Sleep and Productivity Statistics Canada: Industry Trends & Data for 2026

Canadians lose up to $21.4 billion in productivity each year due to poor sleep. That's roughly 1.35 million working days gone—not to illness or vacation, but to exhaustion. If you've ever dragged yourself through a workday after a rough night, you already know the personal cost of poor sleep quality. Here's what the research actually shows about sleep health in Canada.

Key Takeaways

• One in three Canadians reports being sleep-deprived, making Canada the third most sleep-deprived country among developed nations.
• Sleep deprivation costs the Canadian economy up to $21.4 billion annually—about 1.35% of GDP in indirect costs and lost productivity.
• 77% of Canadian adults aged 18-64 meet sleep duration recommendations (7-9 hours), but only 61% report high sleep quality.
• Workers aged 35-49 get the least sleep (7.7 hours average), likely due to work and family demands.
• People sleeping less than recommended have a 13% higher mortality risk than those getting adequate sleep.
• Adding just one hour of sleep for those with insufficient sleep could add $12 billion to Canada's economy.

What Are the Sleep and Productivity Statistics in Canada?

The numbers paint a clear picture: Canadians aren't getting enough sleep, and poor sleep is affecting everything from workplace performance to long-term health outcomes.

Canadian adults aged 18–64 average 7.9 hours of sleep per night, according to findings from the 2020 Canadian Community Health Survey, within the recommended range. But averages hide individual struggles. About 18% of adults aged 18-64 get less than the recommended amount of sleep, while 6% consistently experience insufficient sleep of fewer than 6 hours nightly.

The RAND Corporation's landmark study on sleep economics found that Canada loses up to $21.4 billion annually due to sleep deprivation. That includes lost productivity from absenteeism (missing work entirely) and presenteeism (showing up but underperforming). It also accounts for the adverse health outcomes and higher mortality risk among chronically sleep-deprived workers.

Background on Canadian Sleep Habits

Sleep health research in Canada has accelerated since the release of the Canadian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines for Adults in October 2020. These guidelines—developed by the Public Health Agency of Canada, Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology, and sleep medicine researchers—recommend:

The guidelines emphasize that it's not just about sleep duration—consistent sleep timing and wake times, along with good sleep hygiene practices, maximize the benefits for physical and mental health.

What makes Canada's situation notable is the gap between meeting sleep duration recommendations (77% of adults do) and actually sleeping well. Only 61% of adults aged 18-64 report sleeping well. That means roughly 4 in 10 Canadians are getting enough hours of sleep but still waking up unrefreshed.

Common Sleep Patterns Among Canadians

The Canadian Community Health Survey data reveal distinct patterns across age groups and demographics:

• By age: Middle-aged adults (35-49) sleep the least (7.7 hours average), likely squeezed by career demands and childcare responsibilities. Older adults actually sleep longer on average (8.1 hours), but are less likely to meet the tighter 7-8-hour guideline for their age group. Young adults aged 18-24 average 8.2 hours of sleep, but often struggle to fall asleep due to screen time before bed.
• By gender: Women sleep slightly longer (8.1 hours vs 7.8 hours for men) and are more likely to meet sleep duration recommendations. However, women report higher rates of insomnia symptoms—23.1% versus 14.8% for men—and more difficulty staying asleep throughout the night. Both age groups report that poor mental health often accompanies sleep problems.
• By employment: Working Canadians sleep less than unemployed or retired individuals. The "social jetlag" phenomenon—where sleep time shifts dramatically between workdays and weekends—affects half of working adults and impacts their rest.
• By income and education: People from higher-income households and those with more education are more likely to meet sleep duration recommendations. Those with lower socioeconomic status often experience poor sleep quality due to stress, shift work, and less control over sleep environments—suggesting sleep health may be another area where socioeconomic factors create health disparities.

How Many Canadians Are Sleep Deprived?

About one-third of the Canadian population reportsreports not getting enough sleep, placing Canada alongside the United States as the third-most sleep-deprived developed nation. Only the UK (37%) and Ireland (34%) fare worse. Canadians sleep poorly across all age groups, though the specific challenges differ.

