Short Sleep Duration and Sleep Difficulties Among Adults: United States, 2024

NCHS Data Brief No. 559, April 2026

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Amanda E. Ng, Ph.D., M.P.H., Lindsey I. Black, M.P.H., and Dzifa Adjaye-Gbewonyo, Ph.D.

Introduction

Poor sleep health (including sleep difficulties) has been linked to detrimental health conditions, including obesity and depression (1). The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends at least 7 hours of sleep or more in a 24-hour period for adults, but more than one-quarter of American adults sleep less than 7 hours (2,3). Sleep health may also be impacted by sleep difficulties, including having trouble falling or staying asleep (4,5).

This report uses data from the 2024 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) to describe sleep quantity and quality among U.S. adults by sex, age, and race and Hispanic origin.

Short sleep duration

• In 2024, 30.5% of adults had less than 7 hours of sleep (subsequently, short sleep duration) on average in a 24-hour period (Figure 1, Table 1).
• The percentage of adults with short sleep duration was similar among men (30.6%) and women (30.4%).
• The percentage of adults with short sleep duration increased from 27.2% among adults ages 18-34 to 34.5% among those 50-64, and decreased to 27.2% among those 65 and older.
• Black non-Hispanic (subsequently, Black) adults were more likely to have short sleep duration (40.2%) compared with Asian non-Hispanic (subsequently, Asian) (27.9%), White non-Hispanic (subsequently, White) (28.9%), and Hispanic adults (29.0%).

Waking up well-rested

• More than one-half of adults (54.8%) woke up feeling well-rested most days or every day in 2024 (Figure 2, Table 2).
• Men were more likely to wake up feeling well-rested (58.2%) compared with women (51.7%).
• The percentage of adults who woke up feeling well-rested decreased from 52.2% among adults ages 18-34 to 50.1% among those 35-49, and then increased to 54.5% among those 50-64 and to 63.5% among those 65 and older.
• Asian adults were more likely to wake up feeling well-rested (61.5%) compared with Black (51.4%), White (54.3%), and Hispanic (57.6%) adults.
• Hispanic adults were more likely to wake up feeling well-rested compared with Black and White adults. White adults were more likely than Black adults to wake up feeling well-rested.

Trouble falling asleep

• In 2024, 15.4% of adults had trouble falling asleep most days or every day (Figure 3, Table 3).
• Women were more likely to have trouble falling asleep (18.5%) compared with men (12.2%).
• The percentage of adults who had trouble falling asleep decreased with increasing age, from 18.3% among adults ages 18-34 to 12.8% among those 65 and older.
• Black (15.5%), White (16.1%), and Hispanic (14.1%) adults were more likely to have trouble falling asleep compared with Asian adults (9.0%).
• White adults were more likely to have trouble falling asleep compared with Hispanic adults.

Trouble staying asleep

• Just under one in five (18.1%) adults had trouble staying asleep most days or every day (Figure 4, Table 4).
• Women were more likely to have trouble staying asleep (21.4%) compared with men (14.6%).
• The percentage of adults who had trouble staying asleep increased from 12.7% among adults ages 18-34 to 16.9% among those 35-49, and 22.3% among those 50-64. The percentage was similar between adults ages 50-64 and 65 and older (21.7%).
• White adults (20.7%) were more likely than Asian (9.2%), Black (16.7%), and Hispanic (12.5%) adults to have trouble staying asleep.
• Black adults were more likely than Asian and Hispanic adults to have trouble staying asleep. Hispanic adults were more likely than Asian adults to have trouble staying asleep.

Summary

This report describes the prevalence of short sleep duration, waking up well-rested, trouble falling asleep, and trouble staying asleep among adults in the United States. In 2024, 30.5% of adults had short sleep duration, 54.8% woke up well-rested, 15.4% had trouble falling asleep, and 18.1% had trouble staying asleep. Women and men had similar prevalences of short sleep duration, but women were more likely than men to have trouble falling asleep and staying asleep, and were less likely than men to wake up well-rested. Trends by age group varied across measures, with the percentage of adults who had trouble falling asleep decreasing with increasing age. Patterns by race and Hispanic origin also varied. Asian adults had the lowest prevalences of short sleep duration, trouble falling asleep, and trouble staying asleep, and the highest prevalence of waking up feeling well-rested.

Previous research has identified similar sociodemographic disparities in sleep (6), but fewer studies have focused on components beyond sleep duration. The American Heart Association identified sleep health as a complex concept, highlighting the need for monitoring sleep quality in addition to duration (7). Continued monitoring of sleep difficulties and duration is important for informing improvements in population health.

