While erect lengths are consistent, erect lengths measurements can also create challenges. Indeed, the current report noted significant asymmetry in stretched penile lengths suggesting clinical heterogeneity in reported lengths. To our knowledge, this is the first study to examine temporal change in penile size. You can measure girth at either the base or the middle. The newly developed nomogram and percentile chart can serve as a valuable tool for both patients and healthcare professionals. Please consult a healthcare professional in the UK for advice tailored to your needs. At UK Meds, we work with fully registered UK pharmacies and experienced medical professionals to ensure your prescriptions are managed safely and with the utmost care. These charts help Health professionals counsel men who experience significant Anxiety about having a small penis, often a symptom related to Body Dysmorphic Disorder. A factual understanding of the numbers provides a healthy baseline and dismantles the fiction that fuels insecurity. So, there you have it, there's absolutely no reason to feel bad about your manhood, no matter what size it is. The review was conducted in a bid to help men with size anxiety by creating definitive size charts and debunking myths. This pattern of penile growth was also demonstrated in a study of penile size performed in Brazil.15 However, in our study, we found that penile length increased continuously after birth, showing peak growth from 11 to 15 years of age.The review was conducted in a bid to help men with size anxiety by creating definitive size charts and debunking myths.Height, weight, body mass index, penile length, penile diameter, and testicular volume for Chinese children and adolescents by each age group (mean±s.d.)In others, you are completely normal if you have a slightly smaller-than-world-average penis.Even in this group, studies show that perceived inadequacy is more common than actual anatomical differences.Because of this, experts consistently emphasize that flaccid size has little to no value when making a penis size comparison or evaluating whether someone falls within a normal penis size range.A previous study by Schonfeld and Beebe17 reported that the penis grows slowly to the age of 5 years, followed by a relatively steady phase. Men — you’ve probably all found yourselves wondering at one time or another how you compare to others when it comes to penis size. After adjusting for geographic region, subject age, and subject population; erect penile length increased 24% over the past 29 years. Pooled means and standard deviations for flaccid, stretched, and erect length were obtained. A “shower” maintains a relatively large size when flaccid, while a “grower” appears small when flaccid but expands significantly upon erection. Figure 6. Unfortunately, there’s no way to make your penis longer without intensive surgery. This and other myths are responsible for spreading misconceptions about penis length and what’s normal. This information comes from outdated, biased studies from several decades ago. Meta-regression model for mean erect length over the year of publication by (A)… PRISMA guidelines were used for abstracting data and assessing data quality and validity. Why Self-Perception of Penis Size is Often Inaccurate The mean length of the flaccid penis was the largest in the Americas 10.98 (0.064) cm.The concept of average is best understood through standard deviation, which defines the natural spread of sizes.Penile diameter was measured using a pachymeter at the mid-point of the penile shaft.Variability in the intervention effects as a consequence of clinical or methodological diversity among the studies was evaluated by form of heterogeneity .Another valid concern of the current study is regarding the intermixing of geography and ethnicity descriptors.Our systematic review and meta-analysis suggest that the average erect penile length increased between 1992 and 2021.The stretched penile length (SPL) during the flaccid state was measured with a rigid centimeter ruler from the pubic ramus to the tip of glans under gentle painless extension of penis using Schonfeld's method.17 The fatty tissue in the prepubic area was mildly compressed with one end of the ruler down to the pubic ramus.As has been suggested by other studies, the penile measurements may be affected by temperature, arousal state, body size and investigator factors 5, 35, 90.Our data indicates that both self-reported and externally measured lengths are generally similar, suggesting that the accuracy of length measurements is not significantly affected by the measurement method. Risk of bias assessment according to NIH Quality Assessment Tool for Observational Cohort and Cross-Sectional studiesClick here to view.