Sleep Deprivation by Age Group

Provincial Variations

Sleep behaviours vary across Canada, though comprehensive provincial breakdowns are limited. Northern regions face unique challenges from extreme seasonal light variations—extended summer daylight can disrupt circadian rhythms and make it harder to fall asleep. At the same time, long winter nights may contribute to both longer sleep duration and seasonal mood changes.

Urban Canadians tend to report more sleep disturbances than rural residents, potentially due to noise, light pollution, and longer commute-related stress, which affect their ability to get quality rest. However, rural Canadians may have less access to sleep medicine specialists and to the diagnosis and treatment of sleep disorders.

Shift Workers: A High-Risk Group

Shift work deserves special attention in any discussion of sleep health. Approximately 25% of full-time Canadian workers work outside a regular daytime schedule. The prevalence is highest in specific sectors:

• Protective services (police, security): 66% work shifts
• Accommodation and food: Over 50% work shifts
• Health care: 45% work shifts
• Transportation and warehousing: 40% work shifts
• Manufacturing: 17-21% work regular night or rotating shifts

Shift workers face unique physiological challenges. Sleep deprivation disrupts the human body's circadian rhythm—a 24-hour cycle governing sleep, hormone release, and body temperature. Night work and rotating schedules lead to shorter sleep durations, difficulty staying awake during waking hours, and elevated health risks, including cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

How Does Physical Activity Affect Sleep Quality?

The connection between exercise and sleep is well-documented, and both play a role in supporting overall health.

Research consistently shows that moderate physical activity improves overall sleep quality. A review of existing research found that moderate-intensity physical activity outperforms vigorous exercise in improving sleep outcomes, including quicker sleep onset and longer sleep duration.

The Canadian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines recognize this connection, recommending 150 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity weekly alongside adequate sleep. However, only about 7% of Canadian adults meet all three components of the guidelines (physical activity, limits on sedentary behaviour, and adequate sleep duration).

The bidirectional relationship matters here. Poor sleep leads to increased sedentary behaviour the next day, creating a negative cycle. Sleep-deprived individuals are more likely to skip planned physical activity, report 36.3% higher rates of chronic stress, and show 12.3% higher rates of poor mental health compared to those getting quality sleep.

For better sleep quality, research suggests exercising earlier in the day rather than close to bedtime, when elevated heart rate and body temperature can interfere with your ability to fall asleep.

How Much Does Sleep Deprivation Cost Businesses?

The economic impact of insufficient sleep on Canadian businesses is substantial and measurable.

The RAND Corporation calculated that poor sleep quality costs Canada between $17.1 billion and $21.4 billion annually—approximately 0.85% to 1.35% of GDP. This places Canada in the best position among the five OECD countries studied, but "best" is relative when billions are still being lost to sleep loss.

How the indirect costs break down:

• Absenteeism: Missing work due to fatigue-related illness and compromised sleep health
• Presenteeism: Showing up but performing at reduced capacity
• Mortality risk: Premature death from health complications, reducing the working population

Workers sleeping fewer hours (less than 6 hours nightly) show 2.4% higher productivity loss than those meeting sleep duration recommendations. That translates to roughly six additional working days lost per worker, per year.

The encouraging finding from the research: small improvements yield significant returns. If Canadians currently experiencing insufficient sleep increased their sleep to 6-7 hours, the economy could gain $12 billion. That's not asking for perfect sleep hygiene—just marginal improvement in sleep duration.

How Does Poor Sleep Affect Workplace Performance?

Sleep deprivation disrupts performance through multiple mechanisms, all documented in occupational health and sleep medicine research:

Cognitive effects:

• Slower reaction time (comparable to alcohol impairment after 18+ hours awake)
• Reduced attention and concentration, with difficulty staying awake
• Impaired decision-making and judgment
• Decreased creativity and problem-solving ability
• Memory consolidation problems

Physical effects:

• Reduced motor coordination
• Slower physical reaction time
• Increased injury risk—workplace injuries are significantly higher among workers getting insufficient sleep

Behavioural effects:

• Irritability and reduced emotional regulation.
• Decreased motivation
• Poor communication and collaboration
• Higher rates of workplace conflict

Which Industries Are Most Affected by Sleep Deprivation?

While poor sleep quality affects all sectors, certain industries face heightened risks due to the prevalence of shift work, safety-critical operations, or demanding schedules that compromise sleep health.

