Which country has the largest hands in the world?

**Martijn (admin)** on Sun Oct 03, 2010 3:21 am

NOTICE: Hand breath is usually measured at the metacarpals, so the picture doesn't provide accurate info about that measurement.

Which country has the largest hands in the world?

A funny list for a few countries - ranked by hand length (= palm length + middle finger length) + hand width (averages for males + females):

Nigeria - Hand length: 19.26 cm (= 12.0% of body height); hand breadth: 9.03 cm;

UK - Hand length: 18.75 cm (= 11.0% of body height); hand breadth: 8.25 cm;

Netherlands - Hand length: 18.70 cm (= 10.6% of body height); hand breadth: 8.5 cm;

USA - Hand length: 18.15 cm (= 10.6% of body height); hand breadth: 8.2 cm;

Mauritius - Hand length: 18.05 cm (= ??% of body height); hand breadth: 7.9 cm;

China - Hand length: 17.7 cm (= 10.9% of body height); hand breadth: 7.8 cm;

India - Hand length: ?? cm (= ??% of body height); hand breadth: ?? cm;

Japan - Hand length: 17.5 cm (= 10.6% of body height); hand breadth: 7.5 cm;

(Data for Indians is not included above because data is only available for females)

MORE DETAILS FOR EACH OF THESE POPULATIONS:

Nigeria - Average hand length (males + females): 19.26 cm
- hand length males: 19.7 - hand length females: 18.82;
- finger length: ?? cm (males: ??; females: ??);
- hand breadth: 9.03 (males: 9.20; females: 8.85);
- palm shape (hand breadth vs. palm length ratio): ?? % (males: ??; females: ??);
- 'hand index' = 46.9 (males: 46.7; females: 47.0)

- average body height = 160.8 cm (hand length vs. body length ratio = 12.0 %).

Sources:
- hands: source 1: page 4: http://ljs.academicdirect.org/A15/015_020.pdf;
source 2: table 1: [url=http://www.ispub.com/journal/the_internet_journal_of_forensic_science/volume_3_number_1_58/article/sexual_dimorphism_in_hand_and_foot_length_indices_stature_ratio_and_relationship_to_height_in_nigerians.html>Nigerian hand data]Nigerian hand data[/url]
- body height: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_height

NOTICE: Another (slightly smaller) study from Nigeria reported even larger figures for hand length.

UK - Average hand length (males + females): 18.75 cm
- hand length males: ?? - hand length females: ??;
- finger length: 8.0 cm (males: ??; females: ??);
- hand breadth: 8.25 (males: ??; females: ??);
- palm shape (hand breadth vs. palm length ratio): 76.7% (males: ??; females: ??);
- 'hand index' = 44.0 (males: ??; females: ??)

- average body height = 170 cm (hand length vs. body length ratio = 11.0 %).

Sources:
- hands, pages 242 + 244: http://books.google.com/books?id=eklpJbP71msC
- body height: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_height

Netherlands - Average hand length (males + females): 18.70 cm
- hand length males: 19.7 - hand length females: 17.7;
- finger length: ?? cm (males: ??; females: ??);
- hand breadth: 8.5 (males: 9.1; females: 7.9);
- palm shape (hand breadth vs. palm length ratio): ??% (males: ??; females: ??);
- 'hand index' = 45.4 (males: ??; females: ??)

- average body height = 176.7 cm (hand length vs. body length ratio = 10.6 %).

Source:
- hands + body height: http://dined.io.tudelft.nl/en,dined2004,301

US - Average hand length (males + females): 18.15 cm
- hand length males: 18.9 cm - hand length females: 17.4 cm;
- finger length: 8.0 (males: 8.3 cm; females: 7.7 cm);
- hand breadth: 8.2 (males: 8.7 cm; females: 7.6 cm);
- palm shape (hand breadth vs. palm length ratio): 80.8% (males: 82.1%; females: 78.4%);
- 'hand index' = 45.2 (males: 46.0; females: 43.7)

- average body height (males + females) = 172 cm (hand length vs. body length ratio = 10.6 %).

