tired out? ikea study reveals canadians among the world’s most sleep-deprived
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barriers to sleep are something most people need to work on. the report mentions our hyper productivity mindset that often dismisses sleep as an indulgence.
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canadians aren’t sleeping well, according to a new report by global home furnishings retailer ikea. canada ranks among the worst countries when it comes to quality sleep, but we aren’t alone.
the company launched a sleep study for national sleep awareness month with research conducted online by globescan using national consumer research panels to recruit respondents in 57 markets where ikea is present. the study is one of the most extensive surveys on sleep behaviours and sleep differences as researchers spoke to 55,221 people about their sleep between august 13 and september 20, 2024.
the ikea sleep report 2025 is a compelling look at how people sleep and what’s needed to improve sleep quality. maybe not surprising, one in three canadians report feeling tired almost every day.
mainland china, indonesia, egypt score high for quality sleep
the report highlights the average sleep deficit of approximately one hour and 22 minutes that people around the world are facing, compared to the sleep amount we’d like to get. in japan, however, people only expect to get seven hours and 23 minutes of sleep. they get the least sleep at six hours and 10 minutes per night, but they have the lowest sleep gap of only one hour and 13 minutes. mainland china is the only place with a regular average of more than seven hours of sleep.
interesting, too, 65 per cent of people surveyed take naps, which can help provide extra rest without disrupting nighttime sleep, dr. christian benedict, neuroscientist at uppsala university, said in the report. his advice is to avoid napping too long as it can lead to “sleep inertia,” a state of grogginess and impaired performance when you wake after the nap.
the researchers developed an ikea sleep score based on respondents’ answers to questions about five factors that make up quality sleep, including sleep duration, how long it takes to fall asleep, how often people are waking up at night, do people feel tired or refreshed upon waking and are people getting a good or poor sleep (each scored from 0 to 20) for a score out of 100.
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the global average sleep score is 63 out of 100, and canada comes in with the third-worst score of 58 (alongside the u.k. and australia). there’s room for improvement. by comparison, the u.s., ireland and sweden each scored even lower at 57 and norway received a score of 56.
so, who’s sleeping best? mainland china, indonesia and egypt were top sleepers at respective scores of 74, 71 and 70. india and u.a.e. scored 68, while greece, estonia and qatar scored 66.
“a lot of the higher scoring nations, such as indonesia and india, put a lot of importance on family. social connections can often help to build community and a higher purpose that feeds into your general happiness, and that in turn can impact sleep,” dr. sophie bostock, founder of the sleep scientist, said in the report.
inequality flagged for sleep problems
the research showed that certain groups received consistently low sleep scores. when compared to the global average, groups including people with disabilities, people with low education and women with young children, had significantly lower self-reported sleep quality. these groups also identified as waking up more often during the night. further, 27 per cent of people with financial strain wake up more than twice per night. lower income was also associated with a higher frequency of bad dreams or nightmares; 17 per cent of low-income earners versus 12 per cent of high-income earners experience these, impacting their sleep quality.
behavioural sleep scientist vanessa hill provided some context to the findings, noting, “for people who are financially insecure, they often have a longer commute to work. they’re working multiple jobs, or even working long hours. these factors can really impact sleep.”
the biggest reported barriers to a good night’s sleep are stress and anxiety. when these feelings are churning at bedtime, they send people down a rabbit-hole of worry about not being able to sleep. from the study, eight per cent of respondents reported sleep disorders as the main barrier to sleep, 11 per cent said overthinking, 12 per cent noted an anxiety disorder, while 17 per cent said feeling stressed was the main problem.
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sleep is a necessity, not an indulgence
barriers to sleep are something most people need to work on. the report mentions our hyper productivity mindset that often dismisses sleep as an indulgence. this intensifies with our reliance on staying connected with phone or screen time in bed when we’re supposed to be winding down for the evening to prepare for sleep. a global average of 72 per cent of us use a phone in bed and 24 per cent use a tablet or laptop.
as bostock noted: “with phones, it’s not about the screen or light, it’s the displacement of sleep. people spend almost an extra 40 minutes on their phone before bed. when we’re tired we have lower self-control and need to move the phone out of the room. get an alarm clock.”
the report also highlights the importance of consistent wake and sleep times for mental and physical health and performance, and people enjoy their regular wind-down rituals like dental care and reading. and if you thought having a bed to stretch out in by yourself is likely the best way to sleep, the researchers found that having a sleep partner leads to a higher sleep score than sleeping solo (65 versus 61). yet only two per cent of people allow their pets to sleep with them in bed.
the report also highlights the importance of consistent wake and sleep times for mental and physical health and performance, and people enjoy their regular wind-down rituals like dental care and reading. and if you thought having a bed to stretch out in by yourself is likely the best way to sleep, the researchers found that having a sleep partner leads to a higher sleep score than sleeping solo (65 versus 61). yet only two per cent of people allow their pets to sleep with them in bed.
sleep poverty in canada: pledge to help kids without beds
for the awareness month, ikea canada is also championing the need for safe, adequate sleep environments for families in low-income households, and raising awareness about the impacts of insufficient sleep.
a key finding in the sleep report is the direct link between financial insecurity and poor sleep quality, revealing that people struggling financially experience 15 per cent poorer sleep quality than the general population. for kids in low-income households, ikea canada says sleep poverty leads to long-term consequences, including a 38 per cent increase in feelings of sadness for every hour of lost sleep. the company also notes that as many as 24 per cent of adolescents in sleep poverty report lower grades, and sleep poverty leads to a 75 per cent reduction in sleep efficiency compared with children with proper beds.
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add this up over time and chronic sleep deprivation brings a greater risk of cognitive impairment, mental health issues, cardiovascular disease and obesity, as a growing body of scientific research shows. sleep is a necessity.
ikea canada is investing $300,000 over three years in partnership with furniture bank, with the goal to provide 1,200 sleep well kits in 2025, including beds, mattresses and sleep items.
“when a child lacks a proper bed, they’re not just missing furniture—they’re missing the foundation for success in school, emotional wellbeing and healthy development,” dan kershaw, executive director at furniture bank said in a news release. ikea canada is asking canadians to join the call for government action to end sleep poverty by signing the petition on its website.
while there’s no universal fix for getting a better sleep, recognizing the importance of sleep on your health—and the health of your kids—needs attention.
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