How much of that is water?
Almost everything alive is mostly water. The interesting part is exactly how much.
Almost exactly an adult human
60 % is wetter than 2 of the 9 references on this page.
Reference figures are measurements and are rounded; the unit conversion behind them is exact.
| Reference | Size | Yours ÷ theirs | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| bone | 31 % | 1.94× | |
| bread | 37 % | 1.62× | |
| an adult human | 60 % | 1× | |
| the human brain | 73 % | 0.822× | |
| a newborn baby | 75 % | 0.8× | |
| a potato | 79 % | 0.759× | |
| a jellyfish | 95 % | 0.632× | |
| a tomato | 95 % | 0.632× | |
| a cucumber | 96 % | 0.625× |
Worth knowing
- A jellyfish is 95% water and has no brain, blood or heart. Left on a beach, it evaporates to almost nothing.
- Human water content falls with age: 75% at birth, 60% in an adult man, 55% in an adult woman, and lower again in old age.
Frequently asked
How much of the human body is water?
About 60% by mass in an adult man and 55% in an adult woman, the difference coming mostly from body fat, which holds little water.
Which food has the most water?
Cucumber at 96%, closely followed by lettuce, celery and tomato. That is why they contribute almost no calories.