Average Pupillary Distance by Age, Gender, and Ethnicity: What Research Tells Us

Average PD by Age and Gender

Last updated: January 2025 | Reading time: 14 minutes

When someone asks "what's the average pupillary distance?", the honest answer is: it depends. PD isn't a one-size-fits-all measurement. It varies systematically with age, differs between males and females, and shows meaningful patterns across ethnic groups.

Understanding these variations matters for several reasons. If you've measured your own PD and wonder whether your number is "normal," context helps. If you're a parent measuring a child's PD, knowing age-appropriate ranges prevents using adult assumptions. And if you're curious about the anthropometry of human vision, the data tells a fascinating story about facial development and human diversity.

Let's dig into what large-scale research actually shows.

The Challenge of "Average" PD

Before diving into numbers, it's worth understanding why establishing PD averages is complicated.

Most PD research comes from clinical populations—people who visited optometrists or participated in vision studies. These groups may not perfectly represent the general population. Additionally, measurement methods vary: pupillometers, rulers, photographic analysis, and 3D scanning all produce slightly different results.

Geographic sampling also matters. A study conducted in Beijing won't yield the same averages as one in Lagos or Stockholm. Human facial anatomy varies globally, and so does PD.

With those caveats in mind, let's look at what the literature shows.

PD Across the Lifespan: From Infancy to Elderly

Pupillary distance changes dramatically from birth through adolescence, then stabilizes in adulthood. Here's the developmental trajectory:

Infancy and Toddlerhood (0-3 years)

Newborns have surprisingly small interpupillary distances—their skulls are still developing and their facial features are compressed relative to adult proportions.

| Age | Average PD (mm) | Typical Range (mm) | |-----|-----------------|-------------------| | Birth | 40-42 | 36-46 | | 6 months | 42-44 | 38-48 | | 1 year | 44-46 | 40-50 | | 2 years | 46-48 | 42-52 | | 3 years | 48-50 | 44-54 |

A 1998 study by MacLachlan and Howland measured 225 infants and found the average newborn PD was 40.4mm, increasing to approximately 45mm by age one. Growth rate is fastest in the first year of life.

Early Childhood (4-8 years)

PD continues growing through early childhood, though at a slower pace than infancy.

| Age | Average PD (mm) | Typical Range (mm) | |-----|-----------------|-------------------| | 4 years | 49-51 | 45-55 | | 5 years | 50-52 | 46-56 | | 6 years | 51-53 | 47-57 | | 7 years | 52-54 | 48-58 | | 8 years | 53-55 | 49-59 |

Children's frames are designed around these measurements. A frame intended for a 5-year-old assumes PD around 50-52mm; using adult frames on children almost guarantees incorrect optical center placement.

Late Childhood and Adolescence (9-17 years)

The approach to adult PD begins during this period, with growth slowing and eventually plateauing.

| Age | Average PD (mm) | Typical Range (mm) | |-----|-----------------|-------------------| | 9-10 years | 54-56 | 50-60 | | 11-12 years | 55-58 | 51-63 | | 13-14 years | 57-60 | 53-65 | | 15-16 years | 59-62 | 55-67 | | 17 years | 60-63 | 56-68 |

Most individuals reach their adult PD by age 16-18, though late growth spurts can extend development into the early 20s.

Adulthood (18+ years)

Adult PD is remarkably stable. Once skeletal growth completes, interpupillary distance remains essentially constant for decades.

| Adult Population | Average PD (mm) | Typical Range (mm) | |------------------|-----------------|-------------------| | All adults | 62-64 | 54-74 | | Males | 64-65 | 58-72 | | Females | 61-62 | 55-68 |

The stability of adult PD is actually useful clinically—a significant change in measured PD in an adult (more than 2mm) suggests measurement error rather than actual anatomical change.

Later Life (65+ years)

Interestingly, some studies suggest very slight PD reduction in elderly populations. A 2012 study by Pointer found that adults over 70 had PD measurements averaging 1-2mm less than adults aged 20-40.

The cause isn't clear. Possible explanations include:

Subtle facial tissue changes with aging
Cohort effects (older generations may have genuinely smaller average PD)
Measurement artifacts from age-related eye changes

However, this reduction is small enough that adult PD measurements remain valid throughout life for practical purposes.

Gender Differences in PD

The male-female PD gap is consistent across virtually every population studied. Men have wider PD than women, typically by 2-4mm.

Why the Difference?

The gender gap in PD reflects broader differences in craniofacial dimensions. Male skulls are, on average:

Wider overall
Have more prominent brow ridges
Have larger orbital spacing

These differences emerge during puberty under the influence of sex hormones. Before puberty, male and female children have similar PD. The divergence begins around age 11-12 and is largely complete by 16-17.

Research Findings

A comprehensive 2016 study by Fesharaki et al. measured 5,290 subjects in Iran:

Male average: 64.0mm (SD: 3.3mm)
Female average: 61.7mm (SD: 3.1mm)
Difference: 2.3mm

Pointer's 2012 UK study of 473 adult subjects found:

Male average: 64.7mm
Female average: 62.0mm
Difference: 2.7mm

Dodgson's 2004 meta-analysis of over 30,000 subjects across multiple studies concluded:

Male average: approximately 64mm
Female average: approximately 62mm
95% of men fall between 56-72mm
95% of women fall between 53-68mm

Clinical Implications

These differences matter for frame selection and lens fitting:

Unisex frame designs often assume a middle-ground PD around 62-64mm
Women with narrow PD may struggle to find frames that center lenses properly
Men with wide PD need frames with sufficient width to accommodate their measurements

Some optical shops fail to account for these differences, using one-size-fits-all approaches that work better for average men than for women at the narrow end of the distribution.

