The overall average body fat percentage in the United States is about 39.9% for women and 28.1% for men, so below these amounts would technically be “below average.” ...

Calculating body fat percentage isn’t always completely accurate, and there are many methods to try. We’ll talk about the healthy range for men and women, and the limitations.

For men, the average healthy body fat percentage can range from 8 percent to 18.6 percent. If it is below 8, it is dangerously low and if it is above 18.7, it is poor or dangerously high.

Body Fat Percentage: A Complete Guide. Subscribe To Newsletters. ... normal body fat percentage ranges that are generally considered healthy for both men and women are provided in the chart below.

According to The Royal College of Nursing, a healthy body fat percentage for women aged 20 to 40 is between 15% and 31%. As you get past 40, your ideal body fat percentage might get higher.

According to Farhan Malik, M.D., a board-certified sports medicine physician, the general population should aim for body fat percentages between 14 to 31 percent for women and 6 to 25 percent for men.

Body fat percentage is calculated by determining how much of a person’s weight is fat. A quick way to measure body fat percentage is to determine the circumference of the waist. Greater than 35 inches ...

Gender and Body Fat Percentage . For the same body mass index (BMI), women present with ~10% higher body fat percentage compared to men(3 Trusted SourceA comparison of the skinfold method with ...

Body fat percentage charts for men and women Medically reviewed by Gregory Minnis, DPT — Written by Zawn Villines — Updated on April 3, 2025 Target body fat percentages ...