Key points
- The Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) looks at how much sleep U.S. high school students get.
- The percentage of high school students who do not get enough sleep in the United States varies over time and by sex, state, age, and racial and ethnic group.
The basics
- The Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) measures health-related behaviors, including sleep, among high school students.
- High school students who take part in the YRBS are asked: "On an average school night, how many hours of sleep do you get?"
- The recommended amount of sleep for high school students is 8 hours each day.
- High school students who do not get 8 hours of sleep each day are considered to have insufficient sleep (also called short sleep duration).
Quick stats
Trends in insufficient sleep, 2009–2021
The percentage of high school students who do not get enough sleep increased from 2009 to 2021. More female students than male students reported not getting enough sleep during this period.
Insufficient sleep by state, 2021
The percentage of high school students who do not get enough sleep varies by state. In 2021, it ranged from 71% in South Dakota to 84% in Pennsylvania.
Insufficient sleep among high school students, 2021
The percentage of high school students who do not get enough sleep was highest in certain groups, including:
- Female students (80%)
- 12th grade students (84%)
- Black students (84%)