Sources:
- hands, page 84: http://books.google.com/books?id=sId0U1abGuEC
- body height: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_height

Mauritius - Average hand length (males + females): 18.05 cm
- hand length males: 18.9 cm - hand length females: 17.2 cm;
- finger length: ?? (males: ??; females: ??);
- hand breadth: 7.9 cm (males: 8.4 cm; females: 7.5 cm);
- palm shape (hand breadth vs. palm length ratio): ?? (males: ??; females: ??);
- 'hand index' = 43.8 (males: 44.4; females: 43.6)

- average body height (males + females) = ?? cm (hand length vs. body length ratio = ??).

Sources:
- hands, table 1: http://www.ispub.com/ostia/index.php?xmlFilePath=journals/ijfs/vol1n2/hand.xml
- body height: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_height

China - Average hand length (males + females): 17.7 cm
- hand length males: 18.5 cm - hand length females: 17.0 cm;
- finger length: 7.7 (males: 8.0 cm; females: 7.4 cm);
- hand breadth: 7.8 (males: 8.2 cm; females: 7.3 cm);
- palm shape (hand breadth vs. palm length ratio): 78.0% (males: 78.1%; females: 76.1%);
- 'hand index' = 44.1 (males: 44.3; females: 42.9)

- average body height (males + females) = 163 cm (hand length vs. body length ratio = 10.9 %).

Sources:
- hands, pages 52 + 53: http://books.google.com/books?id=VbAQtY7CA9oC
- body height: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_height

India - Average hand length (males + females): ?? cm
- hand length males: ?? cm - hand length females: 16.96 cm);
- finger length: ?? (males: ?? cm; females: 7.6 cm);
- hand breadth: 7.5 (males: ?? cm; females: 6.8 cm);
- palm shape (hand breadth vs. palm length ratio): ?? % (males: ?? %; females: 72.6%);
- 'hand index' = ?? (males: ??; females: 40.1)

- average body height (females only) = 152 cm (hand length vs. body length ratio = ... females only: 11.2 %).

Sources:
- hands, pages 3 + 4: http://icmr.nic.in/ijmr/2003/0606.pdf- body height: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_height

Japan - Average hand length (males + females): 17.5 cm
- hand length males: 18.3 cm - hand length females: 16.8 cm);
- finger length: 7.6 (males: 7.9 cm; females: 7.3 cm);
- hand breadth: 7.5 (males: 7.9 cm; females: 7.1 cm);
- palm shape (hand breadth vs. palm length ratio): 75.8% (males: 76.0%; females: 74.7%);
- 'hand index' = 42.8 (males: 43.1; females: 42.3)

- average body height (males + females) = 165 cm (hand length vs. body length ratio = 10.6 %).

Sources:
- hands, pages 52 + 53: http://books.google.com/books?id=VbAQtY7CA9oC
- body height: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_height

**Martijn (admin)** on Sun Oct 03, 2010 4:13 am

... one can make interesting observations from these data!

For example:

- All populations show that females have relatively longer fingers than men (however interestingly... only when compared to hand breadth; but not when compared for palm length, and neither for body length!!).

- All populations show that men have more 'square' shaped palms, but in the perspective of body length this sexe-difference is basically only the result of that men clearly have wider palms... but only slightly longer palms: resulting in that men have relatively larger palms than women have!

affraid

... Wow, this indicates that women do not really have (relatively) longer fingers than men: for, there appears to be only a sexe-difference in the "finger length vs. palm width ratio"!

- In the perspective of body height have the people from the UK the LARGEST HANDS, they also have the relatively SHORTEST FINGERS.when compared to their palm width and palm length! (But their fingers are not short at all in the perspective of their body height)

- In the perspective of full hand length and palm length (+ also the combination of palm length & palm width) have the Americans the relatively LONGEST FINGERS; however in the perspective of hand breadth have the Japanese the LONGEST FINGERS (because their palm has the shape of a rectangle).

- The Americans have the most squarish-shaped palm.

- - The Japanese clearly have the SMALLEST HANDS! And they also the most 'rectangle' shaped palms (= least squarish shaped)!

**Martijn (admin)** on Sun Oct 03, 2010 3:23 pm

Hi Lynn, in the perspective of 'Elemental Handanalysis' ... I come to the following conclusions for the various nations:

The hands of British people show traces of a typical 'fire' handshape

(in the perspective of body length they have the longest hand length - with especially a relatively long palm, for their fingers are definitely short in the perspective of: palm width and palm length - but their fingers are slightly long in the perspective of their body height!)