Health Care

With 45% of health care workers on shift, the medical field faces dual concerns: worker wellbeing and patient safety. Fatigued nurses and physicians who are sleep-deprived make more errors, and sleep medicine research links sleep deprivation among medical staff to worse patient outcomes. Sleep disorders among health workers compound these risks.

Transportation

Truck drivers, pilots, train operators, and maritime workers operate heavy machinery where fatigue from poor sleep quality can be fatal. Up to 20% of Canadians report difficulty staying awake while driving—a statistic that underscores the life-or-death stakes of sleep deprivation in this sector.

Manufacturing

Rotating shifts remain common in manufacturing to maintain continuous production. Workers on night shifts face elevated risks for workplace injuries, particularly during the early morning hours (3-5 AM) when alertness naturally dips and sleep loss takes its toll.

Protective Services

Police officers, firefighters, and security guards often work overnight and irregular schedules. The combination of shift work with high-stress, high-stakes responsibilities compounds sleep health risks and affects both physical and mental health.

Oil and Gas

Canada's energy sector relies heavily on shift work, often in remote locations with extended rotations. Workers may face additional challenges due to isolation, limited recreational options, and extreme environmental conditions, which can affect their ability to achieve restorative sleep.

What Factors Affect Sleep Quality?

Sleep quality depends on complex interactions among behavioural, environmental, and physiological factors. Understanding these sleep indicators helps identify what's preventing better sleep.

Sleep Environment

• Temperature: Research from the Sleep Foundation and academic sleep studies shows bedroom temperatures between 15–19°C (60–67°F) optimize sleep quality. Your body naturally cools during sleep, and an overly warm room interferes with this process.
• Light exposure: Minimal exposure may be enough to affect melatonin levels and hinder sleep. Blackout curtains, particularly important in northern regions during summer months, can significantly improve overall sleep quality.
• Noise: Environmental noise disrupts sleep stages even when it doesn't fully wake you. In noisy urban settings, white noise machines or earplugs can help reduce sound disturbances.
• Mattress and bedding: Your sleep surface matters more than many people realize. Research links mattress comfort and support to how well you rest, with medium-firm mattresses showing benefits for both sleep and back pain reduction. Worn mattresses with sagging or body impressions can negatively affect sleep quality, but with proper care, quality mattresses often last 15–20 years. Natural materials like latex and wool offer advantages in temperature regulation—latex is naturally breathable, while wool wicks moisture and helps maintain consistent body temperature.

Sleep Hygiene and Behavioural Factors

• Screen time: Over two-thirds of Canadian adults use electronic devices within 30 minutes of bedtime. While recent research from the Lady Davis Institute suggests the "blue light" concern may be somewhat overstated for adults, the stimulating content and delayed bedtimes associated with screen time clearly affect sleep behaviours and quality.
• Good sleep hygiene practices: Regular sleep time and wake times support circadian rhythm health. Half of working Canadians exhibit high variability in sleep timing between workdays and free days—a pattern called "social jetlag" — that disrupts sleep health and makes it harder to stay asleep.
• Caffeine consumption: Caffeine’s 5–6 hour half-life means it can affect sleep long after consumption, including from afternoon coffee. Alcohol may induce drowsiness at first, but it commonly fragments sleep, lowering both sleep efficiency and overall sleep quality.

Beyond substances, your pillow choice and bedding materials also affect how well you sleep—natural materials like wool and latex provide better temperature regulation than synthetics.

Medical Factors

Sleep disorders affect millions of Canadians and require attention from sleep medicine professionals:

• Insomnia symptoms affect approximately 30% of Canadians to some degree, causing difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep.
• Obstructive sleep apnea affects an estimated 3–5% of Canadian adults, with a significant proportion remaining undiagnosed.
• Restless Legs Syndrome affects approximately 5% of Canadian adults, disrupting rest.

Many sleep disorders are treatable once diagnosed. If you consistently feel unrefreshed despite adequate sleep duration, or if a partner reports loud snoring or breathing pauses, evaluation by a sleep medicine specialist may be worthwhile.

How Does Sleep Affect Mental Health?

Sleep and mental health are tightly linked, affecting each other in powerful ways. Mental and cognitive disorders often go hand in hand with poor sleep quality.

