Research from the Max Planck Institute for Empirical Aesthetics indicates that women’s faces are rated more attractive than men’s across various cultures, with women themselves giving the highest ratings to other women. The study compiled the world’s largest dataset on facial attractiveness, comprising over 1.5 million ratings from 17,000 faces across 76 countries. Results show that the average female face is rated more attractive than approximately 60% of male faces. Notably, this attractiveness gap is most pronounced among younger individuals, gradually diminishing with age and nearly vanishing by the time people reach their 80s. The study suggests that structural differences in facial features contribute to these perceptions, with rounder faces generally deemed more attractive, possibly due to their resemblance to infant faces. While cultural factors play a role, the researchers caution against attributing the entire phenomenon to culture alone.