Where in the United States Are People the Most Sleep-Deprived?

Sleep deprivation can be so harmful and distressing that it has been used as a form of torture and interrogation for centuries! Around 50 to 70 million Americans experience sleep deprivation with 35.2% of all adults sleeping less than seven hours each night on average. Of course, many factors influence sleep deprivation trends, including age, occupation, race, and location. So where in the United States do adults struggle the most with getting proper sleep? The team at Charlotte’s Web has analyzed data from the University of Wisconsin Public Health Institute to find the most sleep-deprived areas in every state.

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There are many “cities that never sleep” in the United States, it seems. Many of the states and counties that struggle the most with getting adequate sleep appear to be in the South. In McGreary County, Kentucky and Mingo County, West Virginia, 49% of adults reported insufficient sleep! The U.S. Average is 35%, so that is a concerning degree higher. West Virginia also struggles significantly with mental health – another fascinating chart by Charlotte’s Web sheds light on how 30 out of the 50 U.S. counties with the poorest mental health are located in West Virginia (including the top 10). While I am sure lack of sleep is not the driving factor in these alarming statistics, I am sure it is all connected. From a design perspective, I really appreciate how the muted yellow, somber blue, and open eye capture the sense of dreariness that comes from lack of sleep. And then you have the punchy colors of the U.S. map, much like the unrelenting responsibilities that hit hard each day no matter how tired you are. I am not sure if this is how the designer intended it, but it works!