Average penis size in Australia: Are Aussie men packing or just confident?

What’s your penis size? 

Now, everyone knows that’s not one of the first questions you ask at a Sunday sesh, but it’s a question that many men have on their minds. It’s a proven fact that penis size matters to us, with 55% of men saying they’re unsatisfied with their size [1].

But with Australian men sitting at 63/100 on the overall Male Confidence Index, it shows that despite wishing we had a couple of extra centimetres, blokes aren’t doing too badly overall [2]. With that in mind, let’s get into one of the most commonly asked questions amongst men: “How do you measure up?”

How do Aussies measure up for average penis length?

Average penis length can be measured in several ways when doing comparisons, including erect length and the percentage of your height. Aussies boast an average erect length of 14.46 cm, or 8.10% of their average height, which is 1.79 metres. It places Australia in the top 50 countries, but still far off Ecuador, with an average size of 17.61 cm, or 10.54% of their average height [3].

Other notable countries, measured by stiff length, include [3]:

• France – 15.74 cm (8.83% of average height)
• Canada – 15.71 cm (8.80% of average height)
• Italy – 15.35 cm (8.81% of average height)
• New Zealand – 13.99 cm (7.88% of average height)
• U.S. – 13.58 cm (7.68% of average height)
• UK – 13.13 cm (7.38% of average height)

In short, Australians don’t really stand out on the world stage for any reason, good or bad, when it comes to penis size.

On a side note, it's important to mention that the results of these studies are normally self-reported, so the actual average for penile dimensions might be lower.

Body parts and perception – What do men think the average penis size is?

Men tend to overestimate what an average penis looks like. According to the Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy, most adult men believed that the average penis size was 15.25 cm, nearly a centimetre bigger than the actual average Aussie’s doodle [4].

Does it matter, though?

Despite what the mainstream narratives have tried to promote over the years, the evidence shows that it does matter up to a point. One study found that greater height and larger penis size had equivalent benefits for male attractiveness [5].

What impacts penis size?

Genetics are the primary driver of penis size, with the Y chromosome being the differentiating factor. Like every other aspect of your appearance, it’s your genetics and accompanying genetic mutations that determine your penis size.

Aside from genetics, hormones can also play a role in adult penile size. Male sex hormones, or androgens, impact both the size of your unit and your balls, just as female sex hormones do the same for a woman's breasts [6].

There’s also an emerging branch of science, known as epigenetics. Essentially, this is the exploration of environmental and behavioural factors that could impact gene expression. It’s believed that environmental pollutants, like plasticisers and pesticides, could have a negative impact on penis size by acting as endocrine disruptors [7].

So, even if you’ve got the genes for a gigantic tool, your environment growing up could prevent it from actually emerging.

Is the average erect penis length changing?

The average erect length is changing over time. According to the World Journal of Men’s Health, the average erect penis length grew from 12.19 cm in 1992 to 15.24 cm in 2021, based on 75 studies taken from across the world across the decades [8].

Nobody quite knows why, but some of the theories include:

• Increased pesticide use.
• Chemicals that are put into food.
• Modern hygiene products.

It’s believed in many scientific circles that it’s causing kids to hit puberty early, with earlier puberty impacting overall genital development. What impact this might have in the long run remains unknown for now.

Does penis size impact arousal levels?

Many blokes have worried that their penises are either helping or hurting them in the bedroom. The truth is that penis size has no real physiological effect on your ability to pleasure your sexual partners.

One study focusing on heterosexual couples found that the vagina actually adapts to fit the size of the penis. It found that because of the difference between potential vs. actual space in the vagina, penis size didn’t impact arousal, sexual satisfaction, or anything else for that matter [9].

With about half of Aussies saying they were satisfied with their sex lives, this is vital to bear in mind [10]. It’s still not about what you’ve got but about how you’re using it.

How to measure penis length correctly

Measuring your own penis length is simple enough to manage. All you need is a ruler or a tape measure, then follow these steps:

1. Measure when you’re fully erect while standing up.
2. Place the end of your ruler or tape at the top of your penis and push past the fat at the bottom until you hit bone.
3. Measure in a straight line from the top of the shaft up to the very tip.

Don’t measure the underside, since the actual measurement point isn’t as clear, and you won’t get the accurate measurement you want.

Flaccid penis or erect penis? 

Always measure your penis while it’s erect. Flaccid penis measurements are notoriously inaccurate because, while an erect penis length generally won’t change, a flaccid penis will. And that can make it impossible to get any consistency if you're operating on flaccid length.

Typically, a flaccid penis can change length, even when stretched, based on temperature, stress, and blood flow. [11]. Although measuring a flaccid stretched penis can be used as a secondary option with greater accuracy, it's still less accurate than measuring while erect.

Can you increase penis size beyond the average length?

Penis enlargement, or penile augmentation, is a popular topic online. The problem is that your penis size is determined primarily by your genetics. There’s no guaranteed way of increasing penis size. Various pills, creams, and even medical devices (like penis pumps) don’t actually work, have never been licensed by any reputable body, and may even be unsafe.

While it is true that there are surgical procedures and traction-based medical devices that can be used, there’s no evidence to show a permanent increase in the functional size of your penis.

In short, you’ll basically have to work with what you’ve got.

What is an abnormally small penis?

Penis size is measured relative to the population, so the definition of average depends on whether you’re Australian, Italian, or Ecuadorean. However, there is such a thing as an abnormally small penis, known as a micropenis.

Doctors diagnose the problem by measuring your erect penile length. According to several studies, a micropenis is defined as an erect penile length of less than 9.3 cm [12]. Although having a micropenis can be difficult psychologically for many blokes, it’s still perfectly possible to have a satisfying sex life.

Certain positions may be difficult due to the erect penis length, but a micropenis continues to function in the same way as any other penis. Additionally, couples can make life easier for themselves through practising alternative techniques, using sexual aids, and communicating openly. 

Can you predict penis size from other bodily indicators?

Most of us have probably heard the joke that having a large shoe size indicates you likely have a large penis. Unfortunately, this is likely not the case. Stories of certain physical attributes predicting whether somebody has a small or large doodle flow throughout the world.

Studies have been conducted into whether there are any links to height, shoe size, body weight, and even nose size. However, there’s no strong evidence to indicate that the size of other parts of your body will have any influence or act as a predictor for penis size [13].

When to talk to a doctor about penis health

Size doesn’t matter. How you use your penis does. That includes whether you have an exceptionally large tool or an average one. Confidence and performance don’t all come from size, though. It also comes from penis health.

Penis size might get all the attention in the mainstream media, but many of us might be concerned about other aspects of our extracurricular activities. Issues like:

• Staying harder for your partner.
• Lasting longer in the bedroom.
• Feeling more confident with every sexual encounter.

All of these three points of reference are far bigger influencers on whether you’re having sexually satisfying experiences with your partner. You can’t do anything about your penis size, but you can do something about your performance. 

What matters, though, is whether you take action. With more support options than ever for blokes looking to perform at their very best, including Pilot’s ED treatment and dedicated sex therapy, there’s no excuse not to take the first step.

Start by getting in touch with your GP to discuss your issues and determine your next steps, because it’s not penis size that’s holding you back, but how soon you take action. 

Image credit: Pexels