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Climate change is no longer limited to weather patterns; it’s also clearly impacting people’s sleep. According to a new analysis, rising temperatures are causing people worldwide to lose an average of 56 hours of sleep each year. The greatest impact is seen in areas where nighttime temperatures are consistently rising. Experts say that sleep deprivation can lead to a number of serious health problems, including heart disease, mental health issues, weakened immune systems, and decreased productivity.

**1,338 major cities included**

The analysis, conducted by Climate Central, included 1,338 major cities worldwide, including 107 in India. The report identifies India as one of the countries most affected by the impact of climate change on sleep. People living in southern Indian cities, in particular, are losing 78 to 91 hours of sleep each year, with 8 to 9 hours of this loss being directly attributed to climate change.

**Which cities are most affected?**

According to the report, Tamil Nadu is the most affected state, with climate change causing an average annual loss of 7.9 hours of sleep per person. Among the country’s major metropolises, Chennai is the most affected, with residents losing approximately 93 hours of sleep annually. Next comes Mumbai, with an estimated 84 hours of sleep loss, and then Kolkata, with an 80-hour loss.

Cities like Bengaluru and Dehradun—once known for their cool nights—are now experiencing rising temperatures. The report shows that in the 1970s, Bengaluru residents were losing approximately 59 hours of sleep each year, and this figure is projected to increase to 67 hours by 2025. Of this, an additional 8 hours of sleep loss is directly linked to climate change—a significant increase in the country’s major metropolises. Meanwhile, Dehradun has seen a nearly 10 percent increase in sleep loss over the past five years. People living in 22 cities in Maharashtra are losing an average of 76.3 hours of sleep each year, of which 5.8 hours is due to climate change. Similarly, in 11 cities in Uttar Pradesh, the annual sleep loss is approximately 69 hours, of which 4.9 hours is directly linked to rising temperatures.

**Sleep Loss Has At Least Doubled**

The report shows that sleep loss due to rising temperatures has at least doubled compared to the 1970s. The greatest impact worldwide has been seen in cities in the Middle East, although parts of South India and Southeast Asia are also prominent. Researchers believe that if nighttime temperatures continue to rise at this rate, sleep- problems and the associated health challenges could become even more severe in the coming years.