Age of Menarche by Country 2024

The term “menarche” refers to a young woman’s first menstrual cycle and is often seen as an important milestone in her life. For many, it represents something of an unofficial transition from childhood to young adulthood. However, the age at which a young woman might experience menarche can vary greatly from one individual to the next.

There can also be noticeable differences in the average age of menarche from one country to another. Here’s an overview of how those differences can break down, as well as some factors that can potentially impact the average age of menarche for a certain country.

Countries with the Youngest and Oldest Average Ages of Menarche

Generally speaking, menarche occurs on average between the ages of 11 and 15. However, it can certainly happen either earlier or later for a particular young woman based on other factors like genetics, nutrition, socioeconomic environment, etc.

The following are some of the countries with the youngest menarche ages as of 2023.

Factors That Can Impact National Average Age of Menarche

Factors that can contribute to national menarche age trends can include examples like the following.

Physical Activity

The lower body fat percentages associated with active lifestyles and lots of exercise can sometimes delay menarche for a young woman. For that reason, it may occur later rather than sooner in countries where active lifestyles are the norm.

Health Factors

The quality and accessibility of healthcare services and nutritious food can contribute to the average age of menarche in a country. Better nutrition and easier access to adequate healthcare solutions can lead to earlier average menarche ages.

Psychological Factors

Psychological factors like stress can also influence how early or late a young woman experiences menarche. Stress and trauma often correlate to a later average menarche age.