The research shows that interrupted sleep, where individuals wake up multiple times throughout the night, correlates with insufficient sleep. This lack of rest can lead to daytime fatigue, negatively affecting work or school performance, and increases risks of accidents while driving or operating machinery.
Sleep cycles, which vary from person to person, can be influenced by several factors, such as age, sleep habits, meal timings, screen usage before bed, and alcohol consumption. Healthy sleep involves progressing through various sleep stages, including Rapid Eye Movement (REM) and non-REM stages.
However, repeated interruptions can disrupt these stages, leading to negative effects on brain function, physical health, and emotional well-being. Long-term sleep disturbances have been linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, weight gain, and metabolic issues, including type two diabetes.
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Multiple conditions like restless legs syndrome, bruxism, nocturia, cardiovascular issues, and certain hormonal or neurological disorders can also disrupt sleep continuity. Additionally, side effects from some prescription drugs may interfere with sleep. Given these challenges, LocalCircles conducted the survey to explore the sleep patterns of Indians and identify the causes of sleep disturbances.
The survey, conducted on the occasion of World Sleep Day 2025, received over 43,000 responses from individuals across 348 districts in India. Respondents included 61% men and 39% women, with 45% from tier-1 cities, 28% from tier-2 cities, and 27% from tier-3, rural, and other districts.
The survey revealed that a significant portion of the population struggles with insufficient sleep. When asked about the amount of uninterrupted sleep they typically get at night, 39% of respondents reported getting between six and eight hours, while another 39% reported getting only 4-6 hours. Alarmingly, 20% reported getting just up to four hours, and only 2% reported sleeping 8-10 hours, which is the ideal amount.
Sleep interruptions are another major issue affecting sleep quality. The survey asked respondents what factors typically disrupt their sleep. Among the 14,952 people who responded, 72% cited the need to wake up to use the washroom as a primary disruption. Other causes included late bedtimes (25%), external sounds such as noise or mosquitoes (22%), and disturbances from children or partners (9%). Medical conditions like sleep apnea and other unidentified causes, were listed by 9% of respondents. Nonetheless, 16% reported that they couldn’t sleep through the night, while 6% cited mobile calls and messages as interruptions.
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In an effort to compensate for lack of sleep during the week, many respondents reported adjusting their schedules on weekends or holidays. Of the 13,258 individuals who responded to this question, 23% said they try to sleep longer on weekends, and 36% take naps on Sunday afternoons. Around 13% of respondents said they sleep longer on holidays. However, 38% reported that they are generally unable to make up for lost sleep, even on weekends or holidays, highlighting a broader issue of chronic sleep deprivation.
