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Sleep by Age Statistics: How Much Rest Each Age Group Gets

A newborn and a retiree have almost nothing in common except this: both need the right amount of sleep, and the right amount is very different. Sleep need falls steeply in the first two decades of life and then levels off. The numbers below pair what experts recommend for each age with what people actually get, so you can see where your own household stands.

What experts recommend at each age

The National Sleep Foundation's recommendations are the global reference point. A 2026 review of 133 meta-analyses covering up to 3,222 studies reaffirmed them, and they have been cited more than 9,000 times in academic literature:

- Newborns (0 to 3 months): 14 to 17 hours

- Infants (4 to 11 months): 12 to 15 hours

- Toddlers (1 to 2 years): 11 to 14 hours

- Preschoolers (3 to 5 years): 10 to 13 hours

- School-aged children (6 to 13 years): 9 to 11 hours

- Teenagers (14 to 17 years): 8 to 10 hours

- Young adults (18 to 25 years): 7 to 9 hours

- Adults (26 to 64 years): 7 to 9 hours

- Older adults (65 and older): 7 to 8 hours

For babies and young children, these totals include daytime naps. Individual needs vary, which is why each range spans a couple of hours. The NSF also defines wider "may be appropriate" ranges for each age group, acknowledging that some healthy people naturally sleep a bit more or less. For example, 6 hours may be appropriate for some adults 26 to 64, and 5 to 6 hours for some adults over 65, though consistently falling outside even those wider ranges is worth discussing with a doctor.

Children and teenagers: the biggest gap

The distance between recommendation and reality is widest for teens. The CDC's 2025 Youth Risk Behavior Survey found that only 24% of U.S. high school students get at least eight hours of sleep on an average school night. That is essentially unchanged from 23% in 2023 and down from 27% in 2015, a statistically significant worsening over the decade.

The pattern within the teen years is consistent: male students are more likely than female students to reach eight hours, and 9th and 10th graders do better than 11th and 12th graders, as homework, jobs, and late-night screen time pile on. The CDC links insufficient teen sleep to poor mental health, difficulty concentrating, and risky behaviors such as texting while driving.

Parents are part of the picture. A National Sleep Foundation poll found that 57% of parents underestimated how much sleep their child needs at their age. For babies and toddlers aged two and younger, 61% to 78% of parents misjudged it. The NSF's conclusion was blunt: children are sleeping less than recommended, and parents often believe they need less than experts advise.

Working-age adults: the squeezed middle

Adults aged 18 to 64 are supposed to get seven to nine hours. CDC data show the 50-to-64 bracket struggles most: more than 34% sleep fewer than seven hours in 24 hours, the highest share of any adult age group. Those aged 35 to 49 follow at 33.4%.

Gallup's polling adds texture. Younger women under 50 were especially likely to say they are not getting enough rest, and younger adults and parents of children under 18 are among the most likely to fall short. A 36-year Finnish study tracking adults from 1975 to 2011 found average sleep drifted down slightly in every age group: from about 7.7 hours to 7.5 in the 18-to-34 group, and from 7.6 to 7.3 in the 35-to-54 group.

Older adults: more time, lighter sleep

Adults 65 and older need seven to eight hours, and they tend to get slightly more total sleep than the middle-aged. But the character of that sleep changes. Research on aging and sleep finds that older adults spend more time in the lighter stages of sleep and less in the deeper stages, wake up more often during the night, and shift toward earlier bedtimes and earlier mornings as circadian rhythms advance with age.

Daytime napping rises sharply: about 25% of older adults nap, compared with around 8% of younger adults, according to the Sleep Foundation. Short naps can be restorative, but long or late naps can make nighttime sleep harder, which is one reason sleep doctors advise keeping naps brief and early.

How sleep need changes across a lifetime

Step back and the arc is clear. Sleep need drops from up to 17 hours in newborns to 7 to 9 hours by young adulthood, then holds roughly steady for four decades before dipping slightly after 65. Actual sleep follows a different curve: teens fall far short of what they need, the middle-aged squeeze sleep between work and family, and older adults get more total rest but of lighter quality.

The groups missing the mark most are the ones with the least control over their schedules: teenagers bound by early school starts, and working parents. That is also where the data suggest the largest gains are waiting.

It is worth remembering that recommendations describe what is healthy, not what is typical. In every age group, actual sleep falls short of the recommended range for a large share of people. The gap itself is the story: sleep is one of the few health behaviors where most people agree on the goal and still miss it.

Health disclaimer: This article shares publicly reported statistics for general information only. It is not medical advice. If you or your child has ongoing trouble sleeping, talk to a doctor or a qualified health professional.

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Frequently asked questions

How much sleep do teenagers actually get?

Not enough. The CDC's 2025 Youth Risk Behavior Survey found only 24% of U.S. high school students get at least eight hours of sleep on an average school night, down from 27% in 2015. Male students and those in 9th and 10th grade are more likely to reach eight hours than female students and 11th and 12th graders.

How much sleep do adults aged 50 to 64 get?

This is the hardest-hit adult age group. CDC data show more than 34% of adults aged 50 to 64 sleep fewer than seven hours per 24 hours, the highest share of any adult age bracket. Adults aged 35 to 49 are close behind at 33.4%.

Do sleep needs change with age?

Yes. The National Sleep Foundation recommends 14 to 17 hours for newborns, 8 to 10 hours for teenagers, 7 to 9 hours for adults 18 to 64, and 7 to 8 hours for adults 65 and older. A 2026 review of 133 meta-analyses confirmed these ranges still hold.

Do older adults sleep more or less than younger adults?

Older adults tend to log slightly more total sleep time than middle-aged adults, though their sleep is lighter and more fragmented. Research shows older adults spend more time in lighter sleep stages and wake more often during the night. About 25% of older adults nap during the day, compared with around 8% of younger adults.

Do parents know how much sleep their kids need?

Often not. A National Sleep Foundation poll found that 57% of parents underestimated how much sleep their child needs, with 61% to 78% misjudging the needs of children aged two and younger. The NSF notes this gap likely contributes to widespread insufficient sleep in children.