Australian researchers just gave us one of the most unusual datasets ever collected: real-time flatulence logs from over 6,400 people. Using a mobile app called Chart Your Fart, scientists from the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation tracked when and how often people pass gas in daily life—and the results offer the first reliable snapshot of what "normal" actually looks like for this universal bodily function.
For years, doctors and patients have lacked a clear baseline for healthy gas frequency. Too much flatulence can be embarrassing or signal a digestive issue like irritable bowel syndrome, but too little can indicate a dangerous problem—a blockage or other serious condition requiring medical attention. Without solid data on how often healthy people actually fart, it's been impossible to know what warrants concern. Past studies typically examined only small groups or people already dealing with stomach problems, leaving a massive gap in our understanding.
This study fills that gap. Participants over 14 years old, free from recent major dietary changes, logged every instance of passing gas for at least three days using the app. The researchers found that the average person passes gas five times daily, though the range is wide: nearly 80 percent of participants fell between two and seven times per day. Men averaged 5.2 times daily compared with 4.8 times for women. The youngest group, ages 14 to 25, reported passing gas less frequently than all other age groups, suggesting that flatulence patterns shift across the lifespan.
What makes this data particularly valuable is the discovery of a predictable daily rhythm. Flatulence activity remained low throughout midday but began climbing after 6 p.m., typically peaking between 6 and 10 p.m.—precisely when people consume their highest-calorie meals and greatest amounts of fiber. This alignment between eating patterns and gas production suggests that diet directly shapes when our bodies release gas, not just how often.
Understanding flatulence matters more than it might initially seem. Farting is not merely a source of social discomfort but an essential bodily function: it allows the digestive system to maintain low pressure in the intestinal tract and prevents the painful stretching of the stomach and intestines. When we fart, our bodies release a mixture of gases from two sources. The first is air that enters during eating or drinking—harmless and odorless. The second comes from bacteria in our gut breaking down food during digestion, producing sulfurous compounds responsible for the characteristic smell.
The researchers behind this study, published in JAMA Network Open, believe establishing a baseline for normal flatulence can transform how we think about gut health and digestive symptoms. Having concrete data on what healthy patterns look like provides a crucial starting point for medical conversations about symptoms at both ends of the spectrum. It may also help shift cultural attitudes toward a function so universal yet so often shrouded in embarrassment.
For many people, the knowledge that the average person passes gas five times a day—and that most fall between two and seven times—will likely bring relief and perspective. Science, it turns out, has finally given flatulence the serious, data-driven attention it deserves.