⚠️This fact has been debunked
The specific numbers '17 to smile, 43 to frown' are not scientifically accurate. Multiple anatomical studies have debunked this popular claim. Modern research shows the actual counts are much closer (around 10-12 for a smile vs 11-17 for a frown), and vary significantly based on the type of expression. Some studies even show smiling uses MORE muscles than frowning. The exact count is impossible to determine definitively because facial expressions vary between individuals and depend on which muscles researchers include in their analysis.
It takes 17 muscles to smile, 43 to frown.
The Smile vs. Frown Muscle Myth: What Science Says
You've probably heard this one before, maybe on a motivational poster or from a well-meaning friend trying to cheer you up: "It takes 17 muscles to smile, but 43 to frown, so smile!" It's a nice sentiment. The only problem? It's completely made up.
The specific numbers—17 and 43—have no basis in anatomical science. In fact, researchers can't even agree on how many muscles are involved in either expression because the answer depends on too many variables.
So How Many Muscles Does It Actually Take?
The truth is far less catchy for a poster. Modern anatomical estimates suggest it takes around 10-12 muscles to smile and 11-17 muscles to frown, depending on the type of expression. That's right—sometimes smiling uses more muscles than frowning.
In 2004, plastic surgeon David H. Song helped researchers identify the muscles involved in a genuine Duchenne smile (the kind that crinkles your eyes). They found it required 12 principal muscles. A simple frown? Only 11 muscles.
For minimal expressions, both a slight smile and slight frown can use as few as four muscle pairs total. The exact count shifts dramatically based on how big the smile is, whether it reaches the eyes, and individual facial anatomy.
Why the Numbers Are All Over the Map
Different sources have claimed wildly different muscle counts over the years—some as low as 4, others as high as 65. Here's why nobody can agree:
- People smile and frown differently. Your genuine grin might engage different muscles than your friend's polite smile.
- Researchers count different muscles. Should you count primary movers, stabilizers, or both? What about muscles around the eyes and forehead?
- Not everyone has identical facial muscles. Human anatomy varies more than you might think.
The whole thing is a bit like asking how many muscles it takes to walk. The answer depends on how you're walking, how fast, and which muscles you're counting.
Where Did This Myth Come From?
The origin of the "17 vs. 43" claim is murky. It's been repeated so many times—in self-help books, on classroom posters, in motivational speeches—that it's achieved the status of "common knowledge." But trace it back far enough and you won't find a credible anatomical source.
The numbers seem designed to make a point: smiling is easier than frowning, so you might as well be happy. It's motivational advice disguised as science.
And honestly? The real science doesn't make the advice any less valid. Whether smiling uses 12 muscles or 17, there's solid research showing that smiling can actually improve your mood, reduce stress, and even lower your heart rate. You don't need fake muscle counts to justify flashing a grin.
So the next time someone hits you with the "17 versus 43" factoid, you can smile knowingly—using however many muscles that takes—and set the record straight.