The hands of Americans show traces of a mix of 'earth' + 'air' handshape

(they have the most squarish shaped palm - due to a relatively short palm; finger length is close to normal: slighly short when compard to body length + palm width + the combi of hand breadth & palm length, but they have the longest fingers when compared to hand length and palm length)

The hands of Chinese show traces of a mix of 'air' (+ 'water') handshape

(they have relatively large hands with especially a relatively large palm length: above average hand length + the widest palm in the perspective of body length; the fingers belong to the longest in the perspective of hand breadth, palm length & hand length and they have even the [u]longest finger length in perspective of body height)

The hands of Japanese show dominance of a typical 'fire' handshape

(they have the most rectangle shaped palm + the shortest fingers in the perspective of their body length, full hand length, and palm length).

**Lynn** on Sun Oct 03, 2010 6:40 pm

Martijn (admin) wrote:
Hi Lynn, in the perspective of 'Elemental Handanalysis' ... I come to the following conclusions for the various nations....

Hi Martijn, I'm not sure how you reached your conclusions.
To assess 5-element hand shape we need palm length, palm width (across centre of palm), length of middle finger.

eg for Uk we don't have the necessary data so impossible to assess handshape.

(edit)

The hands of Chinese show traces of a mix of 'fire' (+ 'water') handshape

Chinese study http://books.google.com/books?id=VbAQtY7CA9oC page 51,
measures palm width across metacarpals, not centre of palm.
chinese boys palm length 105mm, finger length 80.2mm = 76% so fingers aren't long enough to be water shape.

**Martijn (admin)** on Sun Oct 03, 2010 7:12 pm

Lynn wrote:
Martijn (admin) wrote:
Hi Lynn, in the perspective of 'Elemental Handanalysis' ... I come to the following conclusions for the various nations....

Hi Martijn, I'm not sure how you reached your conclusions.
To assess 5-element hand shape we need palm length, palm width (across centre of palm), length of middle finger.

eg for Uk we don't have the necessary data so impossible to assess handshape.

I reminded that I found that info a few months ago, and I have found it in the copy of the PI discussion - sorry, I have just edited/updated my analysis of the English characteristics.

**Lynn** on Sun Oct 03, 2010 7:23 pm

thanks Martijn, that makes more sense for uk
not sure if you saw my above edited msg re chinese.

**Martijn (admin)** on Sun Oct 03, 2010 7:30 pm

Lynn wrote:...
(edit)
The hands of Chinese show traces of a mix of 'fire' (+ 'water') handshape

Chinese study http://books.google.com/books?id=VbAQtY7CA9oC page 51,
measures palm width across metacarpals, not centre of palm.
chinese boys palm length 105mm, finger length 80.2mm = 76% so fingers aren't long enough to be water shape.

Yes Lynn,

All measurements for hand breadth/palm width are made at the metacarpals (I have included a comment with the picture in my first post).

Sorry, I had to edit my comment about the Chinese hands!

**Martijn (admin)** on Sun Oct 03, 2010 8:28 pm

Lynn wrote:thanks Martijn, that makes more sense for uk
not sure if you saw my above edited msg re chinese.

Hi Lynn,

I have edited my messages quite a few times... but so far my conclusion is:

- The element 'earth' is most dominant in the Americans;
- The element 'fire' is most dominant in the Japanese, and to lesser degree also in Britains;
- The element 'air' is most dominant in the Chinese, and 2nd in the Americains;
- The element 'water' is 2nd most dominant in the Chinese.

**Lynn** on Sun Oct 03, 2010 8:33 pm

Thanks for your explanations Martijn.

I think it might be a mistake to attempt to identify element handshapes when hand width is measured at metacarpals. Body length isn't a factor in assessing hand shape.

**Martijn (admin)** on Sun Oct 03, 2010 8:59 pm

Yes Lynn,

I know that the elemental method doesn't include body length, and uses another approach for measuring palm width.

But the trouble is... without the consideration of body length, there will always be answered questions because 'everything is relative to everything'.

For example: how would you descriminate a large hand from a small hand...?

(Using other body parts ... doesn't solve the problem because the outcome will then depend on the characteristics of that other body part. Considering full body height is probably the only way to step out of the 'everything is relative to everything' problem.)

Regarding measuring palm width at the metacarpals... yes, I understand that this was never included as a part of assessing 'hand width' according the elemental approach.

