What is the average adult penis size by country and measurement method?
Executive summary
Published compilations put the global mean erect penis length in the mid‑13 cm range: Data Pandas and Visual Capitalist cite about 13.1 cm (5.16 in) as the global average [1] [2], while WorldData and other aggregators report overall means near 13.6–13.9 cm with Ecuador repeatedly listed among the highest at ~17.6–17.62 cm [3] [4]. All sources warn that measurement methods (self‑report vs. clinician measurement, erect vs. stretched vs. flaccid) and small or non‑representative samples drive large uncertainty in country rankings [5] [1].
1. What the major compilations actually report — headline numbers
Several public databases and media visuals summarize country lists and give similar central values: Data Pandas and Visual Capitalist present a global average erect length of about 13.12 cm (5.16 in) based on pooled sources [1] [2]. WorldData calculates an overall mean of roughly 13.59 cm and independently highlights Ecuador near 17.6 cm [3]. Other aggregators state a 2025/2026 global mean in the 13.1–13.9 cm range and report that only a small set of countries exceed ~15–17 cm on their lists [6] [7] [8].
2. Measurement methods that change the answers
Studies differ by how they measure: erect length measured by clinicians (pressing the pubic fat pad to bone) produces different results from self‑reported erect length; “stretched flaccid” lengths approximate erect length but depend on traction force; flaccid measures are a poor predictor of erect length [5]. The 2015 systematic review that used clinician measurement reported erect averages of 13.12 cm and stretched averages near 13.24 cm — numbers that are close but only meaningful when methods are uniform [5]. Aggregators note that many country values derive from mixed methods and self‑reports, which tend to inflate averages [1] [8].
3. Country rankings: patterns and recurring high/low entries
Across multiple lists, South American and some African countries appear toward the top (Ecuador commonly highest at ~17.6 cm), while East and Southeast Asian countries often appear near the bottom (Thailand and Cambodia reported among the smallest) [3] [1] [9]. Visual Capitalist and Data Pandas emphasize regional trends: higher reported means in parts of Africa and Latin America and lower reported means in East and Southeast Asia [2] [1]. Exact ranks vary across compilers because of which underlying study or self‑reported dataset they include [2] [1].
4. Why the numbers are uncertain — sampling, self‑reporting, and small n
Editors and data projects explicitly warn that many national averages are based on small samples or self‑selected respondents; some country rows come from surveys with fewer than 100 men, while others compile thousands — that heterogeneity undermines direct comparison [1] [3]. Self‑measured or self‑reported lengths systematically run higher than clinician‑measured values; aggregators acknowledge this as a major bias [1] [8]. Visual Capitalist and WorldData both flag that environmental, genetic and methodological factors all influence reported averages and that limited data may not represent national populations [2] [3].
5. What reputable reviews say about typical ranges
A widely cited systematic review measured by staff found mean erect length ≈13.12 cm and erect girth ≈11.66 cm, placing the average human erect penis in a 13–15 cm band — a useful benchmark against which country lists should be compared [5]. That review also details standard measurement protocols (pubic bone to tip; girth at base or mid‑shaft) and explains why stretched flaccid and erect lengths can converge when measured consistently [5].
6. Competing narratives and potential agendas in the sources
Commercial sites and “wellness” blogs sometimes present definitive rankings and advice alongside affiliate product pitches; one source named “SupremePenis” frames listings to drive traffic and services [10]. Media and data‑visual sites tend to repackage the same pooled inputs (Veale et al., Lynn, national surveys) and may omit methodological caveats or sample sizes, which exaggerates apparent precision [2] [1]. Readers should treat lists on commercial or novelty sites as entertainment unless underlying study methods and sample frames are cited [10] [1].
7. Takeaway for readers: what can be said with confidence
Available sources converge on a global mean erect length near 13–14 cm and show regional patterns (higher reported means in parts of Africa/Latin America; lower in East/Southeast Asia), but country‑by‑country rankings are fragile because of mixed measurement methods and variable sample quality [1] [3] [5]. For robust comparisons, rely on studies that state sample size, recruitment method and whether measurements were clinician‑taken or self‑reported — most aggregated lists do not consistently provide those details [1] [5].
Limitations: available sources do not mention a single, peer‑reviewed global survey that used identical clinician measurement protocols across every country; instead, the reporting pool is heterogeneous (not found in current reporting).