Countries Where Siestas Are Sacred—And 5 That Never Nap

Spain: The Birthplace of the Sacred Siesta

Spain stands as the most famous siesta nation, where 16.2 percent of Spaniards polled claimed to take a nap "daily", whereas 22 percent did so "sometimes" according to a 2009 survey. Traditionally, Spaniards take a break in the early afternoon, often from 2 pm to 5 pm, to rest and escape the midday heat.

However, this tradition is evolving with modern life. This practice, however, is on the decline due to modern work schedules and long commutes.

Physiologist Maria Ángeles Bonmatí, a researcher at the Carlos III Health Institute in Madrid, recently co-authored a study showing that 70 percent of Spaniards aged 18 to 34 do not observe the custom and that only 10 percent take a siesta on both work and leisure days. Despite this decline, the siesta remains deeply embedded in Spanish culture, particularly in southern regions like Andalusia where the heat makes afternoon rest almost essential.

Italy: The Riposo Tradition Lives On

In Italy, the siesta is known as riposo. Italians value this midday break as a time to enjoy a home-cooked meal and spend time with family.

Depending on your location, riposo may take place anywhere from 1 pm to 5 pm. What makes Italy's approach unique is its emphasis on family connection during this time.

Many shops and stores will close during this time. Shop owners and workers may go home, enjoy a delicious lunch, and savor time away from work.

The riposo serves as more than just a nap—it's a cultural institution that prioritizes work-life balance and family bonds over constant productivity.

Greece: The "Good Afternoon" Rest

In Greece, the siesta is referred to as "Kalo Mesimeri," which translates to "Good Afternoon." This tradition is deeply respected, especially in non-touristy areas. The Greek government even established the "Hours of Common Silence" to ensure a quiet environment for resting.

Between 2 pm and 3 to 5 pm, Greek banks, shops, offices, stores, and restaurants take a break to rest. This government-sanctioned quiet time shows how seriously Greece takes its midday rest culture, making it one of the most institutionalized siesta traditions in the world.

China: The Workplace Nap Revolution

In China, taking a nap after lunch, known as 午睡 (noon sleep), is a common practice among people. Surveys indicate that about two-thirds of the Chinese population habitually takes afternoon naps, with the average duration being approximately 30 minutes.

China's approach to napping is particularly workplace-focused. So you'll often find employees of large corporations rolling out their sleeping bags and taking a nap after lunch.

In some cities, you can even find nap pods to rent for a quick 30-minute nap (or longer). Chinese companies actively encourage napping as a productivity tool rather than viewing it as laziness.

Nigeria: Practical Afternoon Rest

In Nigeria, siestas are a practical solution to the country's challenging work conditions. Long commutes and extended work hours often lead to sleep deprivation, which can negatively impact health.

By taking a short nap in the afternoon, Nigerians can reduce stress and improve overall well-being. Nigeria's siesta culture demonstrates how midday rest adapts to local circumstances, serving as both a cultural practice and a health necessity in challenging work environments.

Philippines: Spanish Colonial Legacy

Philippines: The tradition of idlip (short nap) is a remnant of Spanish influence. The tradition of siesta in the Philippines, known as idlip (short nap), is a legacy of Spanish influence.

Filipinos, both adults and children, often take a short nap after a heavy meal or a busy morning. This practice is especially common after fiestas, when a quick rest can help refresh the body.

The siesta remains a beloved part of Filipino culture, providing a much-needed break in the day. The Philippines showcases how colonial influence can create lasting cultural practices that persist centuries later.

Egypt: The Taaseela Tradition

In Egypt, as with other Middle Eastern countries, government workers typically work for six hours a day, six days a week. Due to this schedule, workers do not eat lunch at work, but instead leave work around 2 pm and eat their main meal, which is the heaviest, at lunchtime.

Following the heavy lunch, they take a taaseela or nap and have tea upon waking up. Egypt's structured approach to midday rest shows how entire work schedules can be built around the need for afternoon recovery time, creating a government-sanctioned siesta culture.

Latin America: The Spanish Heritage

Siesta has therefore been adopted across Central and South America and the Mediterranean. Countries that have adopted siesta are known to be more relaxed regarding time.

Spain and Italy are hardly alone in this — other countries close to the equator, like Greece, Mexico, Ecuador, the Philippines, Costa Rica and Nigeria, all observe similar hours. Latin American countries maintain their siesta traditions as part of their Spanish colonial heritage, adapting the practice to local climates and work patterns while preserving the cultural emphasis on midday rest.

