NEW DELHI: A latest national survey on India's sleep pattern found that 59 per cent of Indians get less than six hours of uninterrupted sleep, and only half of them are able to make it up on weekends.
There are many reasons for sleeping less, but the main ones are waking up to use the washroom, late or early morning schedules, external sounds, and even mosquitoes.
The survey by LocalCircles, India’s leading community social media platform, surveyed over 40,000 people, including 61 % men and 39 % women. It found that only 39% were able to sleep for six to eight hours, while 39% managed four to six hours.
It said that only two percent got eight to ten hours of sleep, while 20 percent got only four hours.
“To sum up, 59% of citizens surveyed said they are getting less than six hours of uninterrupted sleep daily,” the survey said.
The survey, conducted on the occasion of World Sleep Day 2025, which will be observed on March 14 this year, also examined why Indians are not able to get eight hours of sleep.
The survey, conducted in 348 Indian districts, found that 72% of people don’t get good sleep because they have to use the washroom once or more during sleep time.
Twenty-five per cent said they have late or early morning schedules, and mostly women said they must get up early for household work.
Twenty-two per cent cited factors like mosquitoes and external sounds that keep them awake.
While nine per cent said they are not able to sleep because of interruptions caused by their children or their partners, another nine per cent said they have a medical condition like sleep apnea, a sleep disorder that causes breathing to stop and start during sleep.
Six per cent blamed mobile calls and messages for not sleeping for eight hours. "72% of Indians surveyed who have sleep interruptions say they have to wake up to use the washroom; other interruptions include poor schedules, external sounds, mosquitoes, etc,” the survey said.
The survey said that power napping, getting up late on weekends, and having a siesta in the afternoon are some of the ways in which people try to compensate for their inability to have proper sleep on a regular basis.
The survey asked people how they make up for their lack of sleep during the week.
While 23% said they sleep longer on weekends, 36% said they sleep on Sunday afternoons, and 13% accepted that they sleep longer on holidays.
However, an overwhelming 38% stated they are generally not able to make up for their lack of sleep, even on weekends.
Sachin Taparia, founder of LocalCircles, said, “With 59% of Indians surveyed getting less than six hours of uninterrupted sleep, it is a concerning situation and an underlying health concern."
“Sleep deprivation in India is one of the highest in the world and leads to hypertension, risk of heart disease and stroke, metabolic disruption and cognitive decline,” he told this paper.
"For many Indians, dinner happens late, post 9 p.m. due to late working hours, long commute, etc., and the morning routine starts early for various reasons, thus shortening their available sleep window. If sleep quantity and quality have to improve, this has to change," Taparia added.
The survey said that sleep cycles can vary from person to person and from night to night based on a wide range of factors, such as age, recent sleep patterns, metabolism, dinner time, use of screens before going to bed, and alcohol consumption.
According to a Lancet report, the "effect of sleep problems on health and the economy cannot be overstated. Apart from cancer, chronic respiratory diseases, dementia, mental health conditions, and musculoskeletal disorders, insufficient sleep has also been linked to cardiometabolic diseases and conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, and metabolic syndrome."
According to experts, for a good sound sleep, one needs to maintain a consistent daily routine, reduce caffeine intake, turn off the computer or television, and not go to bed on a full stomach or an empty stomach. Also, one needs to engage in regular exercise, limit beverage consumption before bed, and keep the bedroom dark and quiet. Investing in a comfortable mattress, pillow, and bedding is also essential.