Height Chart of Men and Women in Different Countries

Author: Ian Langtree : Contact: Disabled World

Published: 2017-12-01 : (Rev. 2019-11-29)

Synopsis and Key Points:

Chart showing the average height of males and females in various world countries.

The average height for American males 20+ is 69.1 inches (175.4 cm), or 5' 9" tall.

The average height of an American female 20+ is 63.5 inches (161.5 cm), or 5' 3.5" tall.

Main Digest

The study of human growth is known as auxology. Growth and height have long been recognized as a measure of the health and wellness of individuals. The chart below shows the average height of males and females in various world countries.

People from different countries grow to different heights. This may be partly due to genetics, but most differences in height between countries have other causes. For example, children and adolescents who are malnourished, or who suffer from serious diseases, will generally be shorter as adults.

Adult height between ethnic groups also often differs significantly and the average height for each sex within a countries population is significantly different, with adult males being (on average) taller than adult females.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the average age-adjusted height for American men 20 years and older is is 69.1 inches (175.4 cm), or 5 feet 9 inches tall, and the average height of an American female over 20 years of age is 63.5 inches (161.5 cm), or 5' 3.5" tall.

Recent breakthroughs in sequencing the human genome have allowed identification of 697 genetic variants that influence the height of an individual (https://www.nature.com/articles/ng.3097).

Although genetics plays an important role in understanding variation within a given population, human growth can be limited by poor childhood nutrition and illness. The only gene so far attributed with normal height variation is HMGA2.

Genetically speaking, the heights of mother and son and of father and daughter correlate, which suggests that a short mother will be more likely to give birth to a shorter son, and taller fathers are more likely to have tall daughters.

Chart showing the average height of males and females in various world countries. Country/Region Average male height Average female height Sampled Age Range Albania 174.0 cm (5ft 8 1/2in) 161.8 cm (5ft 3 1/2in) 20-29 Argentina - 159.6 cm (5ft 3in) 19-49 Argentina 174.46 cm (5ft 8 1/2in) 161.01 cm (5ft 3 1/2in) 18 Armenia - 158.1 cm (5ft 2in) 25-49 Australia 175.6 cm (5ft 9in) 161.8 cm (5ft 3 1/2in) 18 Australia 177.8 cm (5ft 10in) 163.8 cm (5ft 4 1/2in) 18-24 Austria 179 cm (5ft 10 1/2in) 166 cm (5ft 5 1/2in) 20-49 Austria 180 cm (5ft 11in) 167 cm (5ft 5 1/2in) 20-24 Austria 178.80 cm (5ft 10 1/2in) - 30-34 Austria 179.2 cm (5ft 10 1/2in) 167.6 cm (5ft 6in) 21 Azerbaijan 171.8 cm (5ft 7 1/2in) 165.4 cm (5ft 5in) 16 Bahrain 165.1 cm (5ft 5in) 154.2 cm (5ft 1/2in) 19+ Bahrain 171.0 cm (5ft 7 1/2in) 156.6 cm (5ft 1 1/2in) 18 Bangladesh - 150.6 cm (4ft 11 1/2in) 25-49 Belgium 178.70 cm (5ft 10 1/2in) - 30-34 Belgium 178.6 cm (5ft 10 1/2in) 168.1 cm (5ft 6in) 21 Benin - 159.3 cm (5ft 2 1/2in) 25-49 Bolivia - 151.8 cm (5ft 0in) 25-49 Bolivia 160.0 cm (5ft 3in) 142.2 cm (4ft 8in) 20-29 Bosnia and Herzegovina 183.9 cm (6ft 1/2in) 171.8 cm (5ft 7 1/2in) 19-32 Brazil 170.7 cm (5ft 7in) 158.8 cm (5ft 2 1/2in) 18+ Brazil 173.0 cm (5ft 8in) 161.1 cm (5ft 3 1/2in) 20-24 Brazil-Urban 173.5 cm (5ft 8 1/2in) 161.6 cm (5ft 3 1/2in) 20-24 Brazil-Rural 170.9 cm (5ft 7 1/2in) 158.9 cm (5ft 2 1/2in) 20-24 Bulgaria 175.2 cm (5ft 9in) 163.2 cm (5ft 4 1/2in) - Bulgaria-Sofia 178.1 cm (5ft 10in) 164.8 cm (5ft 5in) - Burkina Faso - 161.6 cm (5ft 3 1/2in) 25-49 Cambodia - 152.4 cm (5ft 0in) 25-49 Cameroon-Urban 170.6 cm (5ft 7in) 161.3 cm (5ft 3 1/2in) 15+ Cameroon-Urban 172.1 cm (5ft 8in) 162.0 cm (5ft 4in) 35-44 Canada 175.1 cm (5ft 9in) 162.3 cm (5ft 4in) 18-79 Canada 176.0 cm (5ft 9 1/2in) 163.3 cm (5ft 4 1/2in) 25-44 Central African Republic - 158.9 cm (5ft 2 1/2in) 25-49 Chad - 162.6 cm (5ft 4in) 25-49 Chile 169.6 cm (5ft 7in) 156.1 cm (5ft 1 1/2in) 15 Chile 171.2 cm (5ft 7 1/2in) 157.2 cm (5ft 2in) 25-44 Chile 171 cm (5ft 7 1/2in) 159.1 cm (5ft 2 1/2in) 15-24 China, People's Republic of 167.1 cm (5ft 6in) 155.8 cm (5ft 1 1/2in) 18 China