(118K, pdf) Given the important implications of genital development for urinary and reproductive function, future studies should attempt to confirm the trend and identify the etiology. Temporal declines in sperm counts and serum testosterone levels, higher rates of testicular tumors, and increasing genital birth defects have also been attributed to environmental and lifestyle exposures 7, 8, 9, 10. The other American-related studies were from the USA.In fact, the average penis size is different all over the world.To establish objective facts about average size, this analysis relies on scientific data derived from rigorous medical studies and comprehensive meta-analyses.This may be a sign of intelligent design as men's mouths are also, on average, larger than women's.This is a project that through a process of ETL by scraping, API and CSV data sources, along with visualization with Matplotlib and Tableau, relates different sociological variables with the average penis length per country.The average flaccid girth from the 2015 study is recorded at 9.31 cm (3.66 inches).Multiple studies have shown no correlation between foot length and erect penis length or penis length distribution.To measure a flaccid stretched penis, the same abovementioned criteria were considered, from pubic bone to glans tip with retracted foreskin, stretching it to the maximum.12Table 2 represents the details of the penile measurement method in the included studies. Penis size is influenced by several factors — including genetics, hormone levels, age, and nutrition. The authors of these studies realize that many men overestimate the length of their penis, which may skew the results.3 Meta-regression model for mean (A) stretched length and (B) erect length over the… Penis Size by Country (2026 Ranking) Studies in which a healthcare professional evaluated the penis size were considered eligible.Understanding this timeline helps reduce unnecessary penis size anxiety and ensures expectations remain realistic and medically accurate.Even so, they worry that they're below-average.For girth, wrap a flexible measuring tape — or a strip of paper — around the thickest part of the erect shaft.When you suffer from ED you will not be able to achieve or maintain an erection for a sustained period of time (NHS, 2023).This is the case too for penis size, with many men often feeling stressed and anxious about their own personal size (Veale et al, 2016).This misconception is primarily caused by inaccurate self-measurements, porn-influenced expectations, and cultural exaggeration.To our knowledge, this is the first study to examine temporal change in penile size. A previous study by Schonfeld and Beebe17 reported that the penis grows slowly to the age of 5 years, followed by a relatively steady phase. Given the inconvenience and high cost of ultrasonography for large groups of subjects, classical measurements for testicular size such as those involving the orchidometer are a practical option. Using the GAMLSS method, our study provided an age-specific growth curve and chart for penile length, penile diameter, and testicular volume for Chinese boys between the ages of 0 and 17 years, which has not been previously used to evaluate the development of male external genitalia. The study subjects were infants and preschool children from outpatient clinics who did not present a disease involving to their genitals.The girth categories below are based on medical research, standardized measurements, and global datasets.Length is, well, how long your penis is and girth is the circumference of your penis.The average flaccid length, when measured professionally, is approximately 9.16 centimeters (3.61 inches).For example, the small number of included studies and the differences in their sizes could explain the observed heterogeneity.Was the data analysis conducted with sufficient coverage of the identified sample?Unfortunately, there is no data to support these claims making them selective at best.All observational studies including prospective and retrospective cohort, case-control, and cross-sectional studies were included in this review. Questions to AskThink you may be gay or bisexual? Sengezer M, Ozturk S, Deveci M. Accurate method for determining functional penile length in young Turkish men. British Journal of Urology International, 2007, volume 99, number 6, pages 1,449-1,455. Counselling has proven beneficial for men with penis anxiety. Again, you can measure girth when you are either flaccid or erect (Men's Health, 2023), however, it is more common for men to measure when they are erect. Measuring the girth, or circumference of your penis is not as simple as measuring the length. You can measure your penis when it is both flaccid and erect (Men's Health, 2023), although many people will choose to measure it when it is erect. Length is, well, how long your penis is and girth is the circumference of your penis. Random cluster sampling was used to recruit school-age children and adolescents from the Chongqing area. Subjects younger than 7 years old were defined as preschool children; subjects aged 7 years–17 years, 11 months were defined as school-age children and adolescents. The study subjects were infants and preschool children from outpatient clinics who did not present a disease involving to their genitals. A cross-sectional study was performed between December 2014 and December 2015 at the physical examination center of the Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University (Chongqing, China). Because of their inherent biases, self-reported lengths should be regarded with caution. When measured, the clinician's force was lower (428 g of force) thus questioning the reliability of this method of measurement. Chen et al also measured the forces required to stretch the penis to its full length using a specially developed gauge. The SMD estimates displayed a temporal trend with more recent studies displaying means higher than the pooled mean (Supplement Fig. 1). The age ranged from 18 to 86 years with articles published between 1942 and 2021. Here is the average penis length, according to science The variation in size within any given ethnic or geographic group is far greater than the average difference between these groups, invalidating claims of significant racial or ethnic differences. Studies attempting to find a correlation between shoe size and stretched penile length have concluded that