Human Height - Average Height Around The World

Average Height Around The World

The average height for each sex within a population varies significantly, with men being (on average) taller than women. Women ordinarily reach their greatest height at a younger age than men, because puberty generally occurs earlier in women than in men. Vertical growth stops when the long bones stop lengthening, which occurs with the closure of epiphyseal plates. These plates are bone growth centers that disappear ("close") under the hormonal surges brought about by the completion of puberty. Adult height for one sex in a particular ethnic group follows more or less a normal distribution.

Adult height between populations often differs significantly. For example, the average height of women from the Czech Republic is greater than that of men from Malawi. This may be caused by genetic differences, childhood lifestyle differences (nutrition, sleep patterns, physical labor), or both.

The tallest living man is Sultan Kösen of Turkey, at 2.51 m (8 ft 3 in). The tallest man in modern history was Robert Pershing Wadlow (1918–1940), from Illinois, in the United States, who was 2.72 m (8 ft 11 in) at the time of his death. Yao Defen of China is the tallest living woman in the world at 2.33 m (7 ft 7 1⁄2 in). The tallest female in medical history was Zeng Jinlian of Hunan, China, who stood 2.48 m (8 ft 1 1⁄2 in) when she died at the age of 17. The shortest adult human on record is Chandra Bahadur Dangi of Nepal at 0.546 m (1 ft 9 1⁄2 in).

Depending on sex, genetic and environmental factors, shrinkage of stature may begin in middle age in some individuals but tends to be universal in the extremely aged. This decrease in height is due to such factors as decreased height of inter-vertebral discs because of desiccation, atrophy of soft tissues and postural changes secondary to degenerative disease.

Below are average adult heights by country/geographical region. The original studies and sources should be consulted for details on methodology and the exact populations measured, surveyed, or considered.

As with any statistical data, the accuracy of this data may be questionable for various reasons:

  • Some studies may allow subjects to self-report values.
  • Test subjects may have been invited instead of chosen at random, resulting in sampling bias.
  • A relatively small sample of the population may have been measured, which makes it uncertain whether this sample accurately represents the entire population.
  • The height of a person can vary over the course of a day, due to factors such as the amount of exercise done directly before measurement (normally inversely correlated), or the time elapsed since lying down for a significant period of time (normally inversely correlated). For example, one study revealed a mean difference of 1.54 centimetres (0.61 in) in the height of 100 children from getting out of bed in the morning to between 4 and 5 PM that same day. Such factors may not have been controlled in some of the studies.

Note: Data in green are representative of the majority of the country or region's adult population.

