Sleeping Patterns Around the World

 

Sleep is an important part of our life. Without it, we will not function properly. In the case of China, children are given time to sleep during their breaks as it can form part of their physical and mental development. Here, some schools also do the same. Countries around the world differ in how they sleep.

Researchers of the University of Michigan conducted a study that aimed at discovering the sleeping patterns of the world. The data that they collected was derived from a sleep-tracking smartphone application that was launched in 2014. More than five thousand people from twenty countries participated in the research.

Gathering data about the sleeping patterns of people has always been a challenge. This is because researchers think that when they personally ask people, they tend to under or over report. If a research should be made, people should actually sleep in the lab but then researchers think that when they sleep at the lab would it be like how they sleep back at their home?

With the coming of smartphones and other wearable devices, gathering sleeping patterns around the world has become more reliable and easier.

Average number of hours slept every night by countries

On average, Singaporeans sleep 7.4 hours, Japanese sleep 7.51 hours, Brazilians sleep 7.57 hours, Germans sleep 7.7 hours, Hong Kong citizens sleep 7.77 hours, Mexicans sleep 7.79 hours, people from Denmark sleep 7.81 hours, Swiss sleeps 7.84 hours, Spaniards sleep 7.84 hours, Chinese sleep 7.86 hours, Americans sleep 7.87 hours, Italians sleep 7.88 hours, British sleep 7.9 hours, people from United Arab Emirates sleep 7.95 hours, Canadians sleep 7.97 hours, people from Belgium sleep 8.02 hours, Australians sleep 8.02 hours, French sleep 8.05 hours, New Zealanders sleep 8.07 hours and Dutch sleep 8.09 hours.

Notice that Singaporeans sleep lesser hours compared to other countries and Dutch people sleep more.

Average number of hours slept every night by gender and age-group

On average, women sleep more than men regardless of the age group. Women 20 to 25 years old sleep 8.25 hours compared to men with only 8 hours. Women between 30 to 35 years old sleep an average of 8.12 hours while men sleep 7.75 hours. Women between 40 to 45 years old sleep 8.10 hours while men sleep 7.60 hours. Women between 50 to 55 years old sleep 8 hours while men sleep 7.25 hours. Women between 60 to 65 years old sleep 8.10 hours while men sleep 7.80 hours.

Notice that as you age, the less sleep you get but in the case of women, they will not go below an average of 8 hours of sleep every night.