As the International Day of Sleep takes place on March 14, 2025, Luxus Magazine looks back at 10 figures related to our relationship to the night.
Recommended hours of sleep, sleep disorders, drowsiness… While we spend 25 to 27 years in the arms of Morpheus during our life, the quality of our nights is not always exemplary. Positive point: sleep is always perceived as a great pleasure!
World Sleep Day established in 2008
The World Association of Sleep Medicine founded World Sleep Day 17 years ago. As part of a public health initiative, the objective of this annual event is to promote and celebrate healthy sleep. The international event avoids focusing on sleep disorders and offers a rather positive approach to how to sleep properly. Since 2008, many activities have been implemented to raise public awareness: more than 400 in 2024. This year, World Sleep Day is March 14.
A sleep in two stages in the Middle Ages and the modern period
Until the 19th century in Europe, it was normal to sleep on two distinct periods. A first cycle took place from 20h to 24h approximately, then the population resumed its domestic activities. From 2/3h to 5/6h, people went back to sleep. This is why 24 hours or 00:00 is called midnight, to be understood as “half-night”, according to information reported by Santé.fr, the public health information service.
7 to 9h recommended sleep
According to Santé.fr, the public health information service, the recommended number of hours of sleep is between 7 and 9 hours, with 4 to 6 cycles of 90 minutes. According to a Canadian study, adults who meet the recommended sleep times have a life expectancy 1-2 years higher than those who sleep less than these recommendations and 2-6 years higher than those who sleep more than recommended. The site mentions that quality of sleep is more important than quantity. Small sleepers can be fitter than large sleepers with unstable sleep!
Apart from adults, the amount of sleep varies with age. Newborns sleep about 14 to 17 hours a day, babies from 1 to 2 years 11 to 14 hours a day, toddlers from 3 to 5 years around 10 to 13 hours a day, children from 6 to 13 years 9 to 11 hours and teenagers from 14 to 17 years 8 to 10 hours a day.
French people sleep an average of 7h04 during the week
The reality is quite different. According to the survey by the National Institute of Sleep and Vigilance and the VINCI Foundation for Highways for the 2025 Day of Sleep, French people sleep an average of 7:04 on weekdays, which is still a 22-minute increase compared to 2024. On weekends, the tricolor population sleeps a little more: 7:38 am, or 13 minutes more than in 2024. It should be noted that these statistics remain well below those of the pre-covid period in 2019, when the average duration of sleep on rest days was 8:14.
The French are in bed at 23h11 the week (vs 23h06 in 2024) and at 23h55 on the weekend (vs 23h46 in 2024). They also get up a little later than the previous year (6h30 on weekdays vs 6h24, and 7h45 vs 7h33 on weekends).
“There has been some stability in the length of sleep on work days since 2010. On the other hand, the French sleep less and less at weekends,” said Dr. Marc Rey, a neurologist and president of the National Institute for Sleep and Vigilance.
A quarter of people sleep less than 6 hours on weekdays
Nevertheless, disparities remain very high among the French. About 25% of them sleep less than 6 hours a night on weekdays, which is well below the recommendations of health institutions.
43% report at least one sleep disorder
The figure is quite alarming. 43% of French people report suffering from at least one sleep disorder, such as sleep apnea, insomnia, hypersomnia, night terrors, difficulties to fall asleep… If some of these conditions may be transient, it is recommended to consult a doctor.
26% of French people suffer from drowsiness
Between lack of sleep and problems at night, it is not surprising that more than a quarter of the French suffer from drowsiness, 7% of which is severe. Drowsiness particularly affects 18-24 year olds (36%) and people with irregular working hours (39%). And the implications are of course worrisome, between mental well-being, work performance, investment in one’s relationships and driving risks.
14% of young people have nightmares at least once a night
While we know that the mental health of young people has deteriorated in recent years, especially since covid-19, sleeping is not always a pleasure or a way to escape. 14% of 18-24 year olds report having at least one nightmare per night, which significantly disrupts the sleep cycle. The reasons are multiple, such as anxiety and post-traumatic stress, and again it is recommended to talk to a doctor or psychologist to limit this problem.
Top 5 places to sleep
Which countries are the best for sleeping? According to the 2025 Ikea Sleep Report, which surveyed more than 55,000 people in 57 markets where the company operates, 73% of the panel mentioned Indonesia as the best place to sleep. Followed by Thailand for 71% of respondents, with the Philippines in third place (68%), followed by Singapore (66%) and Egypt (65%).
Sleep rather than go out
According to the Ikea report, more than half of respondents said they preferred sleeping rather than social activity. 74% of students and parents, and up to 75% of night workers are more likely to consider sleep as a pleasure than other types of profiles. Nothing surprising when you know that 70% of us recognize that sleep is one of the greatest joys of life!
Read also: What are the advantages of renting a luxury villa in Cap Ferret for family holidays?
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