Overthinking Nations: Which Countries Worry the Most?

Key highlights from the study:

• South Africa tops the list as the world’s biggest overthinkers

• The UK, Germany and Japan are the nations least prone to overthinking

• Globally, people spend an average of 89 minutes a day overthinking

• Money and finances are the leading causes of overthinking around the world

• One in seven people don’t realise that many life insurance policies include extra benefits like mental health support and counselling

Everyone worries occasionally – about money, relationships or the future. But when those thoughts become constant, they can affect daily life, disrupting sleep, focus and overall wellbeing.

To dig deeper into overthinking habits, we surveyed more than 3,800 people across 20 countries – looking at how much time they spend dwelling on the past or worrying about the future, and what triggers these kinds of thoughts.

South Africa Tops the Global Overthinking Index

South Africa tops the list when it comes to overthinking. According to our recent survey findings, a staggering 75% of South Africans admit to overthinking either often or very often, the highest rate in the world. Following closely behind are Poland (71%) and Greece (70%), with Mexico (68%) and Portugal (67%) rounding out the top five.

Europe dominates the top 10, with six countries – Poland, Greece, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland and France – among the most frequent overthinkers

Even in Germany – the least overthinking nation – more than half (54%) of people admit to overthinking, showing just how widespread the habit is.

Countries That Overthink the Most (Self-Reported Often or Very Often)

The World Spends 89 Minutes a Day Overthinking

People all over the world are spending more time than ever overthinking, with the average person spending nearly an hour and a half each day dwelling on areas of their lives often out of their control.

That’s over 10 hours a week, or the equivalent of 22 days each year wasted overthinking.

In South Africa, the country most prone to overthinking, people spend a colossal 135 minutes per day doing it, around 50% more than the global average. That equates to roughly the same amount of time spent worrying as watching two episodes of your favourite TV show.

Which Country Spends the Most Time Overthinking Each Day

What Are We Overthinking About?

While some nations feel a level of anxiety about the future, many are dwelling on the past, and for many, it’s a mix of both.

Globally, two in five people (40%) say they mostly overthink the future, worrying about what’s to come, while 22% are fixated on the past, replaying old memories and awkward moments.

The present is a worry for one in ten (10%) people, while more than a quarter (28%) overthink them all in equal measure.

Future-Focused Nations

Countries such as Mexico (52%), Portugal (52%), and the Netherlands (49%) lead the way when it comes to focussing on the future, with a clear tendency to think ahead to what’s coming next.

Switzerland (49%), Greece (42%), France (41%), and Spain (41%) also fall into the same group, showing a clear trend across Europe, possibly driven by social, political, and economic uncertainty.

Past Dwellers

In Italy (28%), Japan (28%), and Poland (28%), people are more likely to focus on the past, often looking back, feeling nostalgic, and being self-critical.

What Each Country Overthinks About the Most

All Round Overthinkers

Many nations, including Australia (35%), Canada (32%), India (30%), New Zealand (31%) and South Africa (31%), tend to overthink everything – past, present and future.

They’re more likely to overthink everything rather than focus on one area.

Across all nations, there is a clear message, that whether we’re overthinking the past, present or future, we are all overthinking. It’s a sign that many of us struggle to live fully in the moment.

How Overthinking Impacts Daily Life and Sleep

Overthinking doesn’t just affect your mental health – it can throw your whole routine off track, including your sleep

On average, people across the globe lose 27.9 minutes of sleep every night to racing thoughts. That adds up to more than three hours a week – or six full days a year – lost to worrying.

South Africa tops the list again – this time for losing the most sleep to overthinking.

South Africans lose on average 42 minutes of sleep each night due to worrying, that’s 15 minutes more than the global average. This means South Africans could be losing up to five hours of sleep each month to racing thoughts.

Mexico (31.5 minutes), Portugal (30.3), India (30 minutes), and Spain (29.6 minutes) round the top five of countries losing the most sleep due to overthinking. The lack of sleep correlates with the levels of overthinking in these countries, showing they go hand in hand.

At the other end of the scale, the UK (25 minutes), Germany (24.6 minutes), Switzerland (24.3 minutes), Greece (24 minutes), and Japan (22 minutes) report the least sleep lost to overthinking, but that still adds up to an average three hours of sleep lost per week.

Minutes Lost to Overthinking Per Day

When it comes to daily life, South Africa, India, Greece, Mexico and Portugal are the countries most likely to have their routines disrupted by overthinking. Meanwhile, the UK, Australia and Brazil reported the least effect to their day-to-day.

