Kiwis & Aussies - Asia Pac.'s biggest sleepyheads

Kiwis & Aussies - Asia Pacific’s biggest sleepyheads

28 per cent of Kiwis get more than 9 hours sleep
Across Asia Pacific, 40 per cent of people go to bed after midnight
61 per cent of Kiwis are out of bed by 7am
Kiwis not creatures of habit when it comes to what determines our sleep schedule - work hours more critical

AUCKLAND, 4 February 2005: Results of a global study released today by research company ACNielsen found that Kiwis and Aussies get more sleep than any other country in Asia Pacific with 31 per cent of Aussies and 28 per cent of Kiwis getting more than nine hours sleep on average per night.

The online survey of over 500 New Zealand participants, and more than 14,000 people in 28 countries around the world, is conducted six-monthly by ACNielsen and this survey, respondents were asked a range of questions on their sleeping habits.

“In contrast to Asia Pacific findings where the majority of people get an average of between seven and eight hours sleep a night, it is clear that Kiwis and Aussies are sleeping for longer hours”, says Alistair Watts, Managing Director, ACNielsen Pacific.

“This is compared to countries such as Indonesia where 12 per cent get an average of five hours, with 38 per cent getting six hours or less. Most sleep deprived are the Japanese, with 41 per cent getting six hours or less.”

In line with these findings, 19 per cent of Kiwis are in bed by 10pm and over a third go to bed between 10pm and 11pm. The Australians are the earliest to bed – 24 per cent of Aussies are in bed by 10. Only 18 per cent of Kiwis go to bed after midnight compared to the Asia Pacific average of 40 per cent.

The Taiwanese are the region’s night owls – 35 per cent go to bed after 1am, followed by 31 per cent of Hong Kongers and 27 per cent of Singaporeans.

61 per cent of Kiwis are out of bed by 7am, slightly higher than the Asia Pacific average, with the majority (41 per cent) rising between 6am and 7am. Indonesians are the early birds – 22 per cent are up by 5am, with 72 per cent up by 6am. As you might expect (judging by their night-time habits), the Taiwanese are the last up – 26 per cent don’t get up until after 9am.

“It seems that although across the Asia Pacific region we are creatures of habit when it comes to what determines our sleep schedule, this is not the case in New Zealand”, Mr Watts commented.

“Along with Hong Kongers and Filippinos, one in two Kiwis rated work hours as critical in determining sleep schedules compared to the Asia Pacific average of 46 per cent. Across the region habit was the key driver for sleep schedules (with an average of 52 per cent), whilst only 42 per cent of Kiwis thought it was important”, he continued.

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About ACNielsen

ACNielsen, a VNU business, is the world’s leading marketing information company. Offering services in more than 100 countries, the company provides measurement and analysis of marketplace dynamics and consumer attitudes and behaviour. Clients rely on ACNielsen’s market research, proprietary products, analytical tools and professional service to understand competitive performance, to uncover new opportunities and to raise the profitability of their marketing and sales campaigns. For further information, please visit http://www.acnielsen.co.nz

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