In five years, the average duration of sleep in France has decreased by 41 minutes per night, dropping to 7 hours and 16 minutes in March 2025. Compared to the year, this loss represents 250 hours of sleep, the equivalent of an entire month of sleepless nights, reports a new study conducted by the connected health giant Withings. This trend, significantly more pronounced than in Germany (-26 minutes) or the United States (-32 minutes), places France among the countries most affected by the deterioration of sleep since the health crisis. But in concrete terms, why such a decline?
Multiple factors
The quality of sleep varies depending on where you live. The regions most exposed to hot summers, such as Corsica, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, and the Grand Est region, top the list of areas where sleep debt is most intense. Conversely, residents of Brittany, Pays de la Loire, and Hauts-de-France, who enjoy a more temperate climate, sleep more, the study reports.
Beyond climate and quality of life, other factors influence the quality and quantity of sleep: women sleep an average of 28 minutes more than men, and people in their thirties experience the greatest decline in sleep quality, probably linked to the arrival of their first child or advancing their professional career. Health also plays a key role: obese people sleep 21 minutes less than those with a normal BMI (often linked to sleep apnea), while individuals with better cardiovascular health sleep nearly 28 minutes more than those at high risk. On a psychological level, lack of sleep causes memory and concentration problems, coupled with a decrease in overall performance and increased irritability, which can lead to episodes of anxiety or depression.
A public health issue
Reduced sleep time is not limited to fatigue. The Withings study highlights that sleep is one of the eight lifestyle habits that most determine healthy life expectancy, along with physical activity and diet. More than ever, sleep quality is becoming a public health issue.
0 Comments