In Palestine puberty most commonly occurs at the age of 13; in Turkey
even as early as 10. _Rouvier_ calculated the average of 742 cases
observed in Syria to be the age of 12. As regards Persian women, the
data vary between the age of 14 for the northern part of the country and
the age of 9 or 10 for the southern. According to _Joubert’s_ data in
46.4 per cent. of the indigens of India, menstruation begins at the age
of 12 or 13. Similar figures are given for Ceylon and for Siam. In Japan
menstruation most frequently begins at the age of 14, sometimes as early
as 13; mothers of 15 are by no means rarities in this country, but for
menstruation to begin before the age of 12 is considered a very
exceptional occurrence. According to a table dealing with 584 women of
Tokio menstruation began:
At the age of:
11 years in 2 instances.
12 years in 2 instances.
13 years in 26 instances.
14 years in 78 instances.
15 years in 224 instances.
16 years in 228 instances.
17 years in 68 instances.
18 years in 44 instances.
19 years in 10 instances.
20 years in 2 instances.
The data available regarding China are so exceedingly variable that
little importance can be attached to them.