• Poor sleep affects mental health: Approximately one in four adults in Canada reported experiencing moderate to severe symptoms of depression, anxiety, or PTSD in early 2021, with prevalence holding steady through 2023. Research published in the journal Sleep found that adults with chronic insomnia have a significantly elevated risk of developing depression—demonstrating how poor sleep quality leads to poor mental health.
• Mental health affects sleep: Anxiety, depression, and stress are among the most common causes of sleep disturbance. The racing thoughts of anxiety can cause difficulty falling asleep, while depression may cause both insomnia and hypersomnia (longer sleep duration than needed).

Data shows that adults getting insufficient sleep report chronic stress at rates 56% higher than those with adequate sleep (36.3% vs 23.2%). They also report poor mental health at more than double the rate (12.3% vs 5.8%).

The post-pandemic period has intensified these concerns. Survey data show that Canadians' self-rated mental health has declined since 2015, with the pandemic contributing to worsened anxiety and depression. Sleep disturbances—including difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep—often accompany these conditions, creating cycles that require addressing both mental health and sleep hygiene together as part of a healthy lifestyle approach.

How Does Technology Impact Sleep?

Technology's effect on sleep health involves several mechanisms beyond the often-cited "blue light."

• Delayed bedtimes and shorter sleep durations: The most straightforward impact—engaging content keeps us up later. A study found that daily screen time before bed was associated with approximately 50 minutes less sleep per week and later sleep time.
• Cognitive stimulation: Exciting, stressful, or emotionally engaging content activates the brain during waking hours when it should be winding down. Work emails, social media debates, and intense video games are particularly problematic for sleep hygiene.
• Sleep environment disruption: Two-thirds of Canadian adults have electronic devices in their bedrooms while sleeping. Notifications, charging lights, and the temptation to "just check" messages can fragment sleep and prevent restorative sleep.

Interestingly, recent research found that consistent screen users at bedtime (5+ nights per week) reported better sleep than occasional users. The researchers suggest consistency in sleep habits and bedtime behaviours—whether including screens or not—may matter more than screen time itself.

Practical approaches for better sleep:

• Establish a consistent technology "curfew" 30-60 minutes before bed as part of good sleep hygiene.
• Keep phones outside the bedroom or in a drawer.
• Use "do not disturb" settings during sleep hours.
• Choose calming content if you do use electronic devices in the evening.

How Can Better Sleep Improve Your Health?

Improving sleep quality offers benefits that extend far beyond feeling more rested. Healthy sleep habits play a fundamental role in supporting long-term health.

• Cognitive function: Adequate sleep supports memory consolidation, learning, attention, and decision-making. This directly translates into better work performance and reduced error rates.
• Physical health: Sleep is essential for tissue recovery, growth hormone production, and proper immune function. Chronic insufficient sleep is associated with 37% higher rates of hypertension, 48% increased cardiovascular disease risk, and 23% higher risk of Type 2 diabetes—showing a U-shaped association where both too little and excessive sleep duration correlate with poor health outcomes.
• Physical and mental health connection: Quality sleep supports emotional regulation, stress resilience, and mental health. The bidirectional relationship means better sleep can help break negative cycles with anxiety and depression, reducing symptoms of mental and cognitive disorders.
• Longevity: People meeting sleep duration recommendations of 7-9 hours consistently have lower mortality risk than those chronically sleeping too little (or experiencing long sleep duration). The 13% higher mortality risk for those with insufficient sleep is significant and well-documented.
• Economic benefit: Better sleep leads to higher productivity, fewer sick days, and reduced healthcare utilization. The personal financial benefit of good sleep hygiene may be substantial over a career.

The quality of your sleep environment—including your mattress—plays a measurable role in achieving these benefits. Research consistently shows that supportive, comfortable sleep surfaces improve how well you rest and reduce pain that can disturb sleep.

FAQs

How many hours of sleep do you need for peak productivity?

Most adults aged 18-64 need 7-9 hours of sleep for optimal performance and productivity. However, individual needs vary—some people genuinely function well on 7 hours while others need 9. The key indicator is how you feel: if you wake without an alarm feeling refreshed and maintain energy throughout the day, you're likely getting adequate sleep.

Does one night of bad sleep affect work performance?

