In 2024, according to the latest data from the National Institute of Sleep and Vigilance (INSV), the average sleep duration of the French fell at 6:42 a.m. per night. This figure is alarming since it is much lower than the 7 to 8 hours recommended by the WHO for a healthy adult.
Worse, more than a third of French people say they sleep less than 6 hours a night, a so -called “little chronic sleeper” profile. This situation is not trivial. Solid epidemiological studies, such as those reported by the High Authority for Health (HAS), show that insufficient sleep significantly increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases, obesity, type 2 diabetes, but also psychiatric disorders such as depression.
On the road, drowsiness is the first cause of fatal accidents. In France, each year, around 25 % of fatal accidents are linked to sleeping driving, recalls road safety. In short, our sleep is a serious matter that goes beyond the simple fact of being tired.
But why are we all tired all the time?
Our chopped nights made in modernity!
It’s not just a matter of quantity. The quality of sleep also degrades severely. 85 % of French people wake up at least once a night, and almost half consider their non -restful sleep, according to a survey by the National Sleep Observatory.
For what ? Our modern lifestyles are far from tender with our nights. First, chronic stress, which affects 20 to 30 % of the French population, according to Public Health France, disturbed our biological clock. Then, the omnipresent screens (smartphones, tablets, televisions) emit a blue light which inhibits the production of melatonin, the sleep hormone.
Without forgetting the offbeat schedules, especially for workers with posted schedules or students, as well as noise and bright pollution in urban areas. As a result, our bedtime rhythms shift, our evenings lie down, and sleep becomes the adjustment variable, sacrificed on the altar of professional and social requirements.
The weekend does not save the week: stop at the myth of the “compensatory morning”
Do you think that doing the late morning on weekends catches up with your accumulated sleep debt? Bad idea! Several studies, including one published in 2023 in the journal Sleep Medicine Reviews, have shown that this compensation is not effective. On the contrary, it further disrupts the internal clock and aggravates the overall quality of sleep.
In other words, if you sleep badly during the week, sleeping too long on weekends will not solve the problem. Regularity is the key.
How to find a restful sleep?
Good practices to sleep better
To fall asleep more easily and sleep better, the first rule is simple: adopt good sleep hygiene. This goes through:
- Sleep and get up at fixed hours, even on weekends
- Turn off screens at least an hour before bedtime
- Promote a calm, dark and fresh environment in the room
- Avoid excessive consumption of caffeine and alcohol in the evening
- Practice regular physical activity, but never just before sleeping
And above all, avoid self -medication. Sleepers are not the panacea, they can lead to dependence and alter the quality of sleep in the long term. The HAS recommends favoring cognitive-behavioral, effective therapies on sleep disorders and without side effects.
As for melatonin, taken in the form of a food supplement, it can be useful punctually for certain time shifts, but it is not a miracle remedy. Its use must be supervised by a healthcare professional.
Encouraging political advances
On the public political side, awareness is there. In February 2025, the Minister of Health Yannick Neuder presented an ambitious roadmap to promote quality sleep in France. Among the flagship measures:
- Awareness of primary school to the importance of sleep
- Encouragement to digital disconnection at work
- Promotion of micro-siete in business with dedicated spaces
- Revision of school rhythms to better stick to the needs of adolescents
These initiatives are encouraging because they finally place sleep at the heart of public health concerns.
NAMELY
According to a study published in 2023 by Public Health France, almost 40 % of French people say they suffer from sleep disorders at least three times a week, a increased figure over the past ten years. This increase is particularly marked in women and young adults (18-34 years).
Register for our newsletter
My health
