Foot Fetish Statistics – How Common is it?

Foot fetishes—far from being an uncommon curiosity—are more prevalent than many might think. Our study reveals that while 5% of people have a pronounced foot fetish, about 15% have entertained sexual fantasies involving feet. Interestingly, this preference is more common among men, with 19% expressing some level of interest in feet, compared to 6% of women. From admiring well-manicured toes to enjoying foot massages, how people appreciate feet varies widely. Yet, regardless of the specific allure, foot fetishes are a normal and healthy part of human sexuality. Join us as we delve into the statistics and demographics to shed light on this intriguing form of desire.

Table of contents:

Major Findings

  • 5% have a full-fledged foot fetish.
  • 1 out of 7 has fantasized sexually about feet.
  • 21% of homosexual or bisexual men have a foot fetish.
  • Only 5% of heterosexual women have a foot fetish.
  • Foot fetish is a ‘learned’ fetish, meaning people gradually become fond of this stimulation and develop an attraction toward feet.
  • The part of the brain responsible for processing genital arousal (somatosensory cortex) is right next to the part that processes foot sensations.

How Common Are Foot Fetishes?

Foot fetishes are extremely common.

  • One in seven people will sexually fantasize about feet in their lifetime.

The body image map explains that the sensory perception of genitals lies next to the feet in our brains.

Due to this, foot fetishes are entirely normal in people. But it’s hard to determine how common it is. 

According to Dr. Lehmiller, foot fetishes are the most common fetishes today. His study found that:

  • 14% of the participants had fantasized about feet.
  • 5% of the participants had had a full-fledged foot fetish. 
1 out of 7 have fantasized sexually about feets

Demographics of Foot Fetish

According to demographics, men are more likely to develop a foot fetish as compared to women. Moreover, queer individuals also develop a foot fetish more than straight individuals. 

According to Dr. Lehmiller’s study, about 21% of bisexual and gay men developed a foot fetish, while only 5% of heterosexual individuals had a foot fetish about feet.

Here is a summary of foot fetish demographics.

  • 18% of heterosexual men
  • 5% of heterosexual women 
  • 21% of bisexual and gay men 
  • 11% of bisexual and lesbian women

Conclusively, heterosexual women are the least likely to develop a foot fetish, while men are more likely to fantasize about feet. However, according to the research of 1000 participants, about 10% of individuals claimed to have a foot fetish. 

Common Foot Fetish Fantasies

While different people can fantasize about feet differently, some common foot fetish fantasies exist. Here are the most common feet-related fantasies. 

  • Sniffing toes and feet
  • Licking and sucking on toes
  • Foot massages
  • Foot jobs
  • Using foot for penetration 
  • Trampling 

Popularity of Foot Fetish

The rise in the popularity of foot fetishes can be gauged by the increasing number of online searches related to the topic.

Data reveals that the term “foot fetish” was searched a staggering 1,713,630 times yearly in the U.S.

This surge in interest indicates a growing acceptance and curiosity about foot fetishes, making it one of the most explored fetishes online.

U.S. States and Foot Fetish Searches

The interest in foot fetishes varies across the U.S., with some states showing a higher inclination than others. Based on Google search data, the top five states with the most significant interest in foot fetishes are:

  1. District of Columbia – 48 searches per 10K people
  2. New Jersey – 46 searches per 10K people
  3. New York – 42 searches per 10K people
  4. Nevada – 39 searches per 10K people
  5. California – 39 searches per 10K people

This data provides a fascinating insight into regional variations in foot fetish interests, with the nation’s capital leading the way.

What Are the Best Resources for People With Foot Fetish?

There are numerous options if you’re wondering about the potential resources for people with foot fetishes. Besides porn sites, various platforms let people advertise their feet. 

Buyers can submit a request to make a purchase. Some platforms even allow buyers to request customized foot snaps.

Here are some legitimate platforms that exclusively feature feet snaps. 