Mainland 172.1 cm (5ft 8in) 160.1 cm (5ft 3in) 19 China

People's Republic of-Urban 170.2 cm (5ft 7in) 158.6 cm (5ft 2 1/2in) 17 China

People's Republic of-Rural 166.3 cm (5ft 5 1/2in) 157.0 cm (5ft 2in) 17 China

People's Republic of-Beijing 174.7 cm (5ft 9in) 161.3 cm (5ft 3 1/2in) 21 China

People's Republic of-Sichuan 169.2 cm (5ft 6 1/2in) 158.2 cm (5ft 2 1/2in) 20-24 Colombia 170.6 cm (5ft 7in) 158.7 cm (5ft 2 1/2in) 18-22 Colombia - 155.0 cm (5ft 1in) 25-49 Comoros - 154.8 cm (5ft 1in) 25-49 Congo

Democratic Republic of the - 157.7 cm (5ft 2in) 25-49 Congo, Republic of the - 159.0 cm (5ft 2 1/2in) 25-49 Croatia 180.4 cm (5ft 11in) 166.49 cm (5ft 5 1/2in) 18 Cuba-Urban 168 cm (5ft 6in) 156 cm (5ft 1 1/2in) 15 Czech Republic 180.31 cm (5ft 11in) 167.22 cm (5ft 6in) 17 Denmark 180.4 cm (5ft 11in) - 18-20 Denmark 181.4 cm (5ft 11 1/2in) - 30 Denmark 182.6 cm (6ft 0in) 168.7 cm (5ft 6 1/2in) 23 Dinaric Alps 185.6 cm (6ft 1in) 171.1 cm (5ft 7 1/2in) 17 Dominican Republic - 156.4 cm (5ft 1 1/2in) 25-49 El Salvador - 160.3 cm (5ft 3in) 25-49 Egypt 170.3 cm (5ft 7in) 158.9 cm (5ft 2 1/2in) 20-24 Egypt - 159.5 cm (5ft 3in) 25-49 Estonia 179.1 cm (5ft 10 1/2in) - 17 Ethiopia - 157.6 cm (5ft 2in) 25-49 Europe 177.6 cm (5ft 10in) - 17-29 Finland 178.9 cm (5ft 10 1/2in) 165.3 cm (5ft 5in) 25-34 Finland 180.7 cm (5ft 11in) 167.2 cm (5ft 6in) 25 Finland 177.9 cm (5ft 10in) - 30-34 France 175.6 cm (5ft 9in) 162.5 cm (5ft 4in) 18-70 France 174.1 cm (5ft 8 1/2in) 161.9 cm (5ft 3 1/2in) 20 France 177.0 cm (5ft 9 1/2in) 164.6 cm (5ft 5in) 20-29 France 176.2 cm (5ft 9 1/2in) - 30-34 Gabon - 158.4 cm (5ft 2 1/2in) 25-49 Gambia-Rural 168.0 cm (5ft 6in) 157.8 cm (5ft 2in) 21-49 Germany 175.4 cm (5ft 9in) 162.8 cm (5ft 4in) 18-79 Germany 178.9 cm (5ft 10 1/2in) 166.1 cm (5ft 5 1/2in) 18-37 Germany-Urban 180.6 cm (5ft 11in) 168.5 cm (5ft 6 1/2in) 18-37 Germany 180.17 cm (5ft 11in) - 30-34 Germany 178 cm (5ft 10in) 165 cm (5ft 5in) 18+ Germany 181 cm (5ft 11 1/2in) 168 cm (5ft 6in) 18-25 Ghana - 159.3 cm (5ft 2 1/2in) 25-49 Ghana 169.5 cm (5ft 6 1/2in) 158.5 cm (5ft 2 1/2in) 25-29 Greece 177 cm (5ft 9 1/2in) 165 cm (5ft 5in) 18-49 Greece 177 cm (5ft 9 1/2in) 166 cm (5ft 5 1/2in) 20-24 Greece 178.06 cm (5ft 10in) - 18-26 Greece 177.29 cm (5ft 10in) - 30-34 Greece 178.3 cm (5ft 10in) 166.6 cm (5ft 5 1/2in) 21 Guatemala - 147.3 cm (4ft 10in) 25-49 Guinea - 158.8 cm (5ft 2 1/2in) 25-49 Haiti - 158.6 cm (5ft 2 1/2in) 25-49 Honduras - 152.0 cm (5ft 0in) 25-49 Hong Kong 171.7 cm (5ft 7 1/2in) 158.7 cm (5ft 2 1/2in) 18 Hong Kong 173.4 cm (5ft 8 1/2in) 160.1 cm (5ft 3in) 19-20 Hungary 176 cm (5ft 9 1/2in) 164 cm (5ft 4 