77% of U.S. High School Students Report Too Little Sleep in 2023
Mar 2nd 2026
A national survey shows the share of U.S. high school students getting less sleep has grown since 2007, driven by more teens sleeping five hours or less and pointing to structural factors like early school start times.
- 77 percent of high school students reported sleeping fewer hours than the recommended 8 to 10 in 2023, up from 69 percent in 2007.
- Very short sleep, defined as five hours or less, rose from 16 percent in 2007 to 23 percent in 2023.
- Findings come from the Youth Risk Behavior Study, a long-term national survey of public and private high school students.
- Increases occurred across all racial groups, with larger climbs among Black students than white students.
- Students with and without behavioral health risk factors both saw rising rates, suggesting broader structural causes rather than only individual issues.
- Biological shifts at puberty delay teens' sleep cycles, making it hard to fall asleep before 11 p.m. and wake before 8 a.m.
- Research shows later high school start times increase sleep and reduce symptoms of depression among students.