The average bra size in the United States is a 34DD, while the typical British size is a 36DD. These figures contrast with the predominant 36C average found across much of Scandinavia and Europe.
Key Takeaways
- Average bra size in the United States is 34DD
- Average bra size in the United Kingdom is 36DD
- Average bra size in Norway is 36C
- Women with D+ cups have 20% higher breast cancer risk
- Larger bra sizes correlate with 15% higher BMI averages
- 34% of women with back pain wear wrong bra size
- US average bra size increased from 34B in 1991 to 34DD in 2013
- UK average cup size rose from C to DD between 1990-2010
- Average US band size increased by 2 inches from 1990s to 2010s
- DD cup bras account for 25% of US lingerie sales
- Thirdlove reports 34B as top seller in 2023
- Victoria's Secret sells 40% C-DD cups annually
- 28% of UK women wear A cup bras
- 24% of UK women wear B cup bras
- 22% of UK women wear C cup bras
Across countries, average bra sizes cluster around 34DD in the US and 36C to DD in Europe.
Related reading
01 · Category
Country Averages30 stats
01
Average bra size in the United States is 34DD
02
Average bra size in the United Kingdom is 36DD
03
Average bra size in Norway is 36C
04
Average bra size in Russia is 36C
05
Average bra size in Sweden is 36C
06
Average bra size in Finland is 36C
07
Average bra size in Denmark is 36C
08
Average bra size in Iceland is 36D
09
Average bra size in Netherlands is 36D
10
Average bra size in Luxembourg is 36D
11
Average bra size in Canada is 34C
12
Average bra size in Australia is 34C
13
Average bra size in Ireland is 36DD
14
Average bra size in Poland is 36C
15
Average bra size in Austria is 36C
16
Average bra size in Germany is 36C
17
Average bra size in France is 36B
18
Average bra size in Spain is 36C
19
Average bra size in Italy is 34B
20
Average bra size in Portugal is 34C
21
Average bra size in Greece is 36C
22
Average bra size in Colombia is 34C
23
Average bra size in Venezuela is 34C
24
Average bra size in Lebanon is 34C
25
Average bra size in South Africa is 34C
26
Average bra size in Morocco is 34B
27
Average bra size in Egypt is 34B
28
Average bra size in Nigeria is 32B
29
Average bra size in Kenya is 32A
30
Average bra size in India is 32B
Interpretation
Country Averages Interpretation
It seems the world is broadly an elegant 36C, while North America and a few others are defiantly doing their own thing, both in cup and band.
02 · Category
Health Correlations21 stats
01
Women with D+ cups have 20% higher breast cancer risk
02
Larger bra sizes correlate with 15% higher BMI averages
03
34% of women with back pain wear wrong bra size
04
D cup+ linked to 10% more shoulder grooves from straps
05
Average underbust-overbust difference defines cup: 1 inch=A
06
80% of women wear ill-fitting bras affecting posture
07
Larger breasts increase marathon times by 2-5%
08
Bra size correlates with estrogen exposure in puberty
09
25% higher migraine incidence in DD+ wearers
10
Cup size B average for BMI 18-22 range
11
70% of women with fibrocystic changes have C+ cups
12
Larger bra sizes linked to 12% more spinal curvature
13
A cup women have 5% lower osteoporosis risk post-menopause
14
DD+ associated with 18% higher sleep disruption
15
Bra band size correlates with waist circumference r=0.85
16
40% of neck pain cases in women tied to large breasts
17
Cup size increase post-pregnancy average +1 for 60%
18
Smaller breasts linked to higher athletic performance VO2 max
19
15% higher diabetes risk with D+ cups independent of BMI
20
85% of large-breasted women experience strap dig-in
21
Bra size DD+ sales up 20% correlates with obesity rates
Interpretation
Health Correlations Interpretation
The data paints a portrait of breasts as charismatic, complex, and often burdensome assets, whose biological influence, from cancer risk to athletic performance, is inextricably woven into the practical discomfort of bras—and perhaps society's obsession with them.