no statistically significant association exists. This means that a penis measuring 4.5 inches (11.43 cm) or 6.5 inches (16.51 cm) is still considered within the typical range of size variation. The concept of average is best understood through standard deviation, which defines the natural spread of sizes. A 2023 meta-analysis of over 55,000 men reported a mean erect length of 13.93 centimeters, or 5.48 inches. Statistical analyses One of the most reliable ways to understand penis size distribution is through a standardized penis size chart that classifies lengths into medically defined categories. Understanding these facts helps reduce unnecessary worry, improves penis size self-esteem, and provides a realistic foundation for any penis size comparison or penis size chart. In clinical reality, most individuals fall within the normal penis size range, even though they may assume otherwise. While there is no direct link between penis size and conditions like premature ejaculation or erectile dysfunction, anxiety about size can contribute to these issues. Concerns about penis size can affect men's mental health, causing stress, anxiety, and performance issues during sex. A recent analysis of 10 studies found that the average length is more along the lines of 5.1 to 5.5 inches.1 Keep reading to learn more about the average size of the penis and how to boost your confidence naturally. There are many myths and plenty of misconceptions about what the average penis length is and how to improve it. The circumference was measured at the base of the flaccid penis. The length of the flaccid penis was measured from the pubopenile skin junction to the meatus. To determine the penile length, the measurement of the stretched penile was conducted from the pubopenile skin junction to the tip of the glans. The mean flaccid penile circumference in different WHO regions. A team from King's College London took on the almighty task of measuring up the penile size of 15,000 men from all around the world, both when flacid and erect. No, penis size does not vary with height, body mass index, shoe size, race, or ethnicity. Porn stars get the job because their penis size is rare. Actually, you'd fall into the top 5 percent if your penis is 6.3 inches when erect. The World Journal of Men's Health Despite this, many people believe the average is larger than what research shows. What importance do women attribute to the size of the penis? This finding supports previous research on the relationship between income and health, and underscores the importance of addressing socioeconomic disparities in public health initiatives. In addition to analyzing length and life expectancy data, we also examined the relationship between length and per capita income, and the relationship between per capita income and life expectancy. Further research is needed to better understand the factors that contribute to health and longevity, including genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors. This measurement is the distance around the erect penis, typically taken at the middle of the shaft, as this provides a consistent point of reference. The top spots go to Sudan and Democratic Republic of Congo earned the top spots for penile length, with an average of and 7.06 inches and 7.059 inches. In one study, using computer-generated male figures, (non-erect) penises began getting lower ratings around 3 inches. Well, yes, some research confirms that women rate below-average size penises lower. It’s crucial to understand the “normal” range versus the single number for average penis size. Context is critically important when reviewing the average penis size because the Average is merely a midpoint in a wide spectrum of normal, and factors like self-Perception and unrealistic media portrayals often create a distorted view of what is typical. The average flaccid girth from the 2015 study is recorded at 9.31 cm (3.66 inches). The discussion about average penis size should start with clinical evidence, not cultural fiction. But as it turns out, the average penis size is actually significantly smaller than most people might think, meaning you might be significantly more average — or even bigger than average — than you think. Understanding these myths is essential for a realistic penis size comparison, healthy expectations, and reducing unnecessary penis size anxiety. Many participants significantly underestimated their size relative to true penis size percentiles, reinforcing the role of psychological factors such as small penis syndrome and penile dysmorphophobia. These findings align with global penis measurement study data, which show that pleasure is influenced by fit and compatibility, not extremes. Scientific research on penis size and sexual satisfaction shows that partners typically value comfort, emotional connection, and rhythm more than numerical size. Global data shows the average flaccid length is around 3.3–3.8 inches, yet the variation can be so wide that it’s nearly impossible to draw meaningful conclusions from a single measurement. Unlike erect measurements, flaccid penis length and flaccid penis girth vary dramatically throughout the day due to temperature, stress, hydration, physical activity, and even anxiety. Contrary to common belief, truly large penis size measurements (7 inches or more) are statistically rare, representing only a small fraction of the global population. Even so, they worry that they're below-average. Men tend to overestimate the size of their penis, according to British psychiatrist David Veale. These findings may be of value for clinical