Chinese sleep habits stand out in global report

In contrast to the global average sleep time of six hours and 40 minutes, Chinese people enjoy an average sleep of over seven hours per night, a new sleep report has unveiled.

The report by Swedish home furnishing and furniture retailer Ikea reveals that 75 percent of Chinese people take a nap of about 26 minutes to restore energy, with a majority going to bed late and waking up early.

According to the report, there is a shared longing for more rest globally. Some 85 percent of those polled regard sleep as one of life’s greatest joys, and 65 percent prefer staying at home and sleeping to going out and socializing.

Sleep problems universally exist globally, including in 28 percent of people surveyed who believe that their sleep quality is poor. Factors that affect sleep quality include financial status, health problems and social stress. In China, stress from work, internal anxiety and difficulties in falling asleep are to blame for 52 percent of people struggling with poor sleep quality.

Specifically, about one out of ten (13 percent) Chinese respondents suffer from insomnia, nearly one fifth (18 percent) are unsatisfied with their sleep quality, and 6 percent wake up more than twice a night. Nearly half (43 percent) of Chinese polled said they need more income to improve their sleeping environment, so as to get better sleep at night.

The report also revealed that despite fears over its impact on sleep quality, screens are deeply ingrained in bedtime routines. Among all, 91 percent of people in China use their phones in the bedroom, soaring to 98 percent among people aged above 65. In the meantime, one third of the people aged between 18 and 34, as well as high income groups use laptops and tablets in their bedrooms for entertainment and work, the report added.

Formally known as Ikea Sleep uncovered, the report surveyed more than 55,000 people across 57 markets, covering nighttime habits, highlighting the barriers to achieving quality sleep and offering insights and solutions to help everyone enjoy their dream rest.