Snoring and sleep apnea statistics

Snoring is very common and obstructive sleep apnea is far more common than its diagnosis rate suggests. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine says nearly 30 million US adults have sleep apnea and most of them don't know it. The figures below come from the AASM, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and peer-reviewed studies, each with its population, year and source.

What are the key snoring and sleep apnea numbers?

This table collects the headline snoring and sleep apnea figures on this page, with the group each one describes and its source.

How common is snoring?

The AASM's Sleep Education site says about 40 percent of adult men and 24 percent of adult women are habitual snorers.

A 1993 study in the New England Journal of Medicine of 602 working adults aged 30 to 60 found that habitual snorers, both men and women, tended to have a higher rate of an apnea-hypopnea score of 15 or more, the threshold for moderate sleep apnea.

How common is sleep apnea?

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine said in 2021 that nearly 30 million US adults have obstructive sleep apnea.

A 2013 study in the American Journal of Epidemiology, using Wisconsin Sleep Cohort data, estimated moderate to severe sleep-disordered breathing in 10% of men aged 30 to 49 and 17% of men aged 50 to 70.

The same 2013 study estimated moderate to severe sleep-disordered breathing in 3% of women aged 30 to 49 and 9% of women aged 50 to 70.

The 2013 study found these rates had risen over two decades, with relative increases of between 14% and 55% depending on the group.

A 2021 scientific statement from the American Heart Association says approximately 34% of middle-aged men and 17% of middle-aged women meet the diagnostic criteria for obstructive sleep apnea.

A 2019 analysis in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine estimated that 936 million adults aged 30 to 69 worldwide have mild to severe obstructive sleep apnea and 425 million have moderate to severe disease. The study was funded by ResMed.

The 2019 Lancet Respiratory Medicine analysis found the number of people affected was highest in China, followed by the US, Brazil and India.

The 2019 analysis drew on 17 studies from 16 countries and found prevalence above 50% in some countries.

NHLBI says about 50 to 70 million Americans have a sleep disorder of some kind.

How many sleep apnea cases go undiagnosed?

The AASM says about 23.5 million of the nearly 30 million US adults with obstructive sleep apnea are undiagnosed.

In a 2025 news release, the AASM said approximately 80% of sleep apnea cases in the US are left undiagnosed.

In a 2021 AASM survey of 2,006 US adults, 26% said they were not at all familiar with obstructive sleep apnea and 48% said they did not know its symptoms.

The 2021 American Heart Association statement says obstructive sleep apnea is often underrecognized and undertreated in cardiovascular practice.

What are the risk factors for sleep apnea?

A 1993 study in the New England Journal of Medicine found male sex and obesity were strongly associated with sleep-disordered breathing in 602 adults aged 30 to 60.

In the 1993 study, sleep-disordered breathing with an apnea-hypopnea score of 5 or more was found in 9 percent of women and 24 percent of men.

The same 1993 study estimated that 2 percent of women and 4 percent of men in the middle-aged workforce met the minimal criteria for sleep apnea syndrome, which adds daytime sleepiness to the breathing score.

NHLBI says sleep apnea can happen at any age but the risk increases as you get older, and that men are more likely to have serious sleep apnea and to be diagnosed younger than women.

NHLBI lists family history, obesity, drinking alcohol, smoking and some endocrine conditions among the factors that raise the risk of obstructive sleep apnea.

The AASM says between 30 and 40 percent of adults with high blood pressure also have sleep apnea.

The 2021 American Heart Association statement says obstructive sleep apnea prevalence is as high as 40% to 80% in people with high blood pressure, heart failure, coronary artery disease, pulmonary hypertension, atrial fibrillation and stroke.

A 2000 study in the New England Journal of Medicine of 709 Wisconsin Sleep Cohort adults found that an apnea-hypopnea index of 15 or more at baseline carried 2.89 times the odds of high blood pressure four years later, compared with none.

In the 2000 study, an apnea-hypopnea index of 5 to 14.9 at baseline carried 2.03 times the odds of high blood pressure four years later.

How common are snoring and sleep apnea in children?

A 2008 review in the Proceedings of the American Thoracic Society estimated that 1.5 to 6% of children always snore, by parent report.

The same 2008 review estimated that obstructive sleep apnea affects 1 to 4% of children when diagnosed by sleep study, and put parent-reported snoring by any definition at 7.45%.

The 2008 review estimated that parents report breathing pauses during sleep in 0.2 to 4% of children.

The 2008 review found sleep-disordered breathing is more common in boys than girls and in heavier children.

A 2012 American Academy of Pediatrics technical report found the prevalence of childhood obstructive sleep apnea syndrome ranged from 0% to 5.7% across studies, with obesity an independent risk factor.

The 2012 American Academy of Pediatrics guideline recommends that all children and adolescents be screened for snoring.

NHLBI says sleep apnea in children is most common between ages 2 and 8, and is often caused by large tonsils or adenoids.

How does snoring affect bed partners?

In a 2021 AASM survey of 2,006 US adults, nearly 70% of Americans who sleep with a bed partner said their partner snores.

In a 2025 AASM survey of 2,007 US adults, 31% said they had opted for what's been called a sleep divorce, with adults aged 35 to 44 the most likely at 39% and those 65 or older the least likely at 18%.

In the 2025 AASM survey, 37% said they go to sleep at a different time than they'd like to fit a bed partner's schedule.

A 1999 study in Mayo Clinic Proceedings of 10 married couples found the spouses' median sleep efficiency rose from 74% to 87% when the snoring partner's snoring and sleep apnea were treated with CPAP midway through the night.

Assuming 480 minutes in bed, the authors of the 1999 study estimated that this gain works out to an additional 62 minutes of sleep a night for the spouse.

Loud snoring with pauses, gasping or daytime sleepiness can be a sign of sleep apnea, which needs a doctor's diagnosis. Our guide to sleep apnea warning signs lists what to look for.

How we compiled this page

We checked every figure on this page against the original AASM, NHLBI or American Heart Association page, or the study abstract, on the date shown at the top. Drafting was AI-assisted and reviewed by our editorial team, as described in our editorial policy. If a figure changes or we got something wrong, we'll correct it.

Read next

• Snoring vs. sleep apnea
• Home sleep apnea tests
• Sleeping next to a snorer

* This content is for informational and educational purposes only and is not medical advice. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease or health condition. Talk to a qualified healthcare provider about your health.