Country/Region Average male height Average female height Stature ratio
(male to female)
Sample population /
age range
Share of
pop. over 15
covered
Methodology Year Source
Argentina 1.7351.7348 m (5 ft 8 1⁄2 in) 1.6081.6076 m (5 ft 3 1⁄2 in) 1.08 17 (healthy) Measured 1998–2001
Argentina 1.596 m (5 ft 3 in) 19-49 Measured 2004-2005
Armenia 1.581 m (5 ft 2 in) 25-49 Self-reported 2005
Australia 1.784 m (5 ft 10 in) 1.645 m (5 ft 5 in) 1.08 18–24 13.7% Measured 1995
Australia 1.748 m (5 ft 9 in) 1.634 m (5 ft 4 1⁄2 in) 1.07 18+ 94.7% Measured 1995
Austria 1.792 m (5 ft 10 1⁄2 in) 1.676 m (5 ft 6 in) 1.07 21 Self-reported 2001
Azerbaijan 1.718 m (5 ft 7 1⁄2 in) 1.654 m (5 ft 5 in) 1.04 16+ 97.0% Measured 2005
Bahrain 1.651 m (5 ft 5 in) 1.542 m (5 ft 1⁄2 in) 1.07 19+ 91.1% Measured 2002
Bangladesh 1.506 m (4 ft 11 1⁄2 in) 25-49 Self-reported 2007
Belgium 1.786 m (5 ft 10 1⁄2 in) 1.681 m (5 ft 6 in) 1.06 21 Self-reported 2001
Benin 1.593 m (5 ft 2 1⁄2 in) 25-49 Self-reported 2006
Bolivia 1.518 m (5 ft 0 in) 25-49 Self-reported 2003
Bolivia 1.600 m (5 ft 3 in) 1.422 m (4 ft 8 in) 1.13 Aymara, 20–29 Measured 1970
Brazil 1.707 m (5 ft 7 in) 1.588 m (5 ft 2 1⁄2 in) 1.07 18+ 93.2% Measured 2008–2009
Brazil 1.731 m (5 ft 8 in) 1.611 m (5 ft 3 1⁄2 in) 1.07 20–24 11.9% Measured 2008–2009
Bulgaria 1.752 m (5 ft 9 in) 1.632 m (5 ft 4 1⁄2 in) 1.07 Measured 2010
Burkina Faso 1.616 m (5 ft 3 1⁄2 in) 25-49 Self-reported 2003
Cambodia 1.524 m (5 ft 0 in) 25-49 Self-reported 2005
Cameroon 1.706 m (5 ft 7 in) 1.613 m (5 ft 3 1⁄2 in) 1.06 Urban, 15+ Measured 2003
Canada 1.760 m (5 ft 9 1⁄2 in) 1.633 m (5 ft 4 1⁄2 in) 1.08 25–44 34.8% Measured 2005
Canada 1.751 m (5 ft 9 in) 1.623 m (5 ft 4 in) 1.08 18–79 90.0% Measured 2007–2009
Central African Republic 1.589 m (5 ft 2 1⁄2 in) 25-49 Self-reported 1994
Chad 1.626 m (5 ft 4 in) 25-49 Self-reported 2004
Chile 1.710 m (5 ft 7 1⁄2 in) 1.591 m (5 ft 2 1⁄2 in) 1.07 15–24 21.9% Measured 2009–2010
Chile 1.696 m (5 ft 7 in) 1.561 m (5 ft 1 1⁄2 in) 1.09 15+ 100.0% Measured 2009–2010
Chile 1.712 m (5 ft 7 1⁄2 in) 1.572 m (5 ft 2 in) 1.09 25–44 37.3% Measured 2009–2010
China, People's Republic of 1.663 m (5 ft 5 1⁄2 in) 1.570 m (5 ft 2 in) 1.06 Rural, 17 Measured 2002
China, People's Republic of 1.702 m (5 ft 7 in) 1.586 m (5 ft 2 1⁄2 in) 1.07 Urban, 17 Measured 2002
Colombia 1.550 m (5 ft 1 in) 25-49 Self-reported 2004
