In China, a colossal market of 500 billion yuan is emerging from a collective awareness: sleeping well has become an imperative necessity.
An AI-based sleep monitoring device is used to treat sleep disorders.
Good sleep is worth gold. In our society where everything is accelerating, restorative rest has become an obsession, even a luxury. To achieve this, no more counting sheep! The hunt for insomnia now involves a range of remedies and technologies, from herbal infusions to smart mattresses.
Zhang Hanfei, 24, from Shanghai, says: “I have suffered from insomnia about three nights a week since I entered the working world two years ago. I have been using sleep aid products for over a month because insomnia has really affected my work and life. I treat myself to a bath and foot massage before bed, and wear a warming eye mask to help me relax. I also drink a daily wellness infusion made from plants, such as jujube, pachyme, lily bulb, longan and chamomile. » In traditional Chinese medicine, dried longan, a fruit from southern China, is known for soothing the nervous system and promoting sleep. “These products are quite effective. Many people around me are also testing this type of solution. For us, it is a first step before taking the plunge towards medication or consulting a specialist. »
Modernization of the sector
His case is far from isolated. According to the 2025 China Sleep Health Survey Report, jointly released in March by the China Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the China Sleep Big Data Center, 48.5 percent of people aged 18 and above suffer from sleep disorders.
The 2024 White Paper on Sleep Health of Chinese Residents, released by the China Sleep Research Society (CSRS), shows that Chinese people fall asleep after midnight on average with a sleep duration of only 6.75 hours per night, far below the eight hours recommended by the World Health Organization. Sleep disorders among young people are becoming increasingly worrying: difficulty falling asleep is the most common problem among people born in the 2000s, 1990s and 1980s, affecting 22%, 26% and 20% of each age group respectively.
“Sleep health is a public health issue that affects social productivity and collective happiness,” said Yuan Xiangshan, deputy secretary general of the SCRS, during a seminar organized on August 16 in Hangzhou (Zhejiang). “In recent years, more and more people are turning to sleep aid products. If the market is growing rapidly, the focus must now be on improving the quality of these products. For businesses, this means adopting innovative concepts and technological approaches. The goal is to provide more scientific, systematic and accessible solutions for healthy sleep. This is an essential step in the modernization of the sector. »
A smart mattress to improve sleep on display at the Appliance & Electronics World Expo 2024 in Shanghai, March 14, 2024
A booming sleep economy
Faced with the generalization of sleep disorders and increased sensitivity to health issues, the “sleep economy” has experienced meteoric growth. According to the 2024 Sleep Health Product Innovation and Consumer Trends Report, released by data analysis agency iiMedia Research, the industry almost doubled from 2016 to 2023, from 262 billion yuan to 496 billion yuan, and is likely to exceed 500 billion yuan by the end of 2024.
A report on e-commerce relating to this sector, from the data management agency Nint, shows that sales of sleep-helping bedding products had increased by 13% year-on-year in March 2025. Basic items (duvets, pillows, mattresses) are showing strong growth, while earplugs lead the trend (+22%), closely followed by scented candles, both new flagship products in the sector.
Niche segments are not left out. With the aging of the population (one in five Chinese is over 60), sales of products aimed at seniors had tripled by the start of 2025, according to the Nint report. To treat light sleep and nighttime awakenings, these formulas often incorporate traditional ingredients such as goji berries. Products designed for women combine improved sleep and beauty benefits, such as gelled supplements with collagen and hyaluronic acid. Students favor blackout dorm curtains and noise-canceling earplugs, while business travelers gravitate toward foldable neck pillows and mini aroma diffusers. Families with young children opt for light scent diffusers or temperature-regulated sleeping bags.
“Before experiencing insomnia, I didn’t know that such a variety of products existed,” says Zhang Hanfei. “While searching for aroma diffusers for sleep on RedNote, I discovered influencers who detailed the virtues of each fragrance: one for falling asleep, another against nighttime awakenings, frequent dreams or light sleep. Today, we target our problem by smell. » The hashtag #ArômesSommeil had more than 100 million views at the time of writing.
Technological advances are modernizing the sector. Nint’s report identifies two promising categories: wearable wearables and smart mattresses. Smart bracelets and watches no longer just record sleep duration and cycles. Combined with applications, they analyze data and suggest personalized improvements such as the ideal bedtime or lifestyle adjustments. Smart mattresses innovate more radically. Some adopt the zero-gravity position for better comfort, others modulate their firmness in real time according to the sleep phases, thus optimizing support and relaxation.
Smart ring for monitoring sleep apnea at the venue of the 2025 World Intelligent Industry Expo in Chongqing, September 7, 2025.
Towards professionalized services
Along with the growth of the product market, sleep management services are beginning to become standardized. The profession of “sleep health manager” is now recognized by China’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security in an update to national occupational classifications.
“The official recognition of this profession has profound meaning,” said Han Fang, director of the Somnology Center at the People’s Hospital of Peking University, to People’s Daily. “Sleep medicine in China has long remained on the interdisciplinary margins of pulmonology and neurology, among others. The lack of specialist doctors and insufficient health insurance coverage have limited diagnostic capabilities, despite growing demand. »
The role of the sleep health manager is to support individuals or groups in monitoring, analyzing and evaluating their sleep, while providing consultations, advice and interventions regarding sleep-related risk factors. According to the People’s Daily, of around 300 million people suffering from sleep disorders in China, 150 million require active treatment. This growing demand could be partially met by the 3,500 hospital establishments that the SCRS identifies across the country. However, this service faces a glaring shortage of more than 100,000 qualified professionals with coverage of less than 5% in the community setting. In addition, the sector is hampered by the absence of uniform service standards and a training system that is still in its infancy.
“The creation of this new profession will make it possible to establish professional standards and benchmarks, while strengthening the practical and communication skills, as well as the professional ethics of practitioners,” notes Mr. Han. “It will also promote the construction of a structured training system, integrating both fundamental theoretical lessons and practical implementation. »
“In a few years, bachelor’s and master’s courses will strengthen the academic legitimacy of these emerging professions, while a clear and evolving career framework will offer prospects for progression for both existing professionals and new recruits,” he adds.
*ZHANG YAGE is a journalist at
