In 2024, around 67,200 people in Germany were treated in hospitals for sleep disorders. According to a statement from the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) on Tuesday, the number of inpatient stays for sleep disorders has dropped significantly over the past two decades-a decrease of 59 percent. For comparison, 165,400 patients received inpatient care for sleep disorders in 2004.
Sleep disorder diagnoses include conditions such as sleep apnea, difficulties falling asleep or staying asleep, circadian rhythm disturbances, or pathologically increased sleep needs. Despite the overall reduction, the 2024 figure represented the second-lowest count in the last twenty years, following 62,300 cases in 2022. This decline is likely attributable to the increasing integration of outpatient care, allowing patients to be treated in sleep laboratories or at home.
Demographically, men are more frequently admitted to hospitals for sleep disorders. In 2024, 68 percent of the cases involved men, while women accounted for 32 percent. This gender gap has narrowed significantly compared to two decades ago, when men made up 78 percent of the cases. The majority of patients admitted to hospitals for sleep disorders are middle-aged or older; 58 percent of those treated in 2024 were between the ages of 50 and 74.
