Nearly half (48%) of all Australian adults report at least 2 sleep-related problems. Too much or too little sleep is associated with an increased risk of chronic health conditions and risk factors.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 1 in 3 adults in the United States reported not getting enough rest or sleep every day. Nearly 40% of adults report falling asleep during the day without meaning to at least once a month.
According to Optimum Sleep the average adult should get between seven and eight hours sleep a night. But while the data shows that while two in three (68%) achieve this, one in three (32%) Australians do not.
Not everyone needs the same amount of sleep, but on average adults need between 7-9 hours of sleep each day. Babies and young children need much more sleep, but from young adulthood sleep needs remain relatively stable.
Many studies, surveys, and data analyses have determined how many people have difficulty sleeping and categorize them under demographics. 40% of Australians are struggling to sleep for 7-9 hours.
Most Australians experience insomnia at some point in their lives, and about 1 in 10 people have at least mild insomnia at any given time. It is more common in women and elderly people. Insomnia can include: difficulty getting to sleep.
Insomnia, the most common sleep disorder, involves problems getting to sleep or staying asleep. About one-third of adults report some insomnia symptoms, 10-15 percent report problems with functioning during the daytime and 6-10 percent have symptoms severe enough to meet criteria for insomnia disorder.
But for a lucky few, maybe 1% to 3% of the population at most, sleep is little more than an afterthought, even an impediment. These “natural short sleepers,” as they are commonly called, need just four to six hours a night to wake up fully rested.
People experiencing homelessness
On Census night in 2016, more than 116,000 people were estimated to be homeless in Australia—58% were male, 21% were aged 25–34 and 20% identified as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians (ABS 2018). Around 51,000 (44%) were living in severely crowded dwellings.
Which age group gets the least amount of sleep? Teenagers get the least amount of sleep, with 97% getting less than the recommended amount each night. In terms of those over 18, adults aged between 45-54 years old are the age group that don't get enough sleep.
Oversleeping is associated with many health problems, including: Type 2 diabetes. Heart disease. Obesity.
Common causes of insomnia include stress, an irregular sleep schedule, poor sleeping habits, mental health disorders like anxiety and depression, physical illnesses and pain, medications, neurological problems, and specific sleep disorders.
Realistically in Australia, most people experiencing homelessness are hidden from sight. They could be sleeping in a car, couch surfing or enduring the night on public buses. They may have shelter but no permanent place to make a home.
A majority of people experiencing homelessness long-term in Australia are found in the large cities of Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth. It is estimated that on any given night approximately 116,000 people will be homeless and many more are living in insecure housing, "one step away from being homeless".
Shaking off its sleepy town vibe, Adelaide City has been busy transforming itself into a vibrant, creative and sophisticated metropolis. A burgeoning foodie, small bar and arts scene is making the rest of Australia and the world sit up and take notice.
Elon Musk says he's upped his sleep to 6 hours per night—and that his old routine hurt his brain. Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, speaks with CNBC on May 16th, 2023.
To date, there are no known health problems related to being a true short sleeper. In contrast, studies have found people with insomnia or those who intentionally restrict their sleep to less than six hours per night despite requiring more sleep have a higher risk of numerous health problems, such as heart attacks.
While some people regularly function on short periods of sleep, research mostly agrees that six hours of sleep is not enough for most adults. Experts recommend that most adults need at least seven hours of sleep every night.
While making a habit of spending the day in bed or on the couch is not good for anyone, using it as a well-placed conscious tool for your emotional and mental well-being is absolutely ok. As a matter of fact, it's an investment in your health.
Adequate sleep is vital for your health, but can be hard to achieve when life is busy. Sleeping problems are common, with up to 4 in 10 Australian adults not getting enough good-quality sleep. Fortunately, there are many things you can do to improve your sleep.
Estimates suggest that more than one in five Australians live with a sleep disorder, with Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) and insomnia accounting for the majority of these cases.
People in Japan, Taiwan and Sweden have the biggest struggle with insomnia globally, searching for 'can't sleep' more than any other country around the world.
122,494 people were estimated to be experiencing homelessness on Census night in 2021. Males made up 55.9% of people experiencing homelessness; females made up 44.1%. 23.0% of all people experiencing homelessness were aged from 12 to 24 years.