“No DNA Just RSA”: SA Ranked Number 1 for Waking Up Early in the World at 6:24 AM
- South Africa has been ranked as the country that wakes up the earliest in the entire world
- The same study shows that South Africans also get the least amount of sleep out of every country in the world
- A Western Cape content creator joked that the early wake-up times are because of the Hadedas
- Briefly News spoke to medical expert Jayshri Rangasamy regarding the importance of sleep and work-life balance
Source: Facebook
South Africa took the top spot for waking up the earliest in the entire world at 6:24 AM on average. A Western Cape content creator shared the news on 12 November 2025, saying that SA just keep winning even though the country also gets the least amount of sleep globally. @Cool Story Bru posted the video with the caption:
"Number one in the world again, let's go 😤😂🇿🇦 South Africans wake up earlier than any other group of people in the world 👀🇿🇦"
In the video, the man joked that South Africans wake up early because of the Hadedas. He explained that according to World Population Review, which used data from Sleep Cycle, South Africans wake up at 6:24 AM on average. He pointed out that this is just an average, so many people wake up way earlier than that.
The same study shows that South Africans get the least amount of sleep out of every country in the world.
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"That may not be healthy, but at least we're number one again. Let's go. No DNA, just RSA," he said.
Source: Facebook
Mzansi reacts to the ranking
People flooded the comments section with their thoughts.
@Harold Mucocutaneous LeishmaniasisLayne said:
"'That may not be healthy, but at least we number 1 again' 🤣🤣🪦"
@Tsoeu John Mokhali wrote:
"Some of us only sleep for three hours 🤦♂️ or should I say, just take a nap? 😭"
@Ronny Msizi Peter shared:
"Those who work wake up at 4:30-5:30, that 06:24 it's for the unemployed, and no, we don't sleep, check the comments on TikTok, you'll see😂"
@Kamohelo Welcome Moleko added:
"On average, if ever I got to bed before 9:30 pm, by 2 am I'm already up. Every single day. I don't even need an alarm, it's like my body has its own alarm."
@Leemo Atumane said:
"My friend from Germany, who was visiting SA in December, used to complain about how early we wake up 🤣"
@Kat V. Maelane wrote:
"And here I thought it was a bad thing, we're number one. No DNA, just RSA 😭😭🔥"
South Africans clock fewer hours sleeping
According to BusinessTech, the data concerning the world's sleeping patterns comes from sleep tracking app Sleep Cycle and is based on 941,329 men and women who shared their sleeping patterns voluntarily and anonymously through the app over the past year. The app tracks sleep time and sleep quality by tracking movements in bed using a smartphone's accelerometer to identify sleep phases.
South Africa's average wake-up time is 6:24 AM, the earliest out of all countries where Sleep Cycle is used. The country's bedtime is also in the top 20 latest, placing 16th at 12:20 AM. This means South Africans enjoy just over six hours of sleep a night, the lowest average sleep time recorded in Sleep Cycle's data.
Speaking to Briefly News writer, Nerissa Naidoo, medical expert Jayshri Rangasamy discussed the importance of sleep and work-life balance. She stated:
"Getting enough sleep and maintaining a good work-life balance are essential for overall health. Lack of rest and constant stress can lead to burnout, weaken the immune system, and increase the risk of chronic illnesses, so prioritizing both helps keep your body and mind strong and resilient. When you balance work demands with time for relaxation and personal interests, you improve your focus, productivity, and mood. Ultimately, this balance supports long-term well-being and a higher quality of life."
Watch the Facebook clip here.
More South African rankings
- Briefly News recently reported on the most difficult degrees in South Africa and the institutions offering competitive courses.
- The list of the most hijacked cars in South Africa in 2025 has been released, with bakkies like the Toyota Hilux remaining at the top.
- A recent global study identified Pietermaritzburg as the most dangerous city in the world in 2025.
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Source: Briefly News
Nerissa Naidoo (Human Interest Editor) Nerissa Naidoo is a writer and editor with seven years of experience. Currently, she is a human interest writer at Briefly News and joined the publication in 2024. She began her career contributing to Morning Lazziness and later joined Featherpen.org. As a TUW ghostwriter, she focused on non-fiction, while her editorial roles at National Today and Entail.ai honed her skills in content accuracy and expert-driven editing. You can reach her at nerissa.naidoo@briefly.co.za
Jayshri Rangasamy (Medical Scientist - Pharmacologist - Clinical Team Lead) Jayshri Rangasamy, Fortrea's Clinical Operations Delivery Leader, oversees the company's Clinical Team. She has extensive experience in both infectious diseases (tuberculosis, Ebola, COVID-19) and non-infectious diseases (cardiovascular, endocrinology, and gastroenterology), as well as oncology (lung cancer, hematologic malignancies). Rangasamy, who holds a MS and BS in Pharmacology and Human Physiology from the University of Pretoria, is an advocate for empathetic leadership. She's also a certified Latin and ballroom dancer.
