The importance of the feet to the body can be likened to the importance of a foundation to a house; both provide stability and a structure for standing upright. For our feet though, they do much more than that. They allow us to run, jogging, walking and do a lot of other sports.
With this in mind, it is key to wear properly fitting footwear, to give our feet the best chance of functioning optimally. So, what is the average shoe size for women by height? In the US, the average shoe size for women by height is between 8.5 to 9. And in the UK, it is between size 6.5 and 7.
Increase in Shoe Sizes of Women
A review of historical records shows that the size of women’s shoes has increased over the last 20, 30 years. The increase has been within the range of 1.5-2 in size differences.
The natural thing to do here is to ask why? What could be the reasons why the size of women’s shoes have been on the increase? We explain the answers below;
- Obesity
- Genetics
- Foot Conditions
- Pregnancy
- Obesity: The last two or three decades have seen a staggering rise in the number of women that have become obese. The prosperity of the more developed nations of the world has made a lot of consumables available.
The problem with this is that not all of them are healthy. Unfortunately, the unhealthy ones are the most desirable ones. And since the heart wants what it wants, consumption of these unhealthy consumables has also been at an all-time high.
The result has been a spike in obesity cases and as a result, a spike in shoe sizes.
- Genetics: The genetics of a person is one of the most unpredictable parts of a person. One person’s makeup may result in big body size, regardless of how well the person exercises, whilst another person might consume calories for a living and not gain an ounce of weight.
These vast differences also reflect in the shoe size of individuals.
- Foot Conditions: The prevailing conditions affecting a person’s feet will also determine what size of shoes they will wear. Women with hammertoes and bunions will usually go with shoe sizes that are larger than what they usually wear.
- Pregnancy: Yes, this is a temporary condition, but once women get pregnant, the fluctuations in their shoe sizes are usually very dramatic.
What is the Most Common Female Foot Size?
One of the most important facts to consider before answering this question is that there is no universal answer to this question. Women in the UK have a different most common foot size from women in Australia, and so on.
The reasons for this are varied. We’ll start from established facts; taller and bigger people need larger feet to provide optimum support.
Various countries have different averages in the height and weight of their female population. Nutrition, the living conditions, and the cost of living are all valid reasons for these differences.
Looking at footwear sellers though, we begin to get a semblance of an answer by looking at their sales records; Zara has a range between 5.5 to 9.5 for its most common female foot size.
The same goes for Steve Madden footwear. Rarely would you find a size 10.5. Footwear that is labeled ‘Imported from China’, irrespective of the makers is usually between the sizes 7.5 to 8.5.
From this data, we can deduce that the most common female foot size lies somewhere between 7.5 to 8.
Average Shoe Size for Women by Height Chart
Even though height is not the only factor that affects the shoe size of women, the two are interrelated. It is unusual to find a short woman with a big shoe size, and vice versa for tall women.
Below is a shoe size chart that summarizes the correlation between height and shoe size in women.
| Height | Shoe Size |
| 4’9″ – 5’3″ | 5 -6.5 |
| 5’4″ – 5’7″ | 6.5-9 |
| 5’8″ and above | 9-15 |
This chart works for many women, especially those in the US. The population in a country is more homogeneous and it’s easier to compare shoe sizes there.
Average Shoe Size for Women by Height chart in the US?
The US average shoe size for women is between 8.5 and 9.
The popular opinion is that tall women tend to have larger feet because they have to support a bigger base. Short women however have smaller feet because of their smaller base.
This is true, mostly but since some mysteries still exist in the aspect of genetics, there can be unusual occurrences.
In fact, in a home, three sisters who have different heights and weights can use the same shoe size. In the same vein, two friends who are of the same height can have entirely different sizes for their shoes.
In other words, there’s a vast majority that correlates with the average size chart above, but sometimes it doesn’t work that way. This in no way reflects badly on the health of the woman. Shoe sizes are just what they are- sizes.
Average Shoe Size for Women by Height Chart in the UK
In the UK (United Kingdom), the average Shoe size is between 6.5 and 7. It’s totally different from the one for women in the US, but that’s to be expected since they are two different countries.
Average Shoe Size for Women by Height chart Worldwide (other Countries)
In other countries of the world like Japan, Australia, Switzerland, Sweden, Norway, New Zealand, the average Shoe size for women is 7 to 8. In Australia alone, the average shoe size is 7.5.
From one location to another, different factors combine to affect this number, but this is the average from statistics.
The myth about sizes must be debunked before we close this article. Smaller shoe sizes don’t necessarily make a woman more attractive. While women look for taller men, most men could care less. Of course, there are exceptions in choices and taste but generally, it’s needless to worry over your shoe size.
In Conclusion & Final Words
Just as men are generally advised not to feet over their height and shoe size ratio, the same goes for you as a woman.
Being informed is commendable, but understand that your shoe size does not necessarily mean you’re more superior or inferior to another person. Body stature and heights vary all over the world, so do shoe sizes.
