What Is the Average Pant Size for a Woman?

Women tend to worry about their weight a great deal more than men, and many women want to be as thin as possible.

Some women even worry about being overweight if their pant size is extremely small, which isn’t healthy. But what is the average pant size for a woman?

Believe it or not, the average pant size for a woman is 18–20, which is based on the average height of 5″3 and 170 lbs., according to statistics obtained by the CDC.

Again, this is an average of American women taken, which was obtained by several different sources.

Of course, not every woman in America wears an L/XL pant size, as some women are extremely tiny and can fit a size small or even an x-small, while others may be very obese.

When did the average pant size for a woman become so large?

Both women and men have become larger over the years, and now the average woman weighs more than the average man used to weigh in the 1960s.

What has caused such a big change? Americans are eating bigger portions and higher calorie foods, which could lead to the development of various potentially life-threatening diseases, and bigger sizes.

Why aren’t sizes consistent among different clothing brands?

As a woman, you’re likely already aware that women’s clothing sizes can vary significantly depending on the specific brand.

While the same woman may fit an 18/20 in one brand of pants, the same woman might fit a 14/16 or even a 10/12 in another brand.

Sizes for women’s clothing are so inconsistent because every manufacturer uses their own measuring tool for sizing that isn’t necessarily universal.

Is size 18–20 in women’s clothing considered plus-sized?

A true size 18–20 in women’s clothing is considered to be plus-sized, but with the extreme variations in size 18-20 depending on the specific brand, even women who aren’t plus-sized could find themselves fitting into an 18/20 pair of pants.

This can be very depressing for some women because believing that you’re size 12 or 14 but realizing that the smallest size you can fit in a certain brand is 18–20, can be disheartening.

What was the average pant size for a woman a century ago?

True sizing in women’s clothing didn’t exist a century ago, as women made their own and their clothing and sizes had to be measured individually to do so.

Women’s clothing sizes have changed tremendously over the years, and during the Marilyn Monroe days, Monroe wore a then size 12 dress.

However, since sizes have changed so dramatically, what was a size 12 when Marilyn Monroe wore this size is now equivalent to a size two, or even smaller, depending on the clothing manufacturer.

How to get healthier in an unhealthy world

If you’re concerned about the average size of a woman creeping up over the decades, then you certainly have a valid concern.

However, just because many others are eating excessively and consuming unhealthy foods that lead to weight gain and illness doesn’t mean that you have to.

As long as you find an eating plan that is conducive to good health and you’re only allowing yourself “bad foods” on occasion, then you shouldn’t become overweight or unhealthy.

Exercise is also a big part of being healthy, so you want to ensure that you’re not sedentary.

Even something as simple as walking regularly can keep your heart and your overall body in optimal shape.

However, if you want to begin an official workout plan, complete with strength training, then that is fine as well, but just make sure you get cleared by your personal care physician before starting anything new.

What is vanity sizing?

Vanity sizing is a psychological ploy that many clothing manufacturers have resorted to in order to increase the chances of a customer buying their clothing and remaining loyal.

In vanity sizing, a manufacturer will change the size of their clothing by a size or two, making customers (usually women) believe that they wear a size 14, for instance, when their normal size is 18.

However, the manufacturer is fully aware that the clothing size is two sizes larger, but they purposely label the size incorrectly.

If a woman feels good about herself and believes that she needs a smaller size, then it’s going to increase her chances of buying that brand of clothing now and in the future.

Most women are so sensitive about their clothing size that encouraging a woman to believe that she needs a smaller size is a big deal – it can significantly increase a woman’s self-esteem, even if only temporarily.

What’s the healthiest size for a woman?

As long as a woman is height and weight proportionate, there is no one size that is healthier than another.

A woman who wears size 14 can be as healthy as a woman who wears size 6. As long as their BMI is within the normal range, then her size is healthy.

On the other hand, if a woman’s BMI is too high, then she’s just as unhealthy as a woman whose BMI is too low, so it’s best to check yours to be sure it’s in a normal range.

Here is a BMI chart for women:

Does the average woman also wear a size 18–20 dress?

Yes, the average woman does also wear a size 18–20 dress, as well, although again, sizes can vary dramatically.

This is even truer with dress sizes because of the different styles of dresses available.

One dress style may run on the larger side, while another could run a lot smaller, causing women to need smaller or larger sizes for those particular dresses.

How can a larger woman feel good about herself despite her size?

Beautiful women come in all different shapes and sizes, and women of all sizes sometimes struggle with accepting themselves.

A woman of any size can feel better about herself by focusing on her positive aspects. Is she creative? Does she have nice eyes and thick, beautiful hair?

Every woman has positive physical as well as non-physical attributes, so no woman should ever say that they don’t have any positive physical or non-physical attributes.

Practicing daily positive affirmations can help a woman to become more positive and feel better about herself as well.

What is the height of the shortest woman in the world?

Jyoti Amge, who was born in India in 1993, is currently the shortest woman in the world at just over two-feet tall.

Jyoti suffers from an extreme form of dwarfism, which is why she’s been featured in the Guinness Book of World Records for being the world’s shortest woman.

Her height has not stopped her from being successful, as Jyoti is currently a model as well as an actress.

Who is the tallest woman in the world?

Rumeysa Gelgi, who suffers from Weavers syndrome, a condition that causes accelerated growth in addition to other abnormalities, is the world’s tallest woman at 7″7.

She is also in the Guinness Book of World Records due to her height.

Although being tall has some advantages, Rumeysa is unable to walk for long periods due to the syndrome that she suffers from.

As you can see, the average pant size for a woman is currently 18/20, and while this might seem like an extremely large size, it’s not always as simple as it seems.

Due to the varying sizes among manufacturers, a size 18/20 with one company could equal 12/14 with another company.

So, regardless of what your pant size is, accept yourself – you’re beautiful and special just the way you are.