Do Americans sleep better than the British?

This morning Sleepio co-founder Peter Hames was invited back onto BBC World Service for an update on the response to the World Sleep Survey following Tuesday’s World Update. We saw a fantastic reaction to the survey all the way from Afganistan to Zambia, with the greatest number of responses from North America. Although these are not scientifically-selected samples (and therefore we should be wary of generalisations) this has allowed us to make some initial comparisons between the British and American responses so far.

An initial look suggests the Brits who answered the survey are worse sleepers, with an average Sleep Score of 5/10 compared to the North Americans’ 6.5. There were many similarities between samples: both wake up on average twice each night.  Both are most often kept awake by the same type of thoughts – worries about the next day or unresolved problems. However, despite sleeping for a similar total length of time each night, the Brits spent an hour longer in bed than the US contingent – suggesting more frustrating lying awake.

How does your sleep compare? Take 5 minutes to complete the World Sleep Survey, get your own tailored Sleep Report designed by Professor Espie, and help us grow the global sleep database!