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Topics: Health, Science, Sex and Relationships
Lucy Devine
A new study has answered the controversial question - does penis size really matter?
While some are adamant that size can be a problem in the bedroom - with several even claiming it could be a deal breaker - others firmly believe that it shouldn't make a difference.
Although we all know that ultimately, it's down to the individual, a new study has provided insight into the matter, with researchers from the University of Western Australia carrying out some interesting investigations into what the most preferable size is.
Researchers showed both men and women computer-generated images of men with a variety of penis sizes, heights and builds.
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The females in the group were asked which they found most attractive, while the men were asked which they found the most threatening.
Tall figures with a larger penis were rated the most attractive and, perhaps unsurprisingly, the most threatening to the males in the study.
According to a press release, researchers found: “Females rated male figures that were taller, had a higher shoulder-to-hip ratio – indicating a more V-shaped body – and a larger penis as being more attractive.
“However, beyond a certain point, further increases in penis size, height and shoulder breadth had diminishing benefits.
“Males also rated taller figures that had a more V-shaped body and a larger penis as being more intimidating as sexual rivals and fighting opponents.
“But, in contrast to female participants, they consistently ranked males with more exaggerated traits as more of a sexual threat, suggesting that males tend to overestimate the importance of these characteristics for attracting females.”
Scientists are also keen to understand why men with bigger penises are more 'intimidating' to other males.
One theory is that a larger manhood could indicate higher levels of testosterone.
“Testosterone influences penile development at puberty, and higher levels of testosterone in adult males are associated with increased muscle mass, greater aggression, and higher competitive ability,” the study explained.
“Flaccid penis length can shorten in response to stress or anxiety as adrenaline redirects blood flow away from the genitals, a response that may function to reduce injury during 'fight or flight' situations.
“Therefore, participants may interpret a flaccid penis that is longer as a signal of rival confidence, lower, stress, or the relative absence of perceived threat.”
Lead author Dr Upama Aich added: “Men rated rivals with a larger penis as being more physically threatening and sexually competitive.”
Meanwhile, co-author Michael D Jennions said: “While the human penis functions primarily to transfer sperm, our result suggests its unusual large size evolved as a sexual ornament to attract females rather than purely as a badge of status to scare males, although it does both.”
According to the World Population Review interactive map, the country with the biggest penis in 2025 is tied between Sudan and DR Congo, with a whopping 7.1-inch length when erect.
Meanwhile, the smallest is Thailand at 3.7 inches.
Obviously, you’ll want to know what the US stands at, and the map shows that what has been measured for the nation averages out at 5.6 inches, like the UK and Russia, while Canada sits at 5.5 inches.