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Updated: Apr 14, 2026

Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
Published on: February 2, 2017
Penile anthropometry in North Indian children
Amilal Bhat1, Ravi Upadhyay1, Mahakshit Bhat2
1Department of Urology, S. P. Medical College, Bikaner, Rajasthan, India.
Insights
This study measured penile dimensions in North Indian boys aged 0-10 years. Penile size increased with age but did not correlate with height, weight, or BMI, and was smaller than in other countries.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Human Growth and Development
- Anthropometry
Background:
- Physicians often address parental concerns about typical child penile size.
- Understanding normal penile dimensions is crucial for clinical practice.
- Variations in penile size across different populations require investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine normal penile dimensions in North Indian boys.
- To assess the correlation between penile length and anthropometric parameters (height, weight, BMI).
- To compare penile dimensions with international data.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study of 250 boys aged 0-10 years.
- Penile length (stretched) and circumferences (mid-shaft, corona) measured using Vernier calipers.
- Statistical analysis included Pearson correlation and Student's t-test for comparisons.
Main Results:
- Penile length and circumference increased with age.
- No significant correlation found between penile length and height, weight, or BMI.
- North Indian children's penile dimensions were statistically smaller compared to international studies.
Conclusions:
- Established normal ranges for penile dimensions in North Indian children.
- Highlighted population-specific variations in penile size.
- Provided reference data for pediatricians and researchers.
Introduction:
Physicians frequently encounter questions by parents regarding the normal size of a child's penis. We evaluated normal variations of penile dimensions, correlation of penile length with height, weight, and body mass index (BMI) of boys and analyzed the differences in penile dimensions from those reported from other countries.
Materials And Methods:
A cross-sectional study was conducted at our institution during October 2012-December 2012. A total of 250 subjects (birth to 10 years) were evaluated and divided into 10 groups with 1-year interval taking 25 children in each. Penile dimensions measured twice by a single observer with Vernier calipers included the length of flaccid penis fully stretched and diameters at mid-shaft and corona. Diameters were multiplied by pi (π = 3.14) to calculate circumferences. Mean, standard deviation, and range were calculated. Height, weight, and BMI were noted and statistically correlated with the penile length using the Pearson correlation coefficient. Data were compared with similar studies reported on other populations in the past and individually evaluated with every study using Student's t-test.
Results:
The mean values for the penile length, mid-shaft circumference, and coronal circumference were 3.34, 3.05, 3.29 cm during infancy, 4.28, 3.86, 4.11 cm during 4-5 years, and 5.25, 4.78, 5.05 cm during 9-10 years, respectively. The penile length increased with advancing age in successive age groups, but it did not have a direct correlation with either height, weight, or BMI. Penile dimensions in North Indian children were found to be statistically smaller in comparison with most studies from other countries.
Conclusion:
We provide the normal range and variations of penile dimensions in North Indian children.
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