Researchers have found that sleep duration may be one of the strongest predictors of how long people live, with insufficient sleep more closely linked to shorter life expectancy than factors such as diet, exercise or loneliness. The findings, published in the journal Sleep Advances by researchers from Oregon Health and Science University, showed that people who regularly sleep less than seven hours a night face a significantly higher risk of reduced lifespan, while those who get between seven and nine hours are more likely to support long-term health.
The study analysed nationwide data by comparing county-level life expectancy figures with survey information collected by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention between 2019 and 2025. Using the CDC’s definition of sufficient sleep as at least seven hours per night, researchers found a consistent relationship between sleep duration and life expectancy across nearly all US states and years examined. Senior author Andrew McHill said the results underscore the importance of adequate sleep, noting that only smoking showed a stronger association with reduced life expectancy than insufficient sleep.