It’s Official: These Are the Cities That Get the Most (and Least) Sleep

A study by Mornings.co.uk found that where you live can affect the quality of your sleep. The study analyzed sleep habits around the world using Twitter data and found that regional differences, such as culture and climate, influenced sleep patterns. Minneapolis was found to be the city that gets the most sleep in the US, while Detroit gets the least. Las Vegas has the most night owls, while Louisville and Fort Worth have the fewest. Bangalore in India has the longest sleep duration globally, while Birmingham in the UK has the most night owls.

Does where you live affect the quality of your sleep? According to recent research by Mornings.co.uk, the answer is yes.

For this study, the Mornings.co.uk team examined sleep habits around the world by looking at tweets containing the hashtags #goodmorning and #goodnight. The data revealed that regional differences—such as culture, climate, and access to medicine—influenced sleep patterns in a big way.

Below, we’re sharing with you the most interesting findings from the study, including which cities in the U.S. get the most and least sleep and which cities in the U.S. have the most and least night owls. Plus, we’re also sharing how U.S. cities compare to other cities around the world when it comes to sleep.

Cities that sleep the most

According to the study, 34 cities in the U.S. enjoy at least nine hours of sleep every night. Number one on the list? Minneapolis. With an average of 9 hours and 46 minutes of sleep per night, Minneapolis denizens get more sleep than any other city in the U.S. Coming in at a close second is St.Paul, Minnesota (neighbor to Minneapolis), with an average of 9 hours and 39 minutes per night.

The fact that these restful cities are both in Minnesota is no coincidence. According to The New York Times, Minnesotians take sleep “very seriously,” enforcing small changes in their communities (such as pushing back high school start times) to prioritize longer and higher quality sleep.

Other U.S. cities that get a lot of sleep include:

  • New Orleans (9 hours and 35 minutes per night)
  • Baton Rouge, Louisiana (9 hours and 29 minutes per night)
  • Burlington, Vermont (9 hours and 27 minutes per night)

u.s. cities that get the most and least sleep infographic

Cities that get the least sleep

While you may have some guesses as to what city ranks number one for the least amount of sleep, you’d be surprised to hear it’s not New York—aka the city that never sleeps. Turns out, Detroit wins with an average of only 5 hours and 19 minutes per night, followed by New York City with an average of 5 hours and 28 minutes per night.

According to The New York Times, the lack of sleep in Detroit could partly be due to high rates of poverty, crime, and divorce, making it one of the worst places to get a good night’s rest.

Other U.S. cities that receive the least sleep include:

  • Tampa, Florida (5 hours and 29 minutes per night)
  • Chicago (5 hours and 33 minutes per night)
  • Las Vegas (5 hours and 37 minutes per night)

Cities that have the most night owls

The cities with the most night owls are large and have extensive nightlife. Number one on the list goes to Las Vegas. With its bright lights, gambling, and nightlife, this ranking doesn’t come as a shock.

Other U.S. cities with the most night owls include:

  • New York City
  • Miami
  • Portland, Oregon
  • Los Angeles

u.s. cities with the most and least night owls infographic

Cities that have the least night owls

The cities with the fewest night owls happen to be smaller and less congested. Louisville, Kentucky, and Fort Worth, Texas, tied for the cities with the least amount of night owls.

Other U.S. cities with the least night owls include:

  • Tacoma, Washington
  • Winston-Salem, North Carolina
  • Anchorage, Alaska

How the rest of the world stacks up on sleep

As the researchers note, “unique customs around the world—afternoon siestas in Spain, office naps in Japan, outdoor naps for babies in Scandinavia, and polyphasic sleep in Egypt, for example—likely impact when people go to sleep and for how long.”

When it comes to global cities that receive the most sleep, four of the top 10 cities are in India, and one of those cities sits at number one on the list. Averaging 11 hours and 3 minutes per night, Bangalore has the longest sleep duration of any city in the world, while Detroit in the U.S. keeps the title for the city that receives the least sleep.

cities that get the most and least sleep around the world infographic

Birmingham in the United Kingdom, meanwhile, has the most night owls in the world, with Warsaw coming in at a close second. These cities are followed by Lima, Amsterdam, and Istanbul. Similar to the cities with the most night owls in the U.S., these cities are large and known for their robust nightlife (some even have 24-hour bars and clubs!).

Contrarily, Cairo, Kinshasa, Yokohama, and Jakarta all tie for cities with the least amount of night owls across the globe.

How to get better sleep no matter where you live

While some of these rankings aren’t exactly unexpected, it’s still interesting seeing how cities stack up against each other. However, you don’t have to let where you live hold you back from getting the recommended seven to nine hours of sleep per night. If you’re curious as to how you can better your sleep quantity and quality—regardless of where you’re located—check out our article on 14 ways to sleep better tonight.

Was This Article Helpful?
Yes No

Related Stories