Definitions

Race and Hispanic origin: Categories shown for non-Hispanic adults are for those who selected only one racial group; respondents had the option to select more than one racial group. Adults categorized as Hispanic may be of any race or combination of races. Estimates for non-Hispanic adults of races other than Asian, Black, or White are not shown but are included in total estimates.

Short sleep duration: Based on a response of 0-6 hours to the question, "On average, how many hours of sleep do you get in a 24-hour period? Enter hours in whole numbers, rounding 30 minutes (one-half hour) or more up to the next whole hour and dropping 29 or fewer minutes."

Trouble falling asleep: Based on a response of "most days" or "every day" to the question, "During the past 30 days, how often did you have trouble falling asleep?"

Trouble staying asleep: Based on a response of "most days" or "every day" to the question, "During the past 30 days, how often did you have trouble staying asleep?"

Waking up well-rested: Based on a response of "most days" or "every day" to the question, "During the past 30 days, how often did you wake up feeling well-rested?"

Data source and methods

Data from the 2024 NHIS were used for this analysis. NHIS is a nationally representative household survey of the U.S. civilian noninstitutionalized population. It is conducted continuously throughout the year by the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS). Interviews are typically initiated face-to-face in respondents' homes, with follow-ups conducted by telephone as needed (8). For more information, visit the NHIS website: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhis/index.htm.

Point estimates and their corresponding confidence intervals were calculated using SAS-callable SUDAAN software (9) to account for the complex sample design of NHIS. All estimates are based on self-report and meet NCHS data presentation standards for proportions (10). Differences between percentages were evaluated using two-sided significance tests at the 0.05 level. Linear and quadratic trends by age group were evaluated using orthogonal polynomials.

About the authors

Amanda E. Ng, Lindsey I. Black, and Dzifa Adjaye-Gbewonyo are with the National Center for Health Statistics, Division of Health Interview Statistics.

References

1. Buysse DJ. Sleep health: Can we define it? Does it matter? Sleep. 2014 Jan;37(1):9-17. PMID: PMC3902880. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5665/sleep.3298.
2. Consensus Conference Panel; Watson NF, Badr MS, Belenky G, Bliwise DL, Buxton OM, Buysse D, et al. Joint consensus statement of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and Sleep Research Society on the recommended amount of sleep for a healthy adult: Methodology and discussion. Sleep. 2015 Aug;38(8):1161-83.
3. Gbewonyo-Adjaye D, Ng AE, Black LI. Quickstats: Percentage of adults aged ≥18 years who sleep <7 hours on average in a 24-hour period, by sex and age group-National Health Interview Survey, United States, 2020. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2022 Mar;71(10):393.
4. Adjaye-Gbewonyo D, Ng AE, Black LI. Sleep difficulties in adults: United States, 2020. NCHS Data Brief. 2022 Jun;(436):1-8. PMID: 35792564.
5. Ohayon M, Wickwire EM, Hirshkowitz M, Albert SM, Avidan A, Daly FJ, et al. National Sleep Foundation's sleep quality recommendations: First report. Sleep Health. 2017 Feb;3(1):6-19.
6. Billings ME, Hale L, Johnson DA. Physical and social environment relationship with sleep health and disorders. Chest. 2020 May;157(5):1304-12.
7. St-Onge M-P, Aggarwal B, Fernandez-Mendoza J, Johnson D, Kline CE, Knutson KL, et al. Multidimensional sleep health: Definitions and implications for cardiometabolic health: A scientific statement from the American Heart Association. Circ Cardiovasc Qual Outcomes. 2025 May;18(5):e000139. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1161/HCQ.0000000000000139.
8. National Center for Health Statistics. National Health Interview Survey, 2024 survey description. 2025. Available from: https://ftp.cdc.gov/pub/Health_Statistics/NCHS/Dataset_Documentation/NHIS/2024/srvydesc-508.pdf.
9. RTI International. SUDAAN (Release 11.0.3) [computer software]. 2018.
10. Parker JD, Talih M, Malec DJ, Beresovsky V, Carroll M, Gonzalez JF Jr, et al. National Center for Health Statistics data presentation standards for proportions. Vital Health Stat 2. 2017 Aug;(175):1-22.

Suggested citation

Ng AE, Black LI, Adjaye-Gbewonyo D. Short sleep duration and sleep difficulties among adults: United States, 2024. NCHS Data Brief. 2026 Apr;(559)1-12. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.15620/cdc/252438.

Copyright information

All material appearing in this report is in the public domain and may be reproduced or copied without permission; citation as to source, however, is appreciated.

National Center for Health Statistics

Carolyn M. Greene, M.D., Acting Director
Amy M. Branum, Ph.D., Associate Director for Science

Division of Health Interview Statistics

Stephen J. Blumberg, Ph.D., Director
Anjel Vahratian, Ph.D., M.P.H., Associate Director for Science