Colombia 1.706 m (5 ft 7 in) 1.587 m (5 ft 2 1⁄2 in) 1.07 18–22 Measured 2002
Comoros 1.548 m (5 ft 1 in) 25-49 Self-reported 1996
Congo, Democratic Republic of the 1.577 m (5 ft 2 in) 25-49 Self-reported 2005
Congo, Republic of the 1.590 m (5 ft 2 1⁄2 in) 25-49 Self-reported 2007
Côte d’Ivoire 1.598 m (5 ft 3 in) 25-49 Self-reported 1998
Côte d’Ivoire 1.701 m (5 ft 7 in) 1.591 m (5 ft 2 1⁄2 in) 1.07 25–29 Measured 1985–1987
Croatia 1.805 m (5 ft 11 in) 1.663 m (5 ft 5 1⁄2 in) 1.09 18 Measured 2006–2008
Cuba 1.6801.68 m (5 ft 6 in) 1.5601.56 m (5 ft 1 1⁄2 in) 1.08 Urban, 15+ Measured 1999
Czech Republic 1.8031.8031 m (5 ft 11 in) 1.6721.6722 m (5 ft 6 in) 1.08 17 Measured 2001
Denmark 1.826 m (6 ft 0 in) 1.687 m (5 ft 6 1⁄2 in) 1.08 23 Self-reported 2001
Dinaric Alps 1.856 m (6 ft 1 in) 1.711 m (5 ft 7 1⁄2 in) 1.08 17 Measured 2005
Dominican Republic 1.564 m (5 ft 1 1⁄2 in) 25-49 Self-reported 1996
Egypt 1.595 m (5 ft 3 in) 25-49 Self-reported 2008
Egypt 1.703 m (5 ft 7 in) 1.589 m (5 ft 2 1⁄2 in) 1.07 20–24 Measured 2008
Estonia 1.791 m (5 ft 10 1⁄2 in) 17 Measured 2003
Ethiopia 1.576 m (5 ft 2 in) 25-49 Self-reported 1997
Finland 1.770 m (5 ft 9 1⁄2 in) 1.630 m (5 ft 4 in) 1.09 25–74 75.8% Measured 2007
Finland 1.790 m (5 ft 10 1⁄2 in) 1.650 m (5 ft 5 in) 1.08 25–34 14.7% Measured 2007
France 1.770 m (5 ft 9 1⁄2 in) 1.646 m (5 ft 5 in) 1.08 20–29 Measured 2001
France 1.756 m (5 ft 9 in) 1.625 m (5 ft 4 in) 1.08 18–70 81.7% Measured 2003–2005
Gabon 1.584 m (5 ft 2 1⁄2 in) 25-49 Self-reported 2000
Gambia 1.680 m (5 ft 6 in) 1.578 m (5 ft 2 in) 1.06 Rural, 21–49 Measured 1950–1974
Germany 1.810 m (5 ft 11 1⁄2 in) 1.680 m (5 ft 6 in) 1.08 18–25 Self-reported 2009
Germany 1.780 m (5 ft 10 in) 1.650 m (5 ft 5 in) 1.08 18+ 96.5% Self-reported 2009
Ghana 1.593 m (5 ft 2 1⁄2 in) 25-49 Self-reported 2008
Ghana 1.695 m (5 ft 6 1⁄2 in) 1.585 m (5 ft 2 1⁄2 in) 1.07 25–29 Measured 1987–1989
Greece 1.783 m (5 ft 10 in) 1.666 m (5 ft 5 1⁄2 in) 1.07 21 Self-reported 2001
Guatemala 1.473 m (4 ft 10 in) 25-49 Self-reported 1998
Guinea 1.588 m (5 ft 2 1⁄2 in) 25-49 Self-reported 2005
Haiti 1.586 m (5 ft 2 1⁄2 in) 25-49 Self-reported 2005
Honduras 1.520 m (5 ft 0 in) 25-49 Self-reported 2005
Hong Kong 1.717 m (5 ft 7 1⁄2 in) 1.587 m (5 ft 2 1⁄2 in) 1.08 18 Measured 2006
Hungary 1.773 m (5 ft 10 in) 18 Measured 2008
