An estimated 50 to 70 million Americans suffer from sleep deprivation and 35.2% of all adults report sleeping an average of less than seven hours each night. These sleep difficulties vary by age, race, occupation, and even location. But what is the most sleep-deprived city in the United States? In Detroit, sleep deprivation is reported by 45% of adults, and in Philadelphia, sleep-deprived adults are also at 45%! Lack of sleep in Staten Island is another major concern, with 44% of adults reporting problems there. Plenty of adults beyond these highly populated cities are also suffering from a lack of sleep. Our team reviewed data from the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute to find the most sleep-deprived places in America:
Infographic: The Most Sleep-Deprived Places in Every U.S. State
What Are the Most Sleep-Deprived Places in the U.S.?
Here are the 20 most sleep-deprived counties in the United States based on the percentage of adults who reported an average of less than seven hours of sleep a night:
- McGreary County, Kentucky — 49% of adults reported insufficient sleep
- Mingo County, West Virginia — 49% of adults reported insufficient sleep
- Green County, Alabama — 48% of adults reported insufficient sleep
- Clay County, Georgia — 47% of adults reported insufficient sleep
- Honolulu County, Hawaii — 47% of adults reported insufficient sleep
- Hardeman County, Tennessee — 47% of adults reported insufficient sleep
- Petersburg County, Virginia — 47% of adults reported insufficient sleep
- East Carroll County, Mississippi — 46% of adults reported insufficient sleep
- Union County, Florida — 45% of adults reported insufficient sleep
- Wayne County, Michigan — 45% of adults reported insufficient sleep
- Trumbull County, Ohio — 45% of adults reported insufficient sleep
- Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania — 45% of adults reported insufficient sleep
- Allendale County, South Carolina — 45% of adults reported insufficient sleep
- Richmond County, New York — 44% of adults reported insufficient sleep
- Cumberland County, New Jersey — 43% of adults reported insufficient sleep
- Bertie County, North Carolina — 43% of adults reported insufficient sleep
- Adair County, Oklahoma — 43% of adults reported insufficient sleep
- Kusilvak County, Alaska — 42% of adults reported insufficient sleep
- Jefferson County, Texas — 42% of adults reported insufficient sleep
- St. Francis County, Arkansas — 41% of adults reported insufficient sleep
What Are the Dangers of Sleep Deprivation?
Is a lack of sleep bad for you? Absolutely! Sleep is a basic human need, just like drinking, eating, and breathing. Proper sleep is vital for long-term health and well-being. Sleep deprivation side effects can lead to physical and mental health issues, injuries, lower productivity, and even a greater likelihood of death. Here are some of the dangers of a lack of sleep and the side effects of long-term sleep deprivation:
- Sleep deficiency is linked to heart disease, kidney disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke, obesity, and depression.
- Sleepiness while driving is responsible for many serious car accidents resulting in injury and death.
- Sleep deficiency in older adults may be linked to a greater chance of falls and broken bones.
- Sleep deficiency is linked to major tragic accidents
Other issues can include:
- Memory issues (during sleep, your brain builds connections to help you process and remember new information, so a lack of sleep can impact both short- and long-term memory)
- Trouble concentrating, being creative, and solving problems
- Weight gain (lack of sleep causes the chemicals that signal satisfaction to be off balance, leading to overindulgence)
- Lower libido (lack of sleep may lead to a drop in testosterone levels)
- Weakened immunity (studies show that people who do not get quality sleep or enough sleep are more likely to get sick after exposure to a virus, such as the common cold)
Here are some resources on how to fall asleep and how to get better sleep:
- Tips for Better Sleep — Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Sleep Tips: Six Steps to Better Sleep — Mayo Clinic
- Eight Secrets to a Good Night’s Sleep — Harvard Health Publishing
- Ten Tips to Get More Sleep — American Cancer Society
- What to Do When You Can’t Sleep — Sleep Foundation
How to Fall Asleep Fast — Cleveland Clinic
