IKEA's largest global study, IKEA Sleep Uncovered, surveyed over 55,000 people across 57 markets, revealing key insights into the world's sleep habits. The report found that people, on average, sleep 1 hour and 20 minutes less than they desire. It also uncovered a mathematical formula for achieving the perfect night's rest.
Belén Frau, Global Communication and Positioning Manager at IKEA Retail (Ingka Group).
Mainland China emerged as the market with the highest sleep quality, with people consistently averaging over 7 hours of sleep per night. Conversely, Norway had the lowest sleep quality, with the USA ranking second to last. Egypt stood out for the highest percentage of people (64%) who rated their sleep quality as good. The USA, however, reported the most disrupted sleep, citing factors such as disrupted routines, screen time before bed, and stress.
The study highlighted a shared global longing for more sleep, with people averaging 6 hours and 40 minutes of rest, yet aspiring to sleep nearly 8 hours. Approximately 70% of respondents viewed sleep as one of life's greatest joys, and 58% preferred staying in and sleeping over going out and socialising.
'By understanding the needs in well-rested markets, we can uncover simple, universal ways to ensure better sleep. Whether it's bedtime consistency, decluttered spaces, or better sleep environments, listening to these insights are key to creating better lives at home. At IKEA, Life at Home is a continuous dialogue with our customers. Considering their needs, we craft solutions that reflect their realities – transforming challenges like sleep inequality into opportunities for better everyday living. Our goal is to empower the many to create restful, functional spaces where they can truly thrive' - Belén Frau, Global Communication and Positioning Manager at IKEA Retail (Ingka Group).
The report also revealed a growing dependence on sleep medication, with 19% of people globally relying on drugs to aid sleep, and 5% using them daily. Nearly 10% of respondents suffered from insomnia, while 28% rated their sleep quality as poor. Financial insecurity was also identified as a barrier to quality sleep, with 36% of people stating that more money was needed to improve their sleep.
Stress and anxiety were identified as the main causes of sleep disruption, with 40% of people struggling to fall asleep due to overthinking. It took most people an average of 24 minutes to drift off, but 7% reported taking over an hour. Screen use before bed was prevalent, with 72% of respondents using their phones in the bedroom, and 86% of 18-24-year-olds in particular engaging in screen time before sleep. Additionally, 24% of people used laptops in bed, and 39% watched TV before sleeping.
To provide actionable insights, IKEA collaborated with Dr Tom Crawford, a mathematician from the University of Oxford, to create the IKEA Sleep Formula. This formula aimed to help people evaluate and improve their sleep quality by assessing five key factors: comfort, stress, wellbeing, vices, and schedule. Dr Crawford explained that habits like exercising more, eating well, and staying socially connected could boost sleep scores by up to 75 points.
The study also revealed sleep inequality, with groups such as the LGBTQ+ community (score of 57), financially insecure individuals (54), people with disabilities (56), and women with young children (59) experiencing significantly lower sleep scores than the global average of 63. People sharing bedrooms with multiple individuals also reported poorer sleep quality compared to those who slept alone or with a partner.
Material and environmental factors were found to significantly influence sleep quality. Most people were satisfied with their bedding, sleepwear, bedroom storage (70%), and room temperature (72%). A clutter-free space played a crucial role, with 66% of respondents agreeing that a tidy room improved their sleep.
Practical tips for improving sleep quality were also shared, including maintaining a regular bedtime routine, getting plenty of natural light during the day, creating a clutter-free sleep sanctuary, avoiding screen time before bed, and managing stress through exercises or meditation.
More information:
INGKA
www.ingka.com