Global Sleep Rankings: Netherlands Leads, Pakistan Averages 6.4 Hours

The Netherlands has emerged as the world’s best-performing country for average sleep duration, according to aggregated international data drawn from multiple health and sleep research sources. The country recorded an average sleep score of 8.1, ranking it first globally.

Nordic and Western nations continue to dominate the upper tier. Finland followed closely with a score of 8.0, while Australia and France both recorded 7.9. New Zealand and the United Kingdom each averaged 7.8 hours, reinforcing a broader trend toward longer sleep duration among high-income economies with strong public health systems.

Canada and Denmark posted identical scores of 7.7, while the United States, Germany, and Sweden clustered slightly lower at 7.6. Southern European countries such as Italy and Belgium reported averages of 7.5 hours, while Spain, Japan, and South Korea reported 7.4 hours.

Among large emerging economies, Brazil and Russia averaged 7.3 hours, with Mexico at 7.2. India and China both reported 7.1, indicating moderate sleep duration amid demanding work cultures and dense urban lifestyles. South Africa followed at 7.0, while Argentina and Indonesia reported 6.9.

Sleep duration dropped further across parts of Southeast Asia and the Middle East. The Philippines, Thailand, and Turkey each averaged 6.8 hours, whereas Singapore and Vietnam averaged 6.7 hours. The United Arab Emirates recorded 6.6, followed by Saudi Arabia and Israel at 6.5.

Pakistan and Iran both averaged 6.4 hours of sleep, placing them in the lower-middle range globally. Bangladesh and Malaysia followed at 6.3, while Kenya and Nigeria each stood at 6.2. In Latin America, Colombia averaged 6.1 and Peru 6.0.

The lowest sleep scores were recorded in countries affected by prolonged conflict and instability. Venezuela averaged 5.9 hours, Egypt 5.8, Lebanon 5.7, and Syria 5.6. Iraq ranked 5.5, Libya 5.4, Afghanistan 5.3, Yemen 5.2, Somalia 5.1, and Sudan ranked last with an average of 5.0 hours.

Health experts say the data reflect how income levels, working hours, urban stress, conflict, and access to healthcare shape sleep habits worldwide. Countries with stronger social safety nets and work-life balance policies consistently report higher average sleep duration. In contrast, regions facing economic pressure, insecurity, or extended workdays report lower average sleep duration.

The rankings are based on combined findings from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the World Health Organisation (WHO), the National Sleep Foundation, national health surveys, and large-scale global sleep studies conducted by private research firms. While methodologies vary, analysts say the broad trends remain consistent across datasets.

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