  • Instafeet 
  • Printify
  • FunWithFeet
  • Feetify
  • FeetFinder 
  • Etsy 
  • TikTok
  • Snapchat 
  • Instagram 
  • Foap 

Many fetish websites also feature foot-related content people can purchase. You can also subscribe to the sites and pay monthly for the content.

Besides this, you’d be surprised to learn about foot fetish parties. Such parties are similar to swinger parties that bring together like-minded people with a shared appreciation for feet. 

Such parties can help people explore their kink and healthily learn more about it without feeling ashamed.  

Behavioral Facts About Foot Fetish

Fetishes result from multi-sensory experiences, meaning different people feel aroused by different things. For example, for foot fetish, it is common for some people to get attracted by toes while others feel aroused by the soles or ankles.

But for most people, the visual aspect of feet is the most common reason for developing a fetish. This explains the trend of foot lingerie. Besides this, people with feet fetish are fond of touching, sniffing, or licking feet during sexual foreplay.

Some individuals are even interested in a combination of foot-related activities. As foot fetish is among the common fetishes, there is ongoing research on how people develop it.

Behavioral Facts 

  • According to researcher Dr. Justin Lehmiller, foot fetish is a learned behavior. For example, an individual experiences sexual stimulation through their feet for the time in their life. They gradually become fond of this stimulation and develop an attraction toward feet. If they find foot-related foreplay pleasurable, they can experience an intense orgasm when they engage in similar foreplay. It creates positive reinforcement of foot fetish.
  • According to another research, people experience foot fetish because the part of the brain responsible for processing genital arousal (somatosensory cortex) is right next to the part that processes foot sensations. Therefore, foot fetishes are closely associated with sexual stimulations. 

Why Do People Develop Foot Fetishes?

Neurological evidence can explain the development of foot fetishes. Your brain has a sensory map that features each part of your body experiencing a sensation. The parts next to each other control the genitals and feet.

According to this map, the genital sensations and feet can link neurologically. Therefore, when someone plays with feet, it tends to arouse people.

Some individuals also think of feet as a disgustingly sexy body part. When people experience arousal, they do not bother about things that otherwise disgust them.

According to a study, people who experience arousal are less disgusted by dirty underwear than non-aroused people. This example explains how some people find feet disgustingly sexy once they experience sexual arousal due to feet.

Origins of Foot Fetishes

The origins of foot fetishes have been a topic of intrigue and speculation for many.

While the exact cause remains elusive, several theories attempt to explain the phenomenon.

One such theory suggests a “neural crosstalk” between the areas of the brain responsible for feet and genitalia sensations.

This means that the brain might sometimes confuse signals from these regions, leading to a sexual association with feet.

Additionally, personal experiences, such as a pleasurable encounter involving feet during one’s formative years or childhood play with peers, can also play a pivotal role in developing a foot fetish.

Psychological Impact of Foot Fetishes

While foot fetishes can be a source of pleasure for many, they can also have psychological implications.

A study focusing on homosexual/bisexual male foot fetishists in the U.S. revealed that some participants experienced feelings of guilt, shame, anxiety, and even depression related to their fetish.

About 30% of the respondents felt “guilty, anxious, depressed, or ashamed” of their interest in feet/footwear.

Furthermore, 33% had felt “confused” about their foot fetish at some point, although only 4% continued to feel this way.

It’s essential to approach fetishes with an open mind and understanding, ensuring that individuals can explore their interests without facing undue psychological distress.

Final Words

According to neurological evidence and the prevalence of foot fetishes, we can conclude that there isn’t anything weird or inherently wrong with having a foot fetish. Foot fetishes are the most common type of sexual fetish among people.

Psychologists and psychiatrists have also recognized foot fetish under fetishism. But, conclusively, foot fetish is not a disorder unless it is characterized by distress, depression, or obsessive behavior.

So far, the demographics represent foot fetish as a normal and healthy fetish observed in mentally stable individuals. Therefore, if you find yourself attracted to feet, there isn’t anything wrong with you. Instead of feeling isolated and ashamed of your kink, accepting and learning more about it is best.