Humans may often feel sleep-deprived, but compared to our primate relatives, we’re remarkably efficient sleepers. Research shows that people in non-industrial societies, which is the closest comparison to our ancestral environment, average less than seven hours of sleep per night. That’s far less than chimpanzees, who rest about 9.5 hours, or certain lemurs, who can sleep up to 17 hours daily!
A team from Duke University analyzed sleep data across the animal kingdom and found that humans consistently rank among the shortest sleepers. This unusual pattern may reflect an evolutionary trade-off: less rest in exchange for more time spent socializing, problem-solving, and navigating complex environments.
All in all, our short nights may be the price we pay for being the most awake and aware species on the planet. Click through the gallery to see how our sleep habits stack up against the rest of the animal kingdom.