How much stronger are apes than humans, and why? (7 photos)

Calling ourselves the pinnacle of creation is pure self-flattery. Earth is home to countless creatures that are far more beautiful, powerful, agile, and well-equipped for survival than humans. As for our intelligence? Looking at the state of our planet today, it is hard to argue that intellect has worked entirely in our favor. Strip away the comforts of modern civilization, put a human face-to-face with our closest animal relative—the ape—and we wouldn't stand a chance in a physical showdown.





So, just how much stronger is a great ape compared to the "pinnacle of creation"? Put a human up against a gorilla, and the ape comes out roughly 8 to 10 times stronger. Standing at about 170 cm—a standard height for a human—a gorilla weighs a staggering 200 kg! It is a pure muscle machine capable of moving loads up to 800 kg. Even a world-class athlete wouldn't last a round against a gorilla.



Taking on the largest ape on Earth is obviously out of the question, but what about smaller primates? An orangutan, standing just 1.3 meters tall and weighing 90 kg, can easily overpower a human as well. Watching them effortlessly swing through treetops using only their long arms shows just how far behind we really are. An orangutan is roughly 5 to 6 times stronger than an adult man.





What about chimpanzees, which are significantly smaller and lack the massive physique of gorillas or orangutans? Chimps are thoroughly studied, making direct physical comparisons with humans much easier. An adult male chimp reaches a height of 160 cm and weighs around 70 to 80 kg, making their build the closest to ours.



Back in 1924, researchers used a dynamometer to measure the pulling strength of chimpanzees. They discovered that a 74-kg chimp could pull 384 kg with a single hand. For comparison, a man of the same weight could manage only 91 kg. The test group even had a standout performer: a 60-kg chimp that registered a mind-blowing pull of 571 kg!



In another study, researchers found that chimps can lift 250 kg waist-high without breaking a sweat. Overall, a chimpanzee, like an orangutan, is about 5 to 6 times stronger than a human. That arm strength is more than enough to effortlessly overpower a person—though perhaps not enough to hurl someone across a room like a ragdoll, as movies often depict.



So where does this incredible strength come from? Their arms are longer, sure, but their muscular anatomy is remarkably similar to ours. The key lies in efficiency: ape muscles contain over 50% fast-twitch fibers. These fibers are built for explosive bursts of power—lifting, pulling, snapping, or tearing—rather than sustained effort.

Nearly all primates share this muscular trait, with a few exceptions like lorises. These prosimians have muscle tissue more akin to humans, dominated by slow-twitch fibers. While slow-twitch muscles struggle with explosive power, they excel at endurance. Thanks to these fibers, humans are actually among the finest long-distance runners in the animal kingdom.



Sadly, in terms of muscle power, we're a lot closer to this guy.

Take the San people of southern Africa: unable to outrun an antelope in a sprint, hunters will simply track and chase the animal until it collapses from exhaustion. A persistence hunt like this can last for hours, and skilled hunters almost always succeed.

In the end, humans are vastly weaker than the great apes. History has recorded many tragic instances of pet chimpanzees severely injuring or killing their owners. But that is precisely why we rely on intellect rather than brute force—using tools and weapons to tip the scales in work, survival, and combat.