The average shoe size for women depends on factors like country, height, and age, among others. In the United States, the average shoe size for women may range between 8.5 and 9.
Your feet are arguably the foundation of your whole body. They provide balance and enable you to walk, run, stand, and enjoy countless activities.
Foot health is important, but foot size is not. All women’s foot sizes are normal.
Heights and weights have increased in the United States over the past several decades. Feet have gotten larger, too.
While there are no official statistics about shoe sizes, anecdotally, the average shoe size for women in the United States ranges between 8.5 and 9.
There’s an established correlation between height and shoe size.
Taller women tend to have larger feet since they need a larger base for balance. Shorter women tend to have smaller feet since they require a smaller base.
Anecdotally, American women report that their shoe sizes vary widely, independent of their height. That may be due to natural variances in heredity and genetics, or simply buying shoes that are too big or too small for your feet.
There’s no official data correlating U.S. women’s height with their shoe size. Anecdotal information indicates the following:
| Age | Height | Shoe size |
|---|---|---|
| Over 20 | 4’9″ to 5’3″ | 5 to 8.5 |
| Over 20 | 5’4″ to 5’7″ | 6.5 to 10 |
| Over 20 | 5’8″ to 6′ or taller | 9 to 15 |
Average shoe sizes range from country to country. They’re based on many factors, including genetics and nutrition. Some average shoe sizes in other countries include:
| Country | Shoe size | Conversion to U.S. size |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 6 (EU 40) | 8.5 |
| Japan | 23 (EU 37) | 6 |
| Australia | 8 (EU 42) | 9.5 |
Anecdotal evidence supplied by shoe salespeople indicate the average shoe size for adult women worldwide is around a U.S. 7 to 8.
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However, these findings from 2007 are far from conclusively proven. In fact,
Whether you’re a size 5 or a size 15, all women’s feet are equally attractive, normal, and appropriate for their height and weight.
Among the things that may affect women’s shoe size is pregnancy. During pregnancy, some women report that their feet become wider or flatter. In some instances, this change may become permanent.
The cause may be due to extra weight put on during pregnancy, or a hormone secretion in the placenta called relaxin. It dilates and softens the cervix as well as loosens the ligaments of the foot.
American women’s feet are getting larger than they were decades ago. Even so, there’s no abnormal foot size. Whatever size foot you have is normal and appropriate for your height and weight.