But no country escapes the effects of overthinking – every nation reports some impact on daily life, whether it’s mood, focus, productivity or overall wellbeing

Countries Where Overthinking Has the Most Impact on Daily Life

How Life Insurance Policies Can Help Reduce Overthinking

Today, many life insurance providers include extra benefits that go beyond financial protection, offering mental health advice and counselling services to support your wellbeing.

With overthinking affecting important physical factors like sleep, we asked people in the UK how aware they are of the wellbeing benefits included in life insurance policies.

More than 15% of people in the UK – around one in seven – don’t realise that life insurance policies often include extra wellbeing benefits, such as:

• Mental health support lines

• Online therapy and counselling

• Access to wellbeing apps

• Bereavement counselling

• GP access

• Discounts on wellness resources

The Factors Behind the World’s Overthinking

What drives overthinking? For most people, one thing stands out – money.

Across 20 countries, 62% of people say finances are their biggest cause of overthinking – ahead of relationships (58%) and uncertainty about the future (56%).

The balance of work and home life

Half of people say work pressures (50%) – and juggling these with family life (48%) – are major triggers for overthinking.

In today’s always-on culture, the line between work and home life is thinner than ever.

There is a likelihood that the stressors of work and family life collide significantly, with worries about job security and workload spilling over into family life. These pressures are particularly evident in Japan (60%), Spain (58%) and Poland (56%) where work-related overthinking is most common. When it comes to family life, South Africa (66%), India (59%) and Ireland (55%) are the most likely to worry.

The Most Common Factors Leading the World to Overthink

In South Africa (81%) and Mexico (78%), financial pressures dominate when it comes to overthinking, with India (72%), the USA (68%) and Canada (67%) also feeling the strain.

Portugal (66%), Greece (63%) and France (63%), however, are more likely to overthink relationships. Meanwhile, Spain (65%), Switzerland (60%), and Italy (60%) are overthinking the future.

Even in the UK, money (59%) is a leading cause of overthinking, with cost-of-living struggles and the subsequent financial pressures weighing heavily across the nation.

What Leads Each Country to Overthink the Most?

How the World Manages Overthinking

Overthinking affects millions of people worldwide – but the good news is, there are simple ways to manage it.

The most common ways people try to beat overthinking include exercise (51%), entertainment (49%), spending time outdoors (44%) and talking to friends and family (42%).

These everyday activities help people tackle worry through movement, connection and distraction.

Finding calm through movement and entertainment

Around the world, exercise tops the list as the go-to way to beat overthinking, with 51% saying it helps them manage racing thoughts.

In Mexico (59%), Brazil (57%), Australia (55%), and the UK (55%), exercise or physical activity is the most popular way to stop overthinking in its tracks.

Others turn to entertainment for relief – 59% say TV, music, gaming or reading helps them switch off.

Spain (65%), Portugal (58%), Poland (61%), France (53%), and Greece (53%) favour this method as an outlet for stress.

The Most Common Ways the World Manages Overthinking

Nature and deeper connections

In Switzerland (55%), spending time outdoors is where they find their calm, unsurprising given the scenery. In India, 55% turn to friends and family for support, highlighting the power of connection.

How Each Country Manages Overthinking

Professional help is a last resort for many

Despite a growing awareness of mental health, only 9% of people worldwide turn to therapy to manage their overthinking. Instead, many choose to rely on self-care they can manage themselves, from sleep and rest (42%) to mindfulness (22%).

Have Overthinking Levels Changed Over the Past Year?

Half the world says they are overthinking now just as much as they were a year ago. While one in four (26%) say the amount has increased, 24% say they have decreased.

How Have Stress Levels Changed Around the World

The world’s stress levels hold firm

The UK leads the way for stability – 65% of people say their level of overthinking hasn’t changed since last year

Other nations have reported a similar resilience, with Switzerland (59%), Australia (58%), Canada (57%), and Germany (56%) saying they feel as mentally strong as last year.

In contrast, South Africa (44%) and India (37%), reported the highest increases in overthinking compared to last year, aligning with survey findings that rank them among the most prone to racing thoughts.

At the other end of the scale, one in four people globally (24%) say they’re overthinking less than a year ago – a positive sign that growing awareness of mental health and wellness is making an impact.

How Have Stress Levels Changed (Compared to Last Year)

How to Manage Overthinking

Overthinking is something we all do from time to time – it’s a normal part of being human

However, when it becomes more persistent, it can really take its toll, affecting sleep, relationships and even your mental and physical health. Finding ways to protect your peace of mind is key to avoiding the long-term effects of constant overthinking. Whether that’s taking regular breaks, staying active, or finding ways to switch off that work for you.

If it’s the ‘what ifs’ that are keeping you up at night, planning ahead can help ease the mental load. Having life insurance in place can provide peace of mind for the future.

Methodology

Prolific survey of 3,868 UK drivers, all data correct as of November 2025.