Key Facts from Sleep Survey

• 72 percent of respondents sleep six-and-a-quarter hours a night.

• With most sleep experts agreeing that eight hours is the right amount, it means people are sleeping 19 percent less than they should.

• On average, each respondent spends six hours and fifty-one minutes in bed.

• 34 percent said that inadequate sleep negatively affected their family relationships; 25 percent said it affected sexual relationships; and 19 percent said it affected friendships.

• After inadequate sleep, 58 percent are less able to concentrate, 51 percent have less patience, 49 percent have less enthusiasm and 25 percent have impaired judgement.

• 87 percent have had their work impacted by lack of sleep with between six and seven days being the average number impacted each year.

• 42 percent of respondents simply toss and turn and watch the clock when they wake up in the middle of the night.

USA

• Americans are more likely than other nationalities to lose sleep through stress at work with 30 percent citing it as the reason they wake up during the night, followed by Germany (27 percent), the UK (24 percent) and Japan (20 percent), with the Dutch being least affected by work (12 percent).

• The average amount of time it takes Americans to fall asleep – at nearly 26 minutes - is more than any other country surveyed – and American men lead the world in snoring with 29 percent snoring every single night.

• Americans are more likely to seek professional help if they encounter sleep issues. 41 percent discusses sleep patterns with a physician (against an average of 27 percent in other countries). American men are particularly likely to discuss their sleep patterns with professionals with one out of two engaging in dialog with a physician. Women are more likely to discuss their sleep with friends or family.

• Americans are also more likely to take a sleeping remedy than any other nation (16 percent against an average of 7 percent in other countries).

Japan

• The Japanese sleep less than their international counterparts with 97 percent sleeping less than the recommended eight hours per night.

• The survey shows Japanese people hardly ever discuss their sleep patterns with their managers or colleagues (0 percent against 8 percent average globally), and hardly ever bring it up with their colleagues (4 percent against 30 percent global average). However, most agree that receiving relaxation advice at work would aid a good night’s sleep (86 percent against 58 percent average).

• The survey shows that Japanese people are well informed about Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) with 86 percent having heard of the condition (against a global average of 66 percent) and 84 percent believing it is curable (against 60 percent globally).

UK

• 35 percent of UK workers have had more than 10 days a year affected by poor sleep.

• A little more than half of British respondents have heard about OSA with 55 percent saying they had head of the condition.

Germany

• 36 percent of Germans are sleeping less than a year ago – more than any other country surveyed and substantially higher than the Dutch, for example, where just 22 percent of those surveyed are sleeping less.

• A bad night’s sleep makes Germans less enthusiastic. Nearly two-thirds (61 percent) of respondents became noticeably less enthusiastic after sleeping poorly.

• Germans seem less informed about OSA with just fifty percent having heard of the condition, against 66 percent average globally. Younger Germans are particularly badly informed with 73 percent of Germans under 25 having not heard of obstructive sleep apnea. Older respondents seem much better informed, though, with 78 percent knowing about OSA.

Netherlands

• The Dutch sleep 24 minutes longer than any other nation surveyed at six hours thirty eight minutes.

• It takes the Dutch less time to fall asleep than their international counterparts at just 18 and a half minutes – 40 percent less than the American respondents.

• Respondents in The Netherlands sleep more soundly because they are less worried. In response to the question ‘do you believe the worsening economic climate is affecting your ability to sleep well?’ just 15 percent of Dutch respondents agreed while the global average was 39 percent. In addition, the Dutch are less concerned by world events (1 percent compared to the average 3 percent), stress at work (12 percent compared to 22 percent) and money worries (5 percent compared to 13 percent).