We’ve put together a list of 24 of the most interesting and surprising facts about sleep that you may not know. How much do you know about sleep? Here are some interesting facts about sleep you might not have been aware of.

1) Humans sleep for about 25 years

Humans Sleep

Humans spend a third of their life sleeping. That’s about 25 years.

2) New parents miss 6 months’ sleep in two years

newborn baby

Parents of new babies miss out on 6 months worth of sleep in the first 2 years of their child’s life.

3) The record for the longest period without sleep is 11 days

11 days without sleep

Yes, The record for the longest period without sleep is 11 days.

4) Sleep Loss can Shorten Your Life

Less sleep

Sleeping less than 7 hours each night reduces your life expectancy.

5) A lack of sleep really DOES make you fat

Fat

Lack of sleep can cause weight gain of 2 pounds (0.9 kg) in under a week.

6) It’s impossible to sneeze while sleeping

Sneeze

Yes, It’s impossible to sneeze while sleeping.

24 Interesting Facts About Sleep You Didn’t Know 

7) People can only live up to 11 days without sleeping

Sleeping

Most people can survive for up to 2 months without eating, but people can only live up to 11 days without sleeping.

8) Japan’s Sleep at Work Culture

11 days without sleep

Sleeping on the job is acceptable in Japan, as it’s viewed as exhaustion from working hard.

9) ‘More than half’ of pilots have slept while flying

Pilot

Half of the pilots surveyed in the UK admitted to having fallen asleep while flying a passenger plane.

10) Cats sleep most of their lives

Cat

Cats sleep for 70% of their lives.

11) Memories take hold better during sleep

Less sleep

Yes, Memories take hold better during sleep.

12) Horses can sleep standing

Horse

Yes, Horses can sleep standing.

24 Interesting Facts About Sleep You Didn’t Know 

13) Bunnies often sleep with their eyes open

rabbit

Yes, Rabbits often sleep with their eyes open.

14)  You burn more calories sleeping

Fat

You burn more calories sleeping than you do watching television.

15) Giraffes only need 5 to 30 minutes of sleep

giraffe

Giraffes only need 5 to 30 minutes of sleep in a 24-hour period.

16) Koalas sleep up to 20 hours a day

Koala

Yes, Koalas sleep up to 20 hours a day.

17) France is the most sleepiest country in the world

Sneeze

The average person in France sleeps 8.83 hours per day, the most in the developed world.

18) We loose weight when we are sleeping

Fat

We lose over a pound of weight during sleep by exhaling.

24 Interesting Facts About Sleep You Didn’t Know 

19) Difficulty of Getting Out of Bed in the Morning is Called Dysania

Humans Sleep

Dysania is the state of finding it hard to get out of bed in the morning.

20) The Link Between Depression and Dreams

sleepless

Depression can cause you to dream up to 3 to 4 times more than you normally would.

21) Somniphobia is the fear of falling asleep

Facts about Sleep

Yes, Somniphobia is the fear of falling asleep.

22) It Takes 7 minutes To Fall Asleep

Sneeze

The average person falls asleep in seven minutes.

23) It’s illegal to sleep with your shoes in North Dakota

Shoes

It’s illegal to lie down and fall asleep with your shoes on in North Dakota.

24) Trees sleep at night

Trees

Trees “sleep” at night, relaxing their branches after dawn and perking them up before sunrise.