The normal average temperature of the human body is 37 degrees Celsius (98.6 degrees Fahrenheit).

Is it true that the normal average temperature of the human body is 37 degrees Celsius (98.6 degrees Fahrenheit)?

Partly. Several systematic reviews and a large cohort report mean normal body temperatures below 37C and varying by measurement site, while a science textbook states the normal human body temperature is 98.6F (37C). The evidence partially supports and partially undercuts the claim rather than settling it.

Verdict: CONTESTED PARTIAL · 1 source for, 4 against · Last checked 3 Oct 2026

The private library was unavailable for some searches in this check. Missing library results are not evidence against the claim.

Listen and Learn Science/Heat. (n.d.). en.wikibooks.org. https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Listen_and_Learn_Science/Heat

Is the average temperature of a healthy human adult 98.6F/37C?. (2016). skeptics.stackexchange.com. https://skeptics.stackexchange.com/questions/36136/is-the-average-temperature-of-a-healthy-human-adult-98-6f-37c

Normal Body Temperature: A Systematic Review - PMC Lock. (n.d.). pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. https://doi.org/10.1093/ofid/ofz032

Geneva, I. I., Cuzzo, B., Fazili, T., & Javaid, W. (2019). Normal Body Temperature: A Systematic Review.. doi.org. https://doi.org/10.1093/ofid/ofz032

M, S., C, F., & LK, W. (2002). Normal oral, rectal, tympanic and axillary body temperature in adult men and women: a systematic literature review.. doi.org. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1471-6712.2002.00069.x

Diamond, A., Lye, C. T., Prasad, D., & Abbott, D. (2021). One size does not fit all: Assuming the same normal body temperature for everyone is not justified. doi.org. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0245257