But nevertheless... I think it's the most well-defined method that I have seen so far (and actually, I think ALL OTHER METHODS result in over-estimates of the 'true' palm width:: it can not be measured smaller than it is at the metacarpals...! ).

Finally, I hope we can agree that the materials in this discussion do provide a very nice 'international' perspective.. about how the 'average' palm really looks like in terms of finger length-, palm length- & palm width ratio!

PS. I hope to be able to include some Indian data as well.

**Lynn** on Sun Oct 03, 2010 10:38 pm

Martijn (admin) wrote:
I know that the elemental method doesn't include body length, and uses another approach for measuring palm width.
But the trouble is... without the consideration of body length, there will always be answered questions because 'everything is relative to everything'.
For example: how would you descriminate a large hand from a small hand...?
.

Hand size in relation to body height is a separate assessment, irrespective of hand shape. Yes of course everything is relative to everything else, but we have to identify the individual pieces of the jigsaw before we can put them together.

Martijn (admin) wrote:Regarding measuring palm width... yes, I understand that this was never included as a part of assessing hand width according the elemental approach.

Hand width is important in 5-element approach, to ascertain hand shape ie is palm square or rectangular, and also to compare against finger length in combination hand shapes. But we always use width across centre of palm rather than metacarpals.

Martijn (admin) wrote:Finally, I hope we can agree that the materials in this discussion do provide a very nice 'international' perspective.. about how the 'average' palm really looks like in terms of finger length-, palm length- & palm width ratio!

Yes, of course! it is very interesting to compare such things across populations. Thanks.

**Martijn (admin)** on Sun Oct 03, 2010 11:00 pm

Lynn wrote:
Martijn (admin) wrote:Finally, I hope we can agree that the materials in this discussion do provide a very nice 'international' perspective.. about how the 'average' palm really looks like in terms of finger length-, palm length- & palm width ratio!

Yes, of course! it is very interesting to compare such things across populations. Thanks.

Thanks for confirming Lynn! flower

PS. Though I tried to described the major differences regarding the 'average' (medium) results... I think it is excellent to see that the differences are usually actually relatively small (except for some details).

And therefore I think it is very well possible to describe the basic characteristics for an 'average' international hand for males and females... because while the sexe-differences usually appear to be smaller than the differences between nations... I think only the sexe-related difference in 'finger length vs. palm width' is really a matter that one should include in any method!

This implicates that if we would start using a relative wide range for what can be recognized as normal - then one can probably use that for people in any nation!

**Martijn (admin)** on Mon Oct 04, 2010 2:25 am

- Article titled: Comparative anthropometry of the hand:
Hand length, palm length, palm width, etc... data related to about 60.000 US army people (tables starting at page 29): http://www.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?AD=ADA101070&Location=U2&doc=GetTRDoc.pdf

- Article titled: Hand Anthropometry for Indian Women
Hand length, palm length, palm width, etc... data for 95 women, plus comparative data from other studies (including women from West India).
http://icmr.nic.in/ijmr/2003/0606.pdf

- Article titled: Hand anthropometry survey for the Jordanian population
Hand length, palm length, palm width, etc... data for 120 female + 115 male adults
http://www.eis.hu.edu.jo/deanshipfiles/pub10502689.pdf

- Article titled: Anthropometric Data of Hand, Foot and Ear of University Students in Nigeria
Hand length, palm width... unfortunately no finger length: data for 250 female + 250 male university students
http://ljs.academicdirect.org/A15/015_020.pdf

**Martijn (admin)** on Tue Dec 21, 2010 3:07 am

I have just added the 'hand index' to the listings in the first post of this topic (see the GREEN numbers); you can read more about the 'hand index' and other sexe-related hand characteristics in the following post:
DISSERTATION STUDY: 'An Analysis of the Sexual Dimorphism of Hands'

**Martijn (admin)** on Tue Dec 21, 2010 1:34 pm

The following study from Nigeria shows that especially HAND LENGTH provides a clue about body height (see table 5: p<0.0001):
Sexual Dimorphism in Hand and Foot Length, Indices, Stature-ratio and Relationship to Height in Nigerians

PS. However this study also suggests that the FOOT LENGTH is a more reliable indicator for body height (table 6 presents a 'formula' to calculate body height from foot lengths and hand lengths).

Which country has the largest hands in the world?

Which country has the largest hands in the world?

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