World Sleep Day 2025: ‘59% of Indians Get Less than 6 hours of Sleep’, Report Says

“Up to 59% of Indians say they get less than six hours of uninterrupted sleep,” according to the new survey by LocalCircles, titled “How Indian Sleeps—2025.”. The survey was conducted ahead of ‘World Sleep Day’ on 14 March. LocalCircles is a citizen engagement platform that conducts surveys and opinion polls on public policy and social issues.

Every year, World Sleep Day is observed on the Friday before the Spring Vernal Equinox. This day is celebrated for acting against sleep disorders. For its latest survey, LocalCircles collected responses from over 43,000 citizens from 348 Indian districts. 61% of the respondents were men, while the remaining 39% were female.

The result raises numerous questions, like how many hours of uninterrupted sleep respondents got at night in the last 12 months and what Indians do to cover the lack of sleep throughout the week. As per the survey, the frequent nighttime disruptions may affect sleep continuity.

The sleep cycle varies from one person to another and from night to night depending on different factors like age, recent sleep patterns, dinner time, metabolism, usage of screens before bed, and alcohol consumption.

The Survey Results Highlights
Among those experiencing sleep interruptions,

• 72% of 14,952 individuals admitted waking up to use the washroom as the main reason
• 25% said they could not sleep due to poor daily schedule
• 22% due to external noises and mosquitoes
• 9% could not sleep because of medical conditions like sleep apnea
• 9% due to interruptions from a partner or child
• In addition, 6% faced sleep disturbances due to calls or messages.

The report further suggested that lack of sleep causes several health issues, including cardiovascular diseases, metabolic disorders like type 2 diabetes, and cognitive impairment.
The survey further explains that Indians compensate for sleep loss. 36% took Sunday after naps, 23% extended their sleep time on weekends and 13% slept more on holidays.
The survey also found that 38% of the respondents who were getting less than 6 hours of uninterrupted sleep daily were also not able to get enough time for sleep during their weekends or holidays, giving rise to concern about sleep deprivation.

It is also revealed from the survey that one of the consequences of sleep deprivation is that 47% of Indian employees accepted that they take sick leaves at least once due to the lack of sleep. Further, 37% reported working night shifts from 9 pm, further interrupting their natural sleep cycles.

Brains benefit from sound sleep that ultimately enhances memory, ideas and focus. Whereas those who suffer from sleep debt work at only 80% of their total ability.
Women suffer more, as per the study. On average, women report fewer nights of good sleep in a week as compared to men, due to hormonal changes affecting their sleep patterns.

Causes of Insufficient Sleep
For most adults, seven to eight hours of sleep is considered the right amount of sleep but the modern lifestyle and work loads have shrunk this to different levels. The impact of lack of sleep on physical and mental well-being is being highlighted.

Lack of sleep does not just leave dark circles and a sluggish morning—it can affect your health. Experts warn of obesity, cardiovascular diseases, and metabolic disorders like type 2 diabetes. Restless leg syndrome and bruxism are some disorders that disrupt sleep.

Easy Tips to Ensure Sound Sleep
Apart from the survey, the research agency also shares some primary habits that can help in improving sleep quality. Here is the list of ten simple but effective ways to get a sound sleep:

1. Follow a consistent daily routine
2. Avoid having caffeine mainly in the evening
3. Before bedtime, try to turn off screens like TVs, computers, and mobiles
4. Do never go to sleep with a full stomach
5. Avoid going to bed hungry—have light and healthy snacks.
6. Do physical activities and exercise regularly, but not too close to bedtime
7. Limit beverage consumption before bed to reduce nighttime bathroom trips.
8. Keep your room dark and quiet for a proper sleep atmosphere
9. Get a comfortable mattress, pillows and bedding
10. Train yourself to sleep and wake up on your own, without relying on alarms.

After following the above points, if you still face issues with sleeping, consider taking medical advice. Hopefully, you have found this post helpful and interesting. Stay tuned for more such exciting content!