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Are you feeling fatigued?
Whether it’s due to a restless night or the stress of a demanding job, exhaustion can take a toll on your productivity and well-being. Interestingly, your level of fatigue may be influenced by where you live.
Our analysis reveals which states are the most sleep-deprived, highlighting a significant need for rest in various regions.
The Most Exhausted States
West Virginia ranks as the most fatigued state, with five southern states appearing in the top ten. The correlation between location and sleep deprivation is evident.
Continue reading to discover how we identified these sleep-deprived states, or scroll to the end to see your state’s ranking.
How We Determined The Most Exhausted States
We evaluated multiple factors to determine both the quantity and quality of sleep across states.
We ranked each state from 1 to 50 based on five criteria:
- Hours worked (more hours mean less time for sleep)
- Percentage of residents commuting 60 minutes or more to work (longer commutes equal less sleep)
- Obesity rates (higher obesity often correlates with poorer sleep quality)
- Percentage of people getting 7 or more hours of sleep (more sleep is better)
- Percentage of residents working between 12:00 a.m. and 4:59 a.m. (late-night shifts are linked to poor sleep)
Data on hours worked, commuting patterns, and work hours were sourced from the Census Bureau’s most recent American Community Survey. Obesity statistics and average sleep hours were obtained from the CDC.
If you’re too worn out to delve deeper, feel free to jump to the end for your state’s ranking. Otherwise, read on to learn what keeps these states from getting quality sleep.
1. West Virginia
People getting more than 7 hours sleep: 62%
Commute 60+ minutes: 9%
Obesity: 39.5%
West Virginia is the state most in need of restful sleep. Alarmingly, only 38% of residents achieve over 7 hours of sleep nightly, contributing to widespread fatigue. Challenges such as high obesity rates and early work hours diminish both the quantity and quality of sleep.
2. Louisiana
People getting more than 7 hours sleep: 64%
Commute 60+ minutes: 8%
Obesity: 36.8%
The Bayou State ranks second for exhaustion, with residents working longer hours than the national average, resulting in less time for sleep.
3. Maryland
People getting more than 7 hours sleep: 61%
Commute 60+ minutes: 16%
Obesity: 30.9%
Maryland ranks third for sleep deprivation. Long work hours coupled with 15% of residents commuting over an hour for work means they spend an exhausting 10 hours weekly commuting instead of sleeping.
4. Mississippi
People getting more than 7 hours sleep: 63%
Commute 60+ minutes: 6.8%
Obesity: 39.5%
Mississippi residents face significant fatigue, driven by obesity rates and a prevalence of early shifts that hinder quality sleep.
5. Georgia
People getting more than 7 hours sleep: 61.3%
Commute 60+ minutes: 10.8%
Obesity: 32.5%
In Georgia, a notable 10% of residents endure lengthy commutes, leaving many of the 38% who sleep less than 7 hours nightly longing for more time in bed.
6. Alabama
People getting more than 7 hours sleep: 61.2%
Commute 60+ minutes: 6.2%
Obesity: 36.2%
Alabama ranks sixth in exhaustion, mirroring the challenges of its southern neighbors with high obesity rates and shift work that contribute to poor sleep quality.
7. Texas
People getting more than 7 hours sleep: 67%
Commute 60+ minutes: 8.3%
Obesity: 34.8%
In Texas, while 67% of residents manage to get over 7 hours of sleep, the remaining 33% struggle, often relying on caffeine to cope with fatigue.
8. Tennessee
People getting more than 7 hours sleep: 62.9%
Commute 60+ minutes: 6.4%
Obesity: 34.4%
Tennessee ranks eighth, with high obesity rates contributing to difficulty in achieving restorative sleep, affecting nearly 38% of residents who fall short of 7 hours.
9. Virginia
People getting more than 7 hours sleep: 64%
Commute 60+ minutes: 10.4%
Obesity: 30.4%
Virginia shares similar issues with Maryland—long working hours and extended commutes lead to insufficient sleep for many residents, particularly those commuting over an hour daily.
10. Hawaii
People getting more than 7 hours sleep: 56.1%
Commute 60+ minutes: 10.1%
Obesity: 24.9%
Despite its idyllic image, Hawaii ranks as the least rested state, with nearly 44% of residents averaging under 7 hours of sleep.
Final Thoughts on the Most Exhausted States
Prolonged work hours, extensive commutes, and insufficient sleep make these the ten most exhausted states. A significant portion of these states lies in the South, marking it as the most fatigued region in the U.S.
This raises an important question: where in the U.S. are residents enjoying restful nights and waking up rejuvenated? Check out the list below or scroll further for the full rankings.
The Most Well-Rested States
The Most Exhausted States
| Rank | State |
|---|---|
| 1 | West Virginia |
| 2 | Louisiana |
| 3 | Maryland |
| 4 | Mississippi |
| 5 | Georgia |
| 6 | Alabama |
| 7 | Texas |
| 8 | Tennessee |
| 9 | Virginia |
| 10 | Hawaii |
| 11 | Kentucky |
| 11 | Indiana |
| 13 | Illinois |
| 14 | Arkansas |
| 15 | Pennsylvania |
| 16 | Delaware |
| 17 | South Carolina |
| 18 | Washington |
| 19 | California |
| 20 | Arizona |
| 21 | Florida |
| 22 | New York |
| 23 | Michigan |
| 24 | Oklahoma |
| 25 | New Jersey |
| 26 | New Hampshire |
| 27 | Nevada |
| 28 | Missouri |
| 29 | North Carolina |
| 30 | Maine |
| 31 | Ohio |
| 32 | Wisconsin |
| 33 | Massachusetts |
| 33 | Wyoming |
| 35 | Alaska |
| 36 | Iowa |
| 37 | North Dakota |
| 38 | Colorado |
| 39 | Oregon |
| 40 | Connecticut |
| 41 | Rhode Island |
| 41 | Kansas |
| 43 | New Mexico |
| 44 | Nebraska |
| 45 | Minnesota |
| 46 | Idaho |
| 47 | South Dakota |
| 48 | Utah |
| 49 | Vermont |
| 50 | Montana |
Author
Kathy is the head of content at Zippia with a knack for engaging audiences. Prior to joining Zippia, Kathy worked at Gateway Blend growing audiences across diverse brands. She graduated from Troy University with a degree in Social Science Education.