United States: The Non-Napping Giant

A fast pace is engraved into American culture because of our roots in true free-market capitalism where we "pull ourselves up by the bootstraps," originally stemming from hard-working immigrants who took every opportunity as a gift to create a better life. However, those who take naps and breaks might be seen as lazy and falling behind; punctuality is important and days are distinctly scheduled.

Once industrialization gave way to office jobs and cozy offices for many, naps at work were seen as a sign of weakness in some cultures like the United States. But what about the rest of the world?

Despite some progressive companies like Google introducing nap pods, American culture fundamentally views daytime sleeping as unproductive.

United Kingdom: The Sleep-Deprived Island

Following the findings that loss of sleep could be costing the UK £40bn a year, is it time to make a change to our sleeping habits? The UK represents the epitome of non-napping culture, where workplace napping is virtually unheard of.

Nearly one third of Britons said they sleep most nights with no clothing on, a much higher percentage than any other country surveyed. British work culture emphasizes continuous productivity throughout the day, with tea breaks serving as the primary form of midday refreshment rather than actual rest.

The idea of workplace napping remains foreign to most British workers.

Germany: The Efficiency-Focused Nation

Germany's work culture prioritizes efficiency and structured productivity over midday rest. Spanish workers put in more hours than the annual average among European Union countries, while sleeping fewer minutes each day than their counterparts in major EU nations such as France, Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands.

Germans get more sleep at night but rarely nap during work hours. German work culture values punctuality and continuous focus during business hours, making workplace napping culturally inappropriate.

The nation's industrial heritage has created a work ethic that views midday rest as inefficient.

Japan: The Paradox of Inemuri

Japan presents a fascinating contradiction—it's both a non-napping culture and a napping culture simultaneously. In Japan, inemuri, or "sleeping while present," is a corporate culture normality where workers can doze off in a meeting or at their desks without being accused of sleeping since they're not in bed.

It is also normal for people to take a nap in the subway, restaurant or any public space. On the contrary, it's a sign of hard work and dedication, as it's believed that the person who can nap anytime, anywhere is truly devoted to their job.

It's usually done in public places like the office or public transportation and is not seen as rude or impolite. However, this isn't traditional napping—it's exhaustion-induced micro-sleeping from overwork.

South Korea: The Workaholic Nation

South Korea exemplifies the non-napping culture of East Asia, where long work hours and intense competition leave little room for midday rest. The more time you spend there, the more places in which you'll see normal, everyday-looking folks fast asleep: parks, coffee shops, bookstores, even the workplace during office hours.

People in Korea, where I live, have also been known to fall asleep in places not normally associated with sleeping, but the Japanese take it to such a level that they've actually got a word for it: inemuri. Korean work culture emphasizes continuous productivity and face-time at the office, making structured napping culturally unacceptable despite widespread exhaustion among workers.

France: The Long Lunch Without the Nap

In practice, France doesn't have a siesta tradition. However, it is common for lunch breaks to be around two hours in France, which is considered some form of siesta.

France represents an interesting middle ground—extended lunch breaks without institutionalized napping. French work culture values proper meal times and social interaction during lunch, but the emphasis remains on dining and conversation rather than rest.

The two-hour lunch break serves social and culinary purposes rather than sleep restoration.

The Health Science Behind Sacred Siestas

The siesta habit has been associated with a 37 percent reduction in coronary mortality, possibly due to reduced cardiovascular stress mediated by daytime sleep. A 30-minute daytime nap can lower cortisol (stress hormone) levels in the body.

Research has shown that the siesta can reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases, stroke, and diabetes, as well as boost the immune system and lower blood pressure. Modern research increasingly supports the health benefits of strategic napping, suggesting that countries maintaining siesta traditions may have stumbled upon an important wellness practice.

Bonmatí notes its positive effects on metabolism and blood pressure, while a 2023 study by scientists at the University of London points to increased brain volume (an important factor in mental well-being, as well as a brake on dementia) and improved learning capacity. The world remains divided between those who honor the afternoon rest as sacred time and those who view it as lost productivity.

While Spain, Italy, and Greece cling to their siesta traditions despite modern pressures, nations like the United States, United Kingdom, and Germany continue to prioritize non-stop work culture. The irony is striking—as science increasingly validates the health benefits of midday napping, the countries that need it most seem least willing to embrace it.

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