counseling and future research on penile size variations. After this, penile growth was relatively slow and changed little (Figure 1a). The age-specific smoothed percentile curves for male external genitalia by age are shown in Figure 1 and 2. Thus, a total of 2974 children and adolescents for further analysis were included in the final database. Condom sizing is based primarily on erect penis girth, not length, making accurate measurement essential. While many people focus on length, scientific research shows that erect penis girth often plays a more important role in comfort, stimulation, and overall sexual satisfaction. From there, sizes increase or decrease according to percentile ranks, creating clear thresholds for small penis size, average, above average, and large categories. These numbers are consistent across multiple penis measurement study results and remain stable across most populations, confirming the reliability of global findings on human penis size. The risk of bias in the included studies was moderate/low; thus, no study was excluded. Two independent reviewers extracted data from included studies using a modified standardized JBI data extraction tool. Was the data analysis conducted with sufficient coverage of the identified sample? These data provide a framework for discussing body image expectations and therapeutic strategies in this sensitive and emotional subject matter. Twenty studies analyzing erect length had measurements ranging from 9.50 cm to 16.78 cm. In all, 40,251 (72.1%), 44,300 (79.4%), 18,481 (33.1%) men had data reporting flaccid, stretched, and erect length, respectively. We first obtained the pooled mean and SD for every measurement category (i.e., flaccid, erect, and stretched length). A study by Lever, Frederick, and Peplau found that 85% of women were satisfied with their partner’s penis size. Understanding penis size begins with reliable data rather than myths or exaggeration. Our study provides important insights into the relationship between length and health outcomes, and highlights the value of using data analysis tools like Python and web scraping to explore complex relationships in large datasets. Based on my analysis using Python, pandas and web scraping techniques, I have found that there is no significant difference in length measurements reported by individuals themselves versus those measured by external organizations. YZ conceived and designed this study and engaged in data collection and entry. To provide a complete picture, it’s important to acknowledge the limitations of current Data on average penis size, as most major studies have been based on specific populations, with more Research needed to represent a fully diverse global average accurately. The widely cited global average erect penis girth, or Circumference, is 11.66 cm (4.59 inches), measured at the mid-shaft, according to the same landmark 2015 urological systematic review. Major international studies, specifically the comprehensive 2015 BJU International systematic review and meta-analysis, place the global average erect penis length at 13.12 cm (5.16 inches) Penis size varies worldwide, with the average erect penis being around 5.35 inches (13.58 cm). A medical literature search revealed 17 studies with up to 15,521 males who underwent penis size measurements by health professionals using a standard procedure. In terms of race and ethnicity of American men, the study by Barboza, et al,11 was conducted on Brazilians, ≥18 years old who self-declared as having black or white skin color. Additionally, the I2 statistic was used to calculate the effect of study heterogeneity. The Q statistic was used to identify heterogeneity within the studies. According to the available data, men living in the Americas have the largest stretched penile size and largest flaccid length and circumference; Western Pacific Asian men seem to have the smallest penis size. Hormonal factors during adolescence—especially testosterone and growth hormones—significantly shape penis growth puberty, helping establish both average erect penis size and average flaccid penis size. Proper measurement helps determine your true average penis length, average penis girth, and overall position within penis size percentiles. Reliable studies on average penis size depend on clinical measurements taken by trained health professionals, as self-reported Data is notoriously inaccurate due to common measurement errors and psychological reporting Bias. Studies examining average penis size, including both average erect penis size and average flaccid penis size, reveal that the majority of men fall between a narrow band of measurements. Due to measurement limitations in evaluating erect penis size, the main purpose of the present study is to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the stretched and flaccid penis lengths as well as flaccid penis circumference in men according to the WHO geographic regions. The researchers concluded that the average flaccid penis is 3.61 inches in length and 3.66 inches in circumference. As you can see from the table above, the average penis size will change drastically depending on whereabouts in the world you are. The average erect penis across the whole world is around 5.35 inches or 13.58cm (Elite Aesthetics, 2024). In fact, the average penis size is different all over the world. The average penis size will differ depending on many different factors. 3Meta-regression model for mean erect length over the year of publication by (A) regions of origin, (B) age groups, (C) population type and (D) technique to achieve erection. 