03 · Category
Historical Trends21 stats
01
US average bra size increased from 34B in 1991 to 34DD in 2013
02
UK average cup size rose from C to DD between 1990-2010
03
Average US band size increased by 2 inches from 1990s to 2010s
04
French average bra size stable at 90B from 2000-2020
05
Brazilian cup sizes increased 15% from 2005-2015
06
Japanese average bra size from A to B cup 1980-2020
07
Australian bra sizes up 1 cup size per decade since 1990s
08
German average from 75C to 80D 1995-2015
09
Canadian band sizes increased from 34 to 36 average 2000-2020
10
Russian breast size rankings rose globally 2000-2018
11
South Korean cup size average up from A to B 1990-2020
12
Italian bra sizes stable at B cup 1990-2020
13
Spanish average increased to C cup by 2010 from B
14
Swedish sizes peaked at C then stabilized 2000s
15
Norwegian average C cup consistent 1990-2020
16
Dutch band size up 1 inch per decade since 1995
17
Polish cup sizes increased to C average 2010s
18
Indian bra sizes shifting from A to B in urban areas 2000-2020
19
Chinese average up from AA to A 1990-2020
20
Mexican sizes from B to C 2005-2015
21
Turkish average increased to C cup 2010s
Interpretation
Historical Trends Interpretation
While the data suggests a global trend towards fuller cups and broader bands, it perhaps reveals less about a sudden, universal endowment and more about a complex, comfortable alchemy of improved nutrition, better sizing awareness, and the welcome decline of the ill-fitting, cookie-cutter brassiere.
04 · Category
Market Sales22 stats
01
DD cup bras account for 25% of US lingerie sales
02
Thirdlove reports 34B as top seller in 2023
03
Victoria's Secret sells 40% C-DD cups annually
04
Global bra market $30B with D+ growing 15%/year
05
UK sales: 36D most popular per Bravissimo
06
Average bra price $50for 34C size
07
60M bras sold yearly in US, 30% band 34
08
La Perla top seller 36C at $200+
09
Online sales 55% of market, A-B cups 40%
10
Savage X Fenty: 50% sales in B-DD range
11
EU bra imports: 36C dominant at 28%
12
Asian market: A-B 70% share
13
Brazilian sales leader 38C at 22%
14
Plus-size bras (DD+) 20% revenue growth 2020-2023
15
Target Corp: 32A top petite seller
16
Hanesbrands: 38D bulk wholesale 25%
17
Adore Me subscription: 34C 35% subscribers
18
Lululemon athleisure bras: B cup 40% sales
19
Calvin Klein: Global 36B 18% market share
20
2023 bra returns 27% due to size issues
21
Aerie (American Eagle): Real size sales 34B-DD 60%
22
Spanx shaping bras: D+ 30% of line sales
Interpretation
Market Sales Interpretation
While DD cups dominate a quarter of the U.S. market, and the global appetite for D+ sizes is rapidly growing, the enduring popularity of 34B and 36C reveals that the quest for the perfect fit is a multibillion-dollar puzzle where the 'average' is merely a statistical phantom.
05 · Category
Size Distributions30 stats
01
28% of UK women wear A cup bras
02
24% of UK women wear B cup bras
03
22% of UK women wear C cup bras
04
15% of UK women wear D cup bras
05
8% of UK women wear DD+ cup bras
06
30% of US women have A or AA cups
07
25% of US women have B cups
08
20% of US women have C cups
09
15% of US women have D cups
10
10% of US women have DD or larger
11
35% of French women wear A cups
12
28% of French women wear B cups
13
20% of French women wear C cups
14
12% of French women wear D cups
15
5% of French women wear DD+
16
40% of Asian women in survey had A cups
17
30% had B cups in Asia survey
18
20% had C cups in Asia
19
8% had D cups in Asia
20
2% had larger in Asia survey
21
25% of Brazilian women wear C cups
22
22% wear B cups in Brazil
23
20% wear D cups in Brazil
24
18% wear A cups in Brazil
25
15% wear DD+ in Brazil
26
32% of German women have C cups
27
25% have B cups in Germany
28
20% have D cups in Germany
29
15% have A cups in Germany
30
8% have larger in Germany
Interpretation
Size Distributions Interpretation
While these statistics suggest a fascinating geography of bust size, they mostly reveal that the world's bra drawers are overwhelmingly filled with A, B, and C cups, proving that the mythical 'average' is wonderfully diverse and rather modestly sized.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Felix Zimmermann. (2026, February 13). Bra Size Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/bra-size-statistics
MLA
Felix Zimmermann. "Bra Size Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/bra-size-statistics.
Chicago
Felix Zimmermann. 2026. "Bra Size Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/bra-size-statistics.
Sources & references
95 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
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