How sleep struggles are shaping China's health industry

For four years, Tony Ma struggled with chronic sleep disturbances – difficulty falling asleep, frequent nighttime awakenings and shortened sleep duration.

A recent PhD graduate from China University of Political Science and Law (CUPL), one of the country's top law schools, Ma had spent countless late nights working on his thesis, a habit that severely disrupted his circadian rhythm. His sleep deprivation persisted until he sought help earlier this year at the First People's Hospital of Yinchuan in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.

After doctors ruled out psychological causes such as depression and anxiety, they prescribed traditional Chinese medicine sleep aids and tailored lifestyle adjustments. Following a month of treatment, Ma finally regained the ability to sleep soundly.

Ma's story reflects a growing awareness across China: sleep disorders are increasingly recognized as medical issues requiring professional care. On social media platforms, thousands now share their own experiences visiting sleep clinics – detailing their diagnoses and recovery processes – a phenomenon that has generated widespread public discourse on sleep health.

Lei Haichao, head of the National Health Commission, recently announced that sleep and mental health clinics are expected to be available in every prefecture-level city across China by the end of 2025. Many public hospitals have already initiated such services in recent years.

Sleep disorders have emerged as a significant public health concern in China. The 2025 China Sleep Health Survey Report, released by the China Sleep Big Data Center, reveals that adults aged 18 and above average between 7.06 and 7.18 hours of sleep per night, with nearly half (48.5 percent) experiencing sleep disturbances.

Notably, women are more affected than men, and the prevalence of sleep issues increases with age. Additionally, younger individuals tend to go to bed later, with 57.3 percent of those born after 2000 and 49.4 percent of those born in the 1990s falling asleep after midnight.

Sleep disorders encompass various conditions, including insomnia, obstructive sleep apnea and circadian rhythm disorders. Accurate diagnosis often requires polysomnography and other specialized tools.

Highlighting the health risks associated with sleep disorders, Dr He Guohua, chief neurologist at Changsha Central Hospital in central China's Hunan Province, told CMG that these conditions can lead to cognitive impairments such as memory decline and slowed reactions, adversely affecting daily life and work efficiency.

"They may also cause metabolic disruptions, elevating risks of chronic conditions like hypertension and obesity, increasing the likelihood of cardiovascular disease, and weakening the immune system – heightening susceptibility to infections and tumors," said the doctor.

Reflecting growing public awareness and demand for treatment, China's sleep health industry is experiencing rapid growth. According to the report mentioned above, the market size expanded from 261.63 billion yuan (roughly $36 billion) in 2016 to 495.58 billion yuan (roughly $68 billion) in 2023, reflecting an 8.6 percent year-on-year increase. Projections suggest the market could surpass the one-trillion-yuan threshold by 2030.

Heightened awareness has spurred expansion in the sleep aid market, including melatonin supplements, non-invasive ventilators, and oral appliances. The pursuit of better sleep quality has also driven demand for products like noise-canceling earplugs, smart sleep-monitoring wristbands and sleep-assisting apps. Industry reports indicate a shift toward greater intelligence, specialization and cross-sector integration in the sleep health sector.