2Meta-regression model for mean (A) stretched length and (B) erect length over the year of publication.Fig. Using estimates from the metaregression model, erect penile length increased by 24% over the 29 years of observation was observed (from 12.27 cm to 15.23 cm).Fig. There was no significant association was found between year of publication and stretched penile length (Fig. 2A). Each study measurement was compared to the pooled mean to reveal the SMD estimate under a random-effects model (-0.05 cm; 95% CI, -0.21 to 0.12). These results challenge myths about partner expectations and help counter penis size anxiety by showing that perception often differs from real preferences. In fact, a majority reported being satisfied with their partner's size and noted that girth mattered more than length. Many individuals worry about whether their size falls within a normal range, but global research consistently shows that most people are well within the normal penis size range. This method also eliminates variations caused by body composition, helping correct myths such as the penis size vs body height or penis size vs shoe size myth. To determine erect penis length, urologists use the bone-pressed erect length method (BPEL). While the study finds no evidence to suggest that penis size varies by race, the sample is still limited to a majority of European and Middle Eastern men; additional research could draw different conclusions. Funnel plot presenting 3 levels of confidence interval (90%, 95%, and 99% corresponding to shades white, gray, and dark gray) for (A) flaccid, (B) stretched, and (C) erect length studies. Funnel plot presenting 3 levels of confidence interval (90%, 95%, and 99% corresponding to shades white, gray, and dark gray) for (A) flaccid, (B) stretched, and (C) erect length studies.Click here to view.(249K, pdf) Across decades of studies, researchers have developed accurate values for penis length and girth, defining what counts as small, average, and large using standardized penis size percentiles. Moreover, Habous et al reported significant limitations of flaccid and stretched measurements in estimating erect length as well as marked interobserver variation. The purpose of knowing the true, scientific average penis size is to be informed and to counter self-criticism based on unreliable sources. The scientific Data on average penis size provides a factual baseline that primarily serves to dispel Myyths and manage expectations, reinforcing that for Health and function, the vast majority of men fall well within the wide spectrum of normal. Moreover, it presents normative penile measurements based on data from more than 55,000 men. In addition, the current work identified significant differences in penile size measurements across different geographic regions. The funnel plot for three CIs (90%, 95%, and 99% corresponding to shades white, gray and dark gray) for studies presenting flaccid length (Supplement Fig. 4A), stretched length (Supplement Fig. 4B), and erect length (Supplement Fig. 4C). If you are in the UK, the average penis size is around 5.17 inches when erect, and 3.82 inches when flaccid (Men's Health, 2023). While one small study observed weak correlations, the overwhelming scientific consensus is that hand size does not reliably predict average erect penis size or penile length norms. Large-scale research, including global datasets and systematic reviews, indicates that the average erect penis size worldwide ranges between 5.1–5.5 inches (12.9–13.9 cm) in length. This guide presents a science-based penis size chart built from global research to help readers understand the true average penis size, including both average erect penis size and average flaccid penis size. Anything less than 5inches in length is deemed "not satisfying." The same can be said for penises with circumferences under 4.5 inches or more than 7.5 inches. Gay men's penises are, on average, a third of an inch longer. Some men are concerned about their penis size, and those who are preoccupied and severely distressed with the size of their penis may even be diagnosed with Body Dysmorphic Disorder. Seventy-five studies published between 1942 and 2021 were evaluated including data from 55,761 men. Normative male genital measurements are clinically useful and temporal changes would have important implications. The only dedicated knowledge platform built to understand, support, and optimize every man’s sexual health journey. By following correct measurement methods, individuals gain clarity and confidence and can accurately compare their results to average erect penis size, average flaccid penis size, and worldwide human penis size data. In scientific terms, flaccid measurements are considered unreliable for estimating average male genital size, predicting erectile dimensions, or determining where someone falls within global penis size worldwide data. Worldwide measurements show that the average erect penis girth falls between 4.5–4.8 inches (11.5–12.2 cm), forming the center of the penis circumference distribution. When asked to self-report, individuals may consciously or unconsciously inflate their numbers, a phenomenon known as social desirability bias, which makes such data scientifically invalid for establishing a true average.Studies consistently confirm that perceived inadequacy rarely matches clinical reality, and most concerns improve once individuals see accurate penis size chart data and understand true penis size variation.John Holmes's penis was 12 inches long when erect and 8 1/2' when limp.Similarly, Boas et al.25 reported that