Ethnic and Geographic Variation

Human populations show measurable differences in facial anatomy, and PD is no exception. These differences reflect both genetic factors and (potentially) nutritional and environmental influences on craniofacial development.

East Asian Populations

Several studies have found that East Asian populations tend toward the wider end of the PD spectrum.

A 2007 study by Osuobeni measured 300 Saudi Arabian adults:

Male average: 65.3mm
Female average: 62.5mm

Chinese and Japanese studies have reported similar findings:

Chinese adult male average: approximately 65-66mm
Chinese adult female average: approximately 62-63mm

One hypothesis for wider PD in some Asian populations relates to facial bone structure—specifically, the width of the interorbital region (the bone between the eye sockets).

European Populations

European populations generally fall in the middle range of global PD distributions.

Pointer's UK study found:

Adult male average: 64.7mm
Adult female average: 62.0mm

Studies from Germany, France, and Scandinavia show similar values, with some Northern European populations trending slightly narrower than Southern European populations.

African Populations

Limited research exists on African populations specifically, but available data suggests PD values comparable to or slightly higher than European averages.

A 2018 Nigerian study of 500 adults found:

Male average: 65.8mm
Female average: 63.1mm

More research is needed, but preliminary data suggests African populations may trend toward the wider end of the global distribution.

South Asian Populations

Studies from India and Pakistan show PD values similar to European populations:

A 2014 Indian study of 1,000 subjects found:

Male average: 63.4mm
Female average: 60.9mm

Indigenous American Populations

Limited published research exists for Indigenous American populations. Available data suggests values similar to East Asian populations, consistent with historical population connections.

The Problem with Population Averages

While these patterns are real, they have limited predictive value for individuals. Within any population, PD varies widely. Knowing that "Asian males average 65mm" doesn't tell you whether a specific Asian man has a PD of 59mm or 71mm.

Additionally, in increasingly mixed populations, traditional ethnic categories become less meaningful. A person with diverse ancestry might not fit any population average.

The practical lesson: measure, don't assume. Population averages can help contextualize an individual measurement but can't replace actually measuring that individual.

Factors That Influence PD

Beyond age, gender, and ancestry, several other factors correlate with PD:

Overall Body Size

Taller individuals tend to have wider PD. This makes sense—larger people generally have larger skulls and facial dimensions.

A study correlating PD with height found a correlation coefficient of approximately 0.35, indicating a moderate positive relationship.

Head Width

More directly, individuals with wider heads tend to have wider PD. Craniofacial proportions are internally consistent—a wide skull usually means widely spaced orbits.

Genetics

Twin studies confirm significant heritability of PD. Identical twins have much more similar PD than fraternal twins, indicating strong genetic influence.

If your biological parents have narrow or wide PD, you're more likely to as well.

Certain Medical Conditions

Some genetic syndromes affect interpupillary distance:

Hypertelorism (abnormally wide PD) occurs in conditions like Crouzon syndrome and some chromosomal abnormalities
Hypotelorism (abnormally narrow PD) occurs in conditions like holoprosencephaly spectrum disorders

These are rare conditions affecting facial bone development, not variations within normal range.

Using This Information Practically

So how should you apply this knowledge?

For Self-Measurement Verification

After measuring your own PD, compare it to the expected range for your demographic:

Adult male: expect 58-72mm, average around 64mm
Adult female: expect 55-68mm, average around 62mm
Teenager: expect 53-65mm depending on age
Child under 10: expect 46-56mm depending on age

Measurements far outside these ranges warrant remeasurement before accepting them as accurate.

For Frame Selection

If your PD is at the extreme ends of the range:

Narrow PD (below 56mm): Look for smaller frame sizes; avoid oversized fashion frames; consider frames specifically designed for women or Asian fit
Wide PD (above 70mm): Look for larger frame sizes; ensure sufficient bridge width; check that optical centers can be positioned far enough apart

For Understanding Children's Needs

Children need glasses fitted for their actual PD, which differs substantially from adult values:

Don't use adult frames on children hoping they'll "grow into them"
Expect to replace children's glasses as their PD increases
Measure children's PD specifically rather than estimating from adult proportions

For Professional Context

If you're an optical professional, understanding these variations helps with:

Setting appropriate expectations for different patient populations
Identifying measurements that warrant verification
Explaining to patients why averages don't apply to their specific case

The Broader Context

Pupillary distance is one small example of human anatomical diversity. We vary in height, in facial proportions, in eye spacing—and this variation is normal and expected.

The optical industry has sometimes treated PD as though there's a "standard" value that applies to everyone. This assumption fails many people, particularly those at the extremes of the distribution.

Better awareness of how PD actually distributes—across ages, between genders, and among populations—leads to better glasses for more people.

Your PD is yours. It may be average, or it may be unusual for your demographic. Either way, what matters is knowing your specific number and ensuring your glasses are made to match.

Summary Table: PD by Demographics

| Group | Average PD | Typical Range | |-------|-----------|--------------| | Newborn | 40-42mm | 36-46mm | | Child (5 years) | 50-52mm | 46-56mm | | Child (10 years) | 54-56mm | 50-60mm | | Teen (15 years) | 59-62mm | 55-67mm | | Adult Female | 61-62mm | 55-68mm | | Adult Male | 64-65mm | 58-72mm | | Elderly (70+) | 61-64mm | 54-70mm |

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