insomnia leads to an increase of $63,607 in healthcare costs over 11 months, mostly related to costs regarding inpatient care.

29. Patients with insomnia have $1,143 higher healthcare costs.

(American Journal of Managed Care)

According to several economic studies, insurance plans covering a six-month period were higher for patients with untreated insomnia compared to patients not suffering from insomnia.

The six-month bill was approximately $1,143 higher for patients with untreated insomnia.

30. 26% higher healthcare costs at baseline for patients with insomnia.

(American Journal of Managed Care)

According to a study, a Midwestern health plan for patients with insomnia had 26% higher healthcare costs at baseline and 46% higher healthcare costs after a 12-month follow-up.

Costs at the baseline were approximately $5,485, while the 12-month follow-up costs were $11,206.

31. The average US worker loses roughly $2,280 annually.

(The Washington Post)

Insomnia data showcases that the average US worker’s salary suffers because of insomnia. The typical worker is likely to lose about 11.3 days of work during the year, which means their salary decreases by $2,280.

32. 18.8% of blue collar workers are likely to suffer from insomnia.

(National Library of Medicine)

According to statistics on sleep disorders, blue-collar workers are more likely to suffer from insomnia and other sleep disorders compared to white-collar workers, but just by 0.5%.

Conclusion

There are no fun facts about insomnia since lack of sleep doesn’t only heavily reflect on health and people’s mental state, but it also has a significant impact on people’s social life and overall life quality.

If you have insomnia or sleep disorder symptoms, it might be best to consult a physician and get the necessary treatment.

Until then, these insomnia statistics might help you help someone else in your environment who suffers from the same issues.

FAQ

What percentage of the population has insomnia?

In the US, the lack of sleep statistics show that around 30% of Americans suffer from insomnia, while this percentage goes up to 50% when speaking globally.

Unfortunately, it’s challenging to know the exact percentage of people with insomnia around the world as various studies show varying results.

Some studies suggest around 10% to 30% of the population has insomnia, while others indicate that the percentage is as high as 60%.

Ultimately, insomnia mostly affects the older population, females, and people with mental and medical illnesses.

What is the number one cause of insomnia?

It’s challenging to pinpoint what the exact cause of insomnia is, as there are numerous factors that lead to insomnia and other sleep disorders, whether chronic or not.

Although there have been numerous studies focused on insomnia, the results are not always conclusive.

The factors change depending on the geographical location of the respondent, as well as their age, sex, and previous and existing health issues.

However, they also include and are not limited to stress, anxiety, drinking, overtime work, hormones, and many more, which are some insomnia interesting facts.

How many people in the United States suffer from insomnia?

The number of people suffering from insomnia and other sleep disorders changes yearly, if not monthly.

The number of Americans suffering from insomnia is on the rise as there are many stressful factors that contribute to the development of this tedious disease.

Since it is not easy to provide the readers with a precise number, know that roughly 70 million Americans suffer from insomnia.

Unfortunately, it does not seem as if the number will get smaller as the years go on.

How much sleep does the average person get a night?

According to various studies, the average adult should get at least 7 hours of sleep per night. However, that is not the case with people suffering from sleep disorders.

For example, most insomniacs get much less than that — only a few hours per night. Unfortunately, that leads to serious health issues later on.

All the more, some insomniacs do not sleep during the night at all, leading to an unhealthy lifestyle.

Moreover, if the person is suffering from insomnia, they could be affected by the disorder during important moments of their everyday life — work, driving, bathing, etc.

How much sleep do you need by age?

Infants up to 12 months old need around 12 to 16 hours of sleep including naps, 1 to 2-year-olds need up to 14 hours of sleep, while 3 to 4-year-olds need up to 13 hours.

Children aged 6 to 12 need between 9 and 12 hours of sleep. On the other hand, as we grow older, our sleep patterns change depending on our needs, so teenagers require 8 to 10 hours, while adults need 7 to 8 hours of sleep.

What age group is the most sleep-deprived?

Not surprisingly, adults and seniors are most sleep-deprived, but for different reasons, according to insomnia statistics.

Naturally, the reasons for sleep deprivation and insomnia are different for every adult but there are a few common factors for everyone.

For example, adults are more stressed and busy due to work, family, health problems, and other commonly known issues. All of that leads to sleep deprivation.

On the other hand, seniors have trouble sleeping due to their age and health problems.