Hungary 1.760 m (5 ft 9 1⁄2 in) 1.640 m (5 ft 4 1⁄2 in) 1.07 Adults Measured 2000s
India 1.647 m (5 ft 5 in) 1.519 m (5 ft 0 in) 1.08 20–49 63.7% Measured 2005–2006
India 1.663 m (5 ft 5 1⁄2 in) 1.526 m (5 ft 0 in) 1.09 20 2.7% Predicted 2005–2006
India 1.612 m (5 ft 3 1⁄2 in) 1.521 m (5 ft 0 in) 1.06 Rural, 17+ Measured 2007
Indonesia 1.580 m (5 ft 2 in) 1.470 m (4 ft 10 in) 1.07 50+ Self-reported 1997
Iran 1.734 m (5 ft 8 1⁄2 in) 1.598 m (5 ft 3 in) 1.09 21–25 16.0% Measured 2005
Iran 1.703 m (5 ft 7 in) 1.572 m (5 ft 2 in) 1.08 21+ 78.5% Measured 2005
Iraq – Baghdad 1.654 m (5 ft 5 in) 1.558 m (5 ft 1 1⁄2 in) 1.06 18–44 Measured 1999–2000
Ireland 1.775 m (5 ft 10 in) 1.635 m (5 ft 4 1⁄2 in) 1.09 21 Self-reported 2001
Israel 1.770 m (5 ft 9 1⁄2 in) 1.660 m (5 ft 5 1⁄2 in) 1.07 18–21 Measured 2010
Italy 1.772 m (5 ft 10 in) 1.678 m (5 ft 6 in) 1.06 21 Self-reported 2001
Italy 1.760 m (5 ft 9 1⁄2 in) 1.650 m (5 ft 5 in) 1.07 18–40 37.0% Measured 2005
Jamaica 1.718 m (5 ft 7 1⁄2 in) 1.608 m (5 ft 3 1⁄2 in) 1.07 25–74 64.5% Measured 1994–1996
Japan 1.707 m (5 ft 7 in) 1.580 m (5 ft 2 in) 1.08 17 Measured 2011
Jordan 1.582 m (5 ft 2 1⁄2 in) 25-49 Self-reported 2007
Kazakhstan 1.598 m (5 ft 3 in) 25-49 Self-reported 1999
Kenya 1.594 m (5 ft 3 in) 25-49 Self-reported 2003
Korea, NorthNorth Korea 1.656 m (5 ft 5 in) 1.549 m (5 ft 1 in) 1.07 20-39 (defectors) Measured 2005
Korea, SouthSouth Korea 1.7371.7374 m (5 ft 8 1⁄2 in) 1.6111.6111 m (5 ft 3 1⁄2 in) 1.08 12th grade (typically 17-18) Measured 2011
Kyrgyzstan 1.580 m (5 ft 2 in) 25-49 Self-reported 1997
Lesotho 1.576 m (5 ft 2 in) 25-49 Self-reported 2004
Liberia 1.573 m (5 ft 2 in) 25-49 Self-reported 2006
Lithuania 1.772 m (5 ft 10 in) Conscripts, 19–25 Measured 2005
Lithuania 1.813 m (5 ft 11 1⁄2 in) 1.675 m (5 ft 6 in) 1.08 18 Measured 2005
Madagascar 1.543 m (5 ft 1⁄2 in) 25-49 Self-reported 2003
Malawi 1.660 m (5 ft 5 1⁄2 in) 1.550 m (5 ft 1 in) 1.07 Urban, 16–60 Measured 2000
Malaysia 1.647 m (5 ft 5 in) 1.533 m (5 ft 1⁄2 in) 1.07 20+ 84.6% Measured 1996
Mali – southern Mali 1.713 m (5 ft 7 1⁄2 in) 1.604 m (5 ft 3 in) 1.07 Rural adults Measured 1992
Malta 1.752 m (5 ft 9 in) 1.638 m (5 ft 4 1⁄2 in) 1.07 25–34 16.5% Self-reported 2003
Malta 1.699 m (5 ft 7 in) 1.599 m (5 ft 3 in) 1.06 18+ 94.8% Self-reported 2003
Mexico 1.630 m (5 ft 4 in) 1.510 m (4 ft 11 1⁄2 in) 1.08 50+ Measured 2001
