How Much Water Is in the Human Body?

Reflection of female body in pool of water
The percent of water in the body is not constant.

Mats Silvan, Getty Images
Science
Science
By
Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D.
Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D.
Chemistry Expert
  • Ph.D., Biomedical Sciences, University of Tennessee at Knoxville
  • B.A., Physics and Mathematics, Hastings College
Dr. Helmenstine holds a Ph.D. in biomedical sciences and is a science writer, educator, and consultant. She has taught science courses at the high school, college, and graduate levels.
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Updated on July 11, 2019

You've probably heard that most of the human body is water, but exactly how much water is there? The average amount of water is around 65%, but the percentage of water in one person may be quite a lot different compared with how much is in another. Age, gender, and fitness are big factors in how much water is in the body.

The human body ranges from 50% to 75% water. Infants consist of more water than adults. Overweight people contain a lower percentage of water than lean people. Men typically consist of more water than women.

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Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. "How Much Water Is in the Human Body?" ThoughtCo, Sep. 12, 2021, thoughtco.com/how-much-water-in-the-human-body-3976004. Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. (2021, September 12). How Much Water Is in the Human Body? Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/how-much-water-in-the-human-body-3976004 Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. "How Much Water Is in the Human Body?" ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/how-much-water-in-the-human-body-3976004 (accessed April 5, 2025).