Koreans Are Sleeping 12 Minutes Less Than Two Years Ago, and Half Say They Still Feel Tired After Resting
South Koreans average just 6.3 hours of sleep per night. Frequent nighttime awakenings and difficulty falling asleep remain common complaints.
Sleep plays a vital role in physical recovery and overall health. Although adults are generally advised to get seven to nine hours of sleep per night, a recent report found that South Koreans average just 6.3 hours. With sleep duration declining and sleep quality remaining poor, many people continue to struggle with fatigue.
KB Financial Group released its 2026 Korea Wellness Report, based on a survey and focus group discussions (FGDs) conducted among 2,000 men and women aged 25 to 69 living in major cities. The survey was conducted from July 21 to August 5. This is the group's second wellness report, following its initial edition in 2024.
According to the report, respondents averaged 6.3 hours of sleep per day, down from 6.5 hours in 2024—a decrease of 0.2 hours, or approximately 12 minutes. The proportion of respondents who reported sleeping at least seven hours a night also fell from 50.4% in 2024 to 41.6% in 2026, a drop of 8.8 percentage points. Meanwhile, 58.4% reported getting less than seven hours of sleep, meaning more than half were not meeting that threshold.
On average, respondents said their ideal amount of sleep was 7.7 hours per night, leaving a gap of one hour and 24 minutes between their desired and actual sleep duration.
Sleep quality was another concern. More respondents rated their sleep quality as poor (33.6%) than as good (19.5%). Among those dissatisfied with their sleep, the most common complaint was waking up frequently during the night, reported by 68.9%. Other concerns included not getting enough sleep (48.4%), difficulty falling asleep (45.3%), and still feeling tired despite getting enough sleep (43.1%).
The leading factors disrupting sleep were using a smartphone immediately before bed (45.9%) and psychological stress (45.5%). Smartphone use before bedtime was common across all age groups, with respondents in their 50s reporting the highest rate at 47.7%.
Persistent fatigue was also widespread. Nearly half of respondents (49.9%) said they had experienced fatigue over the past month that did not go away even after getting sufficient rest. The rate was highest among people in their 40s, at 59.4%, and lowest among those in their 60s, at 36.5%.
The KB Financial Group Management Research Institute noted that sleep quality is influenced by various factors, including psychological stress and hormonal changes, and cannot be explained by differences in habits alone. The institute added that improving sleep can begin with small changes in everyday routines.
To improve sleep quality, experts recommend starting with everyday habits. Limiting smartphone use before bedtime and replacing it with relaxing activities, such as reading a book or taking time to reflect on the day, may help ease tension before sleep. Caffeine sensitivity varies from person to person, but consuming caffeine in the late afternoon or evening can interfere with falling asleep.
If sleep problems persist and begin to affect daily activities, consulting a healthcare professional is recommended.
Source: 헬스조선 (https://health.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2026/10/27/2026102702312.html)