Yes. A single night of insufficient sleep (fewer than 6 hours) reduces reaction time, attention, and decision-making ability the following day. Studies show effects comparable to mild alcohol impairment. While a single bad night is recoverable, the concern is that occasional poor sleep quality can become a pattern that affects long-term sleep health.

Can you recover lost productivity from poor sleep?

Partially. While you can't "catch up" on sleep loss in the traditional sense, improving your sleep habits in the future restores function and productivity. Research shows that workers who move from sleeping under 6 hours to 6-7 hours of sleep see measurable productivity gains. The RAND study estimated that if all Canadians with insufficient sleep improved to 6-7 hours, it would add $12 billion to the economy annually.

What percentage of Canadians are sleep-deprived?

Approximately 30–35% of Canadians report not getting enough sleep. About 18% of adults aged 18–64 get less than the recommended 7 hours of sleep, and 6% consistently get fewer than 6 hours.

How does poor sleep affect workplace safety?

Sleep-deprived workers face significantly higher injury rates. Staying awake for 18 hours can affect judgment and reaction time in ways comparable to a 0.05% blood alcohol level. The early morning hours (3-5 AM) show the highest accident rates for shift workers experiencing sleep deprivation. Up to 20% of Canadians report difficulty staying awake while driving.

Does mattress quality affect sleep and productivity?

Research shows that mattress comfort and support directly influence sleep quality and sleep efficiency. Medium-firm mattresses that support spinal alignment may improve sleep quality while reducing back discomfort. A worn-out mattress—typically one over 7-10 years old—may contribute to poor sleep quality and morning stiffness that affects daily function.

Temperature regulation also matters significantly. Mattresses made with breathable natural materials like latex and wool help maintain a consistent body temperature throughout the night, while synthetic foams can trap heat and disrupt sleep. Investing in a quality sleep surface is one of the most controllable factors in your sleep environment for better sleep.

What industries have the highest rates of shift work in Canada?

Protective services lead with 66% of workers on shifts, followed by accommodation and food services (over 50%), health care (45%), transportation and warehousing (40%), and sales and service (40%). Manufacturing and primary industries, like oil and gas, also have significant shift work populations, affecting workers' sleep health. In total, approximately 25% of full-time Canadian workers work outside a regular daytime schedule, putting them at risk of poor sleep quality.

Are Canadians sleeping better or worse than before?

The picture is mixed for sleep health. Sleep duration actually improved between the 2014-2015 and 2020 surveys—average sleep increased from 7.1 to 7.9 hours. However, how well Canadians sleep remains a concern, with about 40% of adults aged 18-64 reporting poor-quality sleep. The pandemic may have temporarily improved sleep duration for some (reduced commuting, flexible schedules) while worsening sleep hygiene for others through increased anxiety and disrupted routines.

What time should Canadians go to bed for optimal productivity?

Most Canadian adults fall asleep between 8 PM and midnight, with the majority reporting sleep onset between 10 PM and 11:30 PM. The ideal sleep time depends on your required wake time—count back 7-9 hours to find your target sleep time. Consistency matters more than the specific time. Good sleep hygiene research shows that maintaining regular sleep and wake times, even on weekends, supports better sleep quality and less difficulty staying awake during the day than varying schedules.

In Conclusion

The data is clear: sleep is not a luxury—it's a performance factor, a health determinant, and an economic variable. Canada loses billions annually to sleep deprivation, and individuals pay the price in reduced well-being, impaired cognitive performance, and adverse health outcomes.

The encouraging news is that sleep is modifiable—small improvements in sleep duration and sleep quality yield measurable benefits. Addressing your sleep environment—including factors like room temperature, light control, and mattress quality—is a practical starting point for many Canadians looking to improve their sleep health through better sleep hygiene.

If you're consistently struggling with sleep despite good sleep habits, consider a medical evaluation. Conditions like sleep apnea often go undiagnosed and are highly treatable by sleep medicine specialists.

Your sleep matters—for your health, productivity, and quality of life. Better sleep is within reach.

Citations:

[1] https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/82-003-x/2022003/article/00001-eng.htm
[2] https://www.statcan.gc.ca/o1/en/plus/581-world-sleep-day
[3] https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RR1791.html
[4] https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/publications/healthy-living/canadian-adults-getting-enough-sleep-infographic.html
[5] https://health-infobase.canada.ca/datalab/pass-blog.html