a rapid increase in penile growth took place during the first 3 months after birth, coinciding with an infant's high concentrations of testosterone.Understanding the limitations of penis size data sources helps reduce unrealistic expectations and unnecessary penis size anxiety.When comparing the growth curves for the penis and testes, we can readily observe that testicular enlargement precedes rapid lengthening of the penis.This anxiety can arise from societal pressure and stereotypes surrounding penis size, as well as concerns about whether or not their partner will be satisfied with their size. However, Schneider et al compared younger (18–20 y) and older (48–60 y) men and found that older men had a significantly longer stretched penis, but no difference in erect lengths implying penile elasticity may change with age. The current study identified an increase in the average erect penile length in men from 1992 to 2021. Sixty-four studies analyzed stretched penile length with measurements ranging from 8.98 cm to 17.50 cm. At factbasedurology, we are committed to providing evidence-based health information that empowers individuals to build confidence based on facts, not fear. A consultation with a urologist is recommended for concerns about conditions like Peyronie’s disease, Micropenis, or a Buried penis, which are medical issues, not cosmetic ones. Most non-surgical penis enlargement methods are unproven and potentially dangerous. Second, we used an advanced statistical method to establish predictive percentiles for penile length, penile diameter, and testicular volume. First, this was a large cross-sectional population-based study of the growth of male external genitalia in China and it covered all stages of childhood and puberty. These authors stated that penile length during puberty should be evaluated individually according to the child's current pubertal stage. In a recent article by Soydan et al.,30 males aged 13–15 years were evaluated, and profound variability in penile length was detected within the same age group. These findings are most likely due to the fact that, during adolescence, people of the same age can be at different stages of sexual development. Using large datasets from multiple countries, researchers have compiled average penis size by country chart rankings for 2026, helping readers understand how national averages compare within global penis size distribution patterns. For this reason, researchers rely on erect measurements, not flaccid ones, when producing any penis size chart or defining conditions such as micropenis. When discussing average penis size, it’s important to understand that average flaccid penis size is one of the most misleading metrics. Penis length classifications rely on precise measurements of erect penis length to determine where an individual falls within global penis size percentiles. Clinically measured studies consistently show that the average penis length when erect falls around 5.1–5.5 inches, forming the center of the worldwide distribution. Global research shows that penis size worldwide varies only slightly by region, yet people remain highly curious about international comparisons. This clarity also helps reduce unnecessary anxiety and encourages a healthier, more realistic perspective on size. Understanding these percentiles helps eliminate unrealistic expectations and provides a grounded comparison for anyone reviewing their penis size comparison. Measuring your penis is not as straightforward as you may think. In countries such as Japan and China, there are much fewer men who actually desire a change in their size. It is only in recent culture that a larger penis has been desired, which could possibly be due to the influence of pornography (Cranney, S.; 2015). Whilst today's culture depicts men with bigger penises as being superior, in ancient times smaller penises were considered to be the preferred choice (Artsy, 2018). Understanding this timeline helps reduce unnecessary penis size anxiety and ensures expectations remain realistic and medically accurate. Understanding these combined influences helps reduce penis size anxiety, allowing individuals to evaluate themselves using accurate biological context rather than myths or unrealistic comparisons. This is especially common in individuals with obesity and can distort penis size comparison or self-perception. These averages reflect populations where measured erect lengths tended to be above global norms.This preoccupation can lead to significant psychological distress, avoidance of intimacy, and reduced overall sexual satisfaction.Wylie KR, Eardley I. Penile size and the 'small penis syndrome.No, penis size does not vary with height, body mass index, shoe size, race, or ethnicity.Chen et al also measured the forces required to stretch the penis to its full length using a specially developed gauge.From a Health perspective, being within the broad “normal” range is what matters, not being exactly at the average.The risk of bias in the included studies was moderate/low; thus, no study was excluded. While length has been previously suggested as a potential indicator of health outcomes and socioeconomic status, my findings suggest that this relationship may not be as strong as previously thought. My analysis found no significant correlation between length and life expectancy, indicating that length is not a significant predictor of health or longevity. I also cross-referenced the results with data on life expectancy by country. We appreciate the generous contribution of boys and their parents who participated in this study.