Mexico – Morelos 1.670 m (5 ft 5 1⁄2 in) 1.550 m (5 ft 1 in) 1.08 18-76 Self-reported 1998-1999
Moldova 1.612 m (5 ft 3 1⁄2 in) 25-49 Self-reported 2005
Mongolia 1.684 m (5 ft 6 1⁄2 in) 1.577 m (5 ft 2 in) 1.07 25–34 Measured 2006
Morocco 1.585 m (5 ft 2 1⁄2 in) 25-49 Self-reported 2003
Mozambique 1.560 m (5 ft 1 1⁄2 in) 25-49 Self-reported 2003
Namibia 1.607 m (5 ft 3 1⁄2 in) 25-49 Self-reported 2006
Nepal 1.508 m (4 ft 11 1⁄2 in) 25-49 Self-reported 2006
Netherlands 1.808 m (5 ft 11 in) 1.675 m (5 ft 6 in) 1.08 20+ 92.6% Self-reported 2010
Netherlands 1.832 m (6 ft 0 in) 1.699 m (5 ft 7 in) 1.08 20–30 Self-reported 2010
New Zealand 1.770 m (5 ft 9 1⁄2 in) 1.650 m (5 ft 5 in) 1.07 19–45 51.7% Estimates 1993–2007
New Zealand 1.745 m (5 ft 8 1⁄2 in) 1.630 m (5 ft 4 in) 1.07 45–65 28.6% Estimates 1993–2007
Nicaragua 1.537 m (5 ft 1⁄2 in) 25-49 Self-reported 2001
Nigeria 1.638 m (5 ft 4 1⁄2 in) 1.578 m (5 ft 2 in) 1.04 18–74 86.7% Measured 1994–1996
Norway 1.824 m (6 ft 0 in) 1.680 m (5 ft 6 in) 1.09 20–25 9.0% Measured 2008-2009
Norway 1.816 m (5 ft 11 1⁄2 in) 1.682 m (5 ft 6 in) 1.08 26–35 15.2% Measured 2008-2009
Norway 1.803 m (5 ft 11 in) 1.670 m (5 ft 5 1⁄2 in) 1.08 20-85 88.8% Measured 2008-2009
Peru 1.640 m (5 ft 4 1⁄2 in) 1.510 m (4 ft 11 1⁄2 in) 1.09 20+ 85.4% Measured 2005
Philippines 1.634 m (5 ft 4 1⁄2 in) 1.517 m (4 ft 11 1⁄2 in) 1.08 20–39 49.5% Measured 2003
Philippines 1.619 m (5 ft 3 1⁄2 in) 1.502 m (4 ft 11 in) 1.08 20+ 83.1% Measured 2003
Poland 1.785 m (5 ft 10 1⁄2 in) 1.651 m (5 ft 5 in) 1.08 18 Measured 2010
Portugal 1.737 m (5 ft 8 1⁄2 in) 1.637 m (5 ft 4 1⁄2 in) 1.06 21 Self-reported 2001
Rwanda 1.577 m (5 ft 2 in) 25-49 Self-reported 2005
Senegal 1.630 m (5 ft 4 in) 25-49 Self-reported 2005
Singapore 1.706 m (5 ft 7 in) 1.600 m (5 ft 3 in) 1.07 17–25 2003
Slovakia 1.794 m (5 ft 10 1⁄2 in) 1.656 m (5 ft 5 in) 1.08 18 Measured 2004
Slovenia - Ljubljana 1.803 m (5 ft 11 in) 1.674 m (5 ft 6 in) 1.08 19 Measured 2011
South Africa 1.690 m (5 ft 6 1⁄2 in) 1.590 m (5 ft 2 1⁄2 in) 1.06 25–34 Measured 1998
Spain 1.780 m (5 ft 10 in) 1.662 m (5 ft 5 1⁄2 in) 1.07 21 Self-reported 2001
Sri Lanka 1.636 m (5 ft 4 1⁄2 in) 1.514 m (4 ft 11 1⁄2 in) 1.08 18+ 93.6% Measured 2005–2006
Swaziland 1.591 m (5 ft 2 1⁄2 in) 25-49 Self-reported 2006
Sweden 1.815 m (5 ft 11 1⁄2 in) 1.668 m (5 ft 5 1⁄2 in) 1.09 20–29 Measured 2008
