Survey: 40% of working class sleeps under six hours on worknights

The 2024 National Health Survey finds that 40% of the working class sleeps less than six hours on worknights (Monday–Thursday). The working class is defined as people engaged in manual occupations, whether skilled or unskilled.

Overall, most respondents report sleeping between six and eight hours, but only 49% of the working class fall into that range. People in intermediate social positions report somewhat better rest: 35% say they sleep less than six hours on workdays and 62% report six to eight hours. Those in the highest social group (diploma holders and university professionals) sleep most: 28.6% report under six hours on weekdays and 66% report six to eight hours. Weekend nights generally bring more rest and narrower differences between social classes, though the working class continues to report the least sleep.

Women sleep slightly less than men. On workdays men average 6 hours 56 minutes and women 6 hours 45 minutes; on weekend nights men average 7 hours 35 minutes and women 7 hours 27 minutes. In percentage terms, 40.6% of women say they sleep under six hours between Monday and Friday, compared with 32% of men.

Age patterns vary by sex: men aged 45–64 report the poorest rest among men, while women aged 65–74 report the least sleep among women. The survey notes higher percentages of under-six-hour sleep in older age groups, commonly attributed to pain or sleep interruptions. Perceived sleep quality is lower among women, although a majority of both sexes describe their rest as “good.” Older respondents most often rate their sleep as “fair” or “regular,” while the most restorative sleep ratings (“good” or “excellent”) are concentrated among younger groups (15–24 and 25–34 years).

Those most likely to report “poor” or “bad” sleep are men aged 45–64 and women aged 65–74; 1.4% of women aged 25–34 describe their sleep as “very bad.”

The 2024 National Health Survey is the fifth such study produced by the government. Data were collected by personal interviews from March to September among a representative sample of residents aged over 15 (441 men and 463 women).