What is Bra Size?
Bra size indicates the size characteristics of a bra. While there are a number of bra sizing systems in use around the world, the bra sizes usually consist of a number, indicating the size of the band around the woman’s torso, and one or more letters that indicate the breast cup size.
Average Bra Size In South Africa
34B
In South Africa the statistics say the average bra size is 34B, but in the same breath there is research suggesting 80% of women wear the wrong size.
How to measure breast (and bra) size
Arguably the best way to determine the average breast size in a country is to examine the sales numbers for the various sizes of bra being sold.
While there are at least six different bra-sizing systems in use worldwide (the easiest example being that some countries use inches, such as 34C, and other countries measure in centimeters, such as 70C), bra sizes are generally expressed by cup sizes.
As a rule, the number represents the horizontal measurement around the “band” or “underbust” area just underneath the breasts. To determine cup size, fitters measure around the fullest part of the breast (typically in line with the nipples) and compare that to the underbust. The greater the difference between these measurements, the larger the cup size. These measurements are usually expressed in letters, with A cups being the smallest and moving upward through the alphabet to D (or higher) from there.
In some systems, additional variations within the cup sizes are noted by levels ranging from 5 to 1. Bra sizes in such a system would range from DD-5 at the largest size to A-1 at the smallest size. Repeated letters are also used at times, especially at each end of the measurement spectrum. For instance, there may be an AA size that is smaller than A, and an AAA that is smaller still. Conversely, D may be followed by the increasingly larger DD and DDD.
Finally, bra sizes may differ from one manufacturer to another even in the same country. As such, instead of simply assuming that a new 34B (for example) in one brand will match the 34B one is already wearing from another brand, it is wise to know one’s measurements in inches and look up the corresponding size on the new bra maker’s chart.
Breast sizes around the world
The most comprehensive available data on breast size around the globe indicates that the average cup size varies from a low of AA to a high of C, depending upon the country.
What is my bra size South Africa?
To measure the cup size: Place the measuring tape around the fullest part of your breasts (don’t make it too tight). This measurement will give you your bust size, which will be bigger than your underbust size. Subtract the underbust measurement from the bust measurement, and the difference will give you your cup size.
Is C An average cup size?
DD or DDD is the average cup size in the US, so C is viewed as smaller. A C cup, however, is considered large in Japan, since the average cup size is an A.