Sweden 1.779 m (5 ft 10 in) 1.646 m (5 ft 5 in) 1.08 20–74 82.4% Self-reported 1987–1994
Switzerland 1.754 m (5 ft 9 in) 1.640 m (5 ft 4 1⁄2 in) 1.07 20–74 84.8% Self-reported 1987–1994
Switzerland 1.781 m (5 ft 10 in) Conscripts, 18–21 Measured 2005
Switzerland 1.782 m (5 ft 10 in) Conscripts, 19 Measured 2009
Tanzania 1.566 m (5 ft 1 1⁄2 in) 25-49 Self-reported 2004
Thailand 1.703 m (5 ft 7 in) 1.5901.59 m (5 ft 2 1⁄2 in) 1.07 15-19, STOU students Self-reported 2005
Togo 1.590 m (5 ft 2 1⁄2 in) 25-49 Self-reported 1998
Turkey 1.564 m (5 ft 1 1⁄2 in) 25-49 Self-reported 2003
Turkey – Ankara 1.761 m (5 ft 9 1⁄2 in) 1.620 m (5 ft 4 in) 1.09 18–29 Measured 2004–2006
Turkey – Ankara 1.740 m (5 ft 8 1⁄2 in) 1.589 m (5 ft 2 1⁄2 in) 1.10 18–59 Measured 2004–2006
Uganda 1.592 m (5 ft 2 1⁄2 in) 25-49 Self-reported 2006
United Arab Emirates 1.734 m (5 ft 8 1⁄2 in) 1.564 m (5 ft 1 1⁄2 in) 1.11
U.K. – England 1.754 m (5 ft 9 in) 1.619 m (5 ft 3 1⁄2 in) 1.08 16+ Measured 2010
U.K. – England 1.771 m (5 ft 9 1⁄2 in) 1.644 m (5 ft 4 1⁄2 in) 1.08 16-24 Measured 2010
U.K. – England 1.776 m (5 ft 10 in) 1.637 m (5 ft 4 1⁄2 in) 1.08 25–34 Measured 2010
U.K. – Scotland 1.750 m (5 ft 9 in) 1.613 m (5 ft 3 1⁄2 in) 1.08 16+ Measured 2008
U.K. – Scotland 1.782 m (5 ft 10 in) 1.635 m (5 ft 4 1⁄2 in) 1.09 25–34 Measured 2008
U.K. – Wales 1.770 m (5 ft 9 1⁄2 in) 1.620 m (5 ft 4 in) 1.09 16+ Measured 2009
U.S. 1.776 m (5 ft 10 in) 1.632 m (5 ft 4 1⁄2 in) 1.09 All Americans, 20–29 17.4% Measured 2003–2006
U.S. 1.763 m (5 ft 9 1⁄2 in) 1.622 m (5 ft 4 in) 1.09 All Americans, 20+ 91.0% Measured 2003–2006
U.S. 1.780 m (5 ft 10 in) 1.632 m (5 ft 4 1⁄2 in) 1.09 Black Americans, 20–39 Measured 2003–2006
U.S. 1.706 m (5 ft 7 in) 1.587 m (5 ft 2 1⁄2 in) 1.07 Mexican Americans, 20–39 Measured 2003–2006
U.S. 1.789 m (5 ft 10 1⁄2 in) 1.648 m (5 ft 5 in) 1.09 White Americans, 20–39 Measured 2003–2006
Uruguay 1.7001.70 m (5 ft 7 in) 1.5801.58 m (5 ft 2 in) 1.08 Adults Measured 1990
Uzbekistan 1.599 m (5 ft 3 in) 25-49 Self-reported 1996
Vietnam 1.621 m (5 ft 4 in) 1.522 m (5 ft 0 in) 1.07 25–29 Measured 1992–1993
Vietnam 1.657 m (5 ft 5 in) 1.552 m (5 ft 1 in) 1.07 Students, 20–25 Measured 2006–2007
Zambia 1.585 m (5 ft 2 1⁄2 in) 25-49 Self-reported 2007
Zimbabwe 1.603 m (5 ft 3 in) 25-49 Self-reported 2005

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