Is a Size 25 Inch Waist Small? See How It Compares to Average (2024)

By: Jeremy Fox, CNC, CPTPublished: December 13, 2024

Waist circumference is a universal clothing size, fitness, and general health measurement. Often, smaller is considered better for waist size.

And you may wonder if a 25-inch waist is small or average. So this article shows you waist size statistics for men and women.

Is a Size 25 Inch Waist Small? See How It Compares to Average (1)

What is a 25-Inch Waist?

A 25-inch waist is a circumference measurement around the abdomen. And you can use this number for everything from buying clothing to assessing your risk for health problems like heart disease and diabetes.

But it’s critical to measure your waist correctly to know if it really is 25 inches around.

How to Measure Your Waist

To check your waist size, you will need a flexible tape measure. First, wrap the tape measure around your waist parallel to the floor just above your hip bone.

Now pull the tape snug but not so tight that it indents into your skin. Also, take the reading at the end of a normal exhale but do not suck in your stomach. The number where the end of the tape intersects is your waist size.

Is a Size 25 Inch Waist Small? See How It Compares to Average (2)

Is a 25-Inch Waist Healthy?

Generally speaking, a 25-inch waist is quite small and indicates low abdominal fat, a marker of good health. However, having a slim waist doesn’t automatically make you healthy. And it would be best if you also consideredother diet and lifestyle factors.

How Likely Are You to Have a 25-Inch Waist?

The likelihood of a 25-inch waist depends on your body shape and overall fitness. For example, a 25-inch waistline is more likely for women with a smaller frame who exercise regularly.

For adult males, it’s extremely unlikely. To illustrate, let’s look at some waist size statistics for men and women.

25-Inch Waist for Women

The average waist size for American women is 35.6 inches. That means a 25-inch waist is more than 10 inches smaller than usual. And your waist would be smaller than 99% of the female population.

However, it’s important to remember that 3 out of 4 adult women in the US are overweight or obese. So does that mean a 25-inch waist is more common among a fit population?

A survey of women in the US Army, who are generally more fit, shows that their average waist size is 28.2 inches. And a 25-inch waist would still be smaller than 90% of athletic women.

Table 1. 25 Inch Waist for Women

NormalFitness
1st25.423.9
5th27.825.1
10th28.925.7
15th30.026.1
20th30.726.5
25th31.626.8
40th33.927.7
50th35.628.2
60th37.228.9
75th40.330.0
80th41.530.5
85th42.831.1
90th44.731.9
95th47.633.2
99th53.835.8

25-Inch Waist for Men

If only about 1 in every 100 women has a 25-inch waist, then it must be even more infrequent for adult men. Especially considering the average waist size for an American man is 38.2 inches!

Even among military men, the average waist size is 32.8 inches. And the smallest waist size measured out of 1,774 males was 25.47″. So it is possible for a man to have a 25-inch waist, but it is exceedingly rare.

Table 2. 25 Inch Waist for Men

NormalFitness
1st27.827.5
5th30.028.7
10th31.629.5
15th32.830.0
20th33.930.5
25th34.831.0
40th36.932.1
50th38.232.8
60th39.633.6
75th42.235.0
80th43.435.5
85th44.836.2
90th46.437.0
95th49.538.2
99th56.240.5

See Mr. Olympia Chris Bumstead’s 30 Inch Waist

25 Inch Waist FAQ

Now you know how small a 25-inch waist is for men and women. But you might have more questions about this topic. So here are some quick answers to common queries.

What size is a 25-inch waist?

A 25-inch waist typically corresponds to a US dress size of 2, about 32 in Euro sizes. Additionally, this waist circumference should put you in an international size XS for women’s clothing.

What pants size is a 25-inch waist?

A waist size of 25 inches generally corresponds to a pant size of 24-25 for women. So your jeans size doesn’t always reflect your actual waist size.

One reason for this is how you wear your pants. For example, the measurement site for waist circumference may be smaller than the circumference around your hips at pant level.

In addition, your actual waist size may not reflect your pant size due to your body proportions. For instance, you may need to size up if you have thicker thighs or a bigger butt.

Is a Size 25 Inch Waist Small? See How It Compares to Average (3)

Is a 25-inch waist good for a woman?

For women, a 25-inch waist is about 30% smaller than the average female’s. So this would be a lofty target if you’re starting from average size and weight.

At the same time, a waist size of 25 inches is sometimes attainable among women who exercise regularly. So if your goal is to be in top shape, you could potentially achieve this measurement.

In addition, your ideal waist size depends on your body type and height. For instance, a 25″ waist would be more feasible for a petite or naturally thin woman.

Does Waist Training Work?

Videos and images of tiny-waisted models might make you think that “waist training” is the secret to an hourglass figure. This trend involveswearing corsets, slimming garments, or sweat belts to reduce your waistline.

But do these tricks really work, or is it just a clever marketing ploy to sell garments and goops? Check out my in-depthreview of the Sweet Sweat Waist Trimmerto find out if it’s worth your time and money!

Waist Size and Body Type

Your waist circumference can be affected by your body type. For example, the ectomorph body type has straighter lines and a naturally smaller waist. By comparison, the endomorph body type has more curves and a thicker waist.

As a result, it’s vital to use specific diet and workout strategies to reduce your waist size based on your body type.

Next Step:Take My Free Body Type Quiz

More Waist & Body Size Statistics

If you found this waist size information useful, you’ll definitely be interested in these related body measurement articles.

Is a 27 Inch Waist Healthy?

Likelihood of a 30 Inch Waist

What do 20 Inch Thighs Look Like?

Check out these additional articles for even more helpful tips on nutrition, supplements, and workouts to reach your fitness goals faster.

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References
1) Dobbelsteyn, C. J., et al. “A comparative evaluation of waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio and body mass index as indicators of cardiovascular risk factors. The Canadian Heart Health Surveys.”International journal of obesity25.5 (2001): 652-661.
2) Feller, Silke, Heiner Boeing, and Tobias Pischon. “Body mass index, waist circumference, and the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus: implications for routine clinical practice.”Deutsches Ärzteblatt international107.26 (2010): 470.
3) World Health Organization. “Waist circumference and waist-hip ratio: report of a WHO expert consultation, Geneva, 8-11 December 2008.” (2011).
4) Ford, Earl S., Ali H. Mokdad, and Wayne H. Giles. “Trends in waist circumference among US adults.”Obesity research11.10 (2003): 1223-1231.
7) National Health Statistics Reports, & Stierman, B., National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2017–March 2020 Prepandemic Data Files—Development of Files and Prevalence Estimates for Selected Health Outcomes (n.d.).
6) United States, Congress, Research, Development, and Engineering Center, et al.1988 ANTHROPOMETRIC SURVEY OF U.S. ARMY PERSONNEL: METHODS AND SUMMARY STATISTICS, 1988, pp. 298-299.

By Jeremy Fox|February 9, 2023|Bodybuilding|0 Comments

Is a Size 25 Inch Waist Small? See How It Compares to Average (2024)
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