A survey conducted by the China Sleep Research Association shows that the average nighttime sleep duration for the Chinese population is 6.85 hours, with 26% of people sleeping for less than 6 hours at night. Insufficient sleep has become a neglected public health issue.
On World Sleep Day, March 21, the China Sleep Research Association released the 2025 China Sleep Health Research White Paper, as reported by the official media Xinhua News Agency. The research indicates that the average sleep duration for Chinese people has slightly increased compared to last year, but they still tend to stay up late.
According to the survey, the current average nighttime sleep duration for Chinese people is 6.85 hours, which is an increase of 6 minutes from last year. However, the average bedtime is 12:18 am, 17 minutes later than the previous year. Additionally, 72% of people take naps lasting over 30 minutes, showing a 9% increase from last year.
The study found that people who engage in regular exercise have higher overall sleep quality compared to those who exercise less, often maintaining a consistent early bedtime and wake-up routine. Conversely, individuals who are obese have lower sleep quality, with later bedtimes, shorter sleep durations, and more frequent awakenings, reflecting the concerning obesity rates in China.
According to a recent study published on March 4 in the authoritative medical journal “The Lancet,” in 2021, the number of overweight and obese adults in China reached 402 million, ranking first globally. The study projects that by 2050, this figure will increase to 627 million.
As reported by China News Network, the “2025 China Sleep Health Survey Report” reveals that nearly half (48.5%) of adults experience sleep disturbances, with a higher percentage among women than men, and the rate of disturbances increasing with age. Older age groups, both before and after the age of 60, are often troubled by waking up at night and bathroom issues, while younger people born in the 1990s and 2000s experience energy decline and pronounced fatigue due to insufficient sleep.
Sleep, along with nutrition and exercise, is referred to as one of the three pillars of health. The China Sleep Research Association emphasizes that sleep issues are a public health concern, closely linked to sleep disorders, cognitive impairments, hormonal imbalances, cardiovascular damage, weakened immunity, metabolic inhibition, depression, and anxiety. Good sleep serves as the body’s best supplement, helping ward off infections and inflammation, postpone the progression of chronic major diseases, and alleviate psychological trauma.
According to an article published by “The Lancet,” a study by the RAND Corporation in 2017 found that individuals sleeping fewer than 6 hours per night had a 13% higher risk of death compared to those sleeping 7 to 9 hours per night.
Furthermore, inadequate sleep leads to significant economic losses beyond direct healthcare costs. The RAND Corporation’s research predicts that by 2025, the economic losses from absenteeism and productivity loss due to insufficient sleep in five OECD countries (the United States, United Kingdom, Japan, Germany, and Canada) could reach up to $718 billion, accounting for 1.4% to 3.2% of each country’s GDP.