1/2in) Adults Hungary 177.3 cm (5ft 10in) - 18 India 164.7 cm (5ft 5in) 151.9 cm (5ft 0in) 20-49 India-Rural 161.2 cm (5ft 3 1/2in) 152.1 cm (5ft 0in) 17+ India 166.3 cm (5ft 5 1/2in) 152.6 cm (5ft 0in) 20 Indonesia 158 cm (5ft 2in) 147 cm (4ft 10in) 50+ Iran 170.3 cm (5ft 7in) 157.2 cm (5ft 2in) 21+ Iran 173.4 cm (5ft 8 1/2in) 159.8 cm (5ft 3in) 21-25 Iraq-Baghdad 165.4 cm (5ft 5in) 155.8 cm (5ft 1 1/2in) 18-44 Ireland 177 cm (5ft 9 1/2in) 163 cm (5ft 4in) 20-49 Ireland 179 cm (5ft 10 1/2in) 163 cm (5ft 4in) 20-24 Ireland 176.60 cm (5ft 9 1/2in) - 30 Ireland 177.5 cm (5ft 10in) 163.5 cm (5ft 4 1/2in) 21 Israel 177 cm (5ft 9 1/2in) 166 cm (5ft 5 1/2in) 18-21 Italy 176.5 cm (5ft 9 1/2in) 162.5 cm (5ft 4in) 18 Italy 174.48 cm (5ft 8 1/2in) - 30 Italy 177.2 cm (5ft 10in) 167.8 cm (5ft 6in) 21 Ivory Coast 170.1 cm (5ft 7in) 159.1 cm (5ft 2 1/2in) 25-29 Ivory Coast - 159.8 cm (5ft 3in) 25-49 Jamaica 171.8 cm (5ft 7 1/2in) 160.8 cm (5ft 3 1/2in) 25-74 Japan 172 cm (5ft 7 1/2in) 158 cm (5ft 2in) 20-49 Japan 172.0 cm (5ft 7 1/2in) 158.70 cm (5ft 2 1/2in) 20-24 Japan 170.7 cm (5ft 7in) 158.0 cm (5ft 2in) 17 Jordan - 158.2 cm (5ft 2 1/2in) 25-49 Kazakhstan - 159.8 cm (5ft 3in) 25-49 Kenya - 159.4 cm (5ft 3in) 25-49 North Korea 165.6 cm (5ft 5in) 154.9 cm (5ft 1in) 20-39 South Korea 170.7 cm (5ft 7in) 157.4 cm (5ft 2in) 20+ South Korea 173.5 cm (5ft 8 1/2in) 160.4 cm (5ft 3in) 20-24 South Korea 173.5 cm (5ft 8 1/2in) - 18-19 South Korea-Seoul 173.9 cm (5ft 8 1/2in) - 18-19 Kyrgyzstan - 158.0 cm (5ft 2in) 25-49 Lesotho - 157.6 cm (5ft 2in) 25-49 Liberia - 157.3 cm (5ft 2in) 25-49 Lithuania 177.2 cm (5ft 10in) - 19-25 Lithuania-Urban 178.4 cm (5ft 10in) - 19-25 Lithuania-Rural 176.2 cm (5ft 9 1/2in) - 19-25 Lithuania 181.3 cm (5ft 11 1/2in) 167.5 cm (5ft 6in) 18 Madagascar - 154.3 cm (5ft 1/2in) 25-49 Malawi-Urban 166 cm (5ft 5 1/2in) 155 cm (5ft 1in) 16-60 Malaysia 166.3 cm (5ft 5 1/2in) 154.7 cm (5ft 1in) 20-24 Malaysia 168.5 cm (5ft 6 1/2in) 158.1 cm (5ft 2in) Chinese, 20-24 Malaysia 169.1 cm (5ft 6 1/2in) 155.4 cm (5ft 1in) Indian, 20-24 Mali-Southern Mali 171.3 cm (5ft 7 1/2in) 160.4 cm (5ft 3in) Adults Malta 169.9 cm (5ft 7in) 159.9 cm (5ft 3in) 18 Malta 175.2 cm (5ft 9in) 163.8 cm (5ft 4 1/2in) 25-34 Mexico 167 cm (5ft 5 1/2in) 154 cm (5ft 1/2in) 20-49 Mexico 169 cm (5ft 6 1/2in) 155 cm (5ft 1in) 20-24 Mexico 172 cm (5ft 7 1/2in) - Young adults Mexico-Bajio 172 cm (5ft 7 1/2in) - Adults Mexico-Central - 162 cm (5ft 4in) 26-39 Mexico-Morelos 167 cm (5ft 5 1/2in) 155 cm (5ft 1in) 18-76 Moldova - 161.2 cm (5ft 3 1/2in) 25-49 Mongolia 168.4 cm (5ft 6 1/2in) 157.7 cm (5ft 2in) 25-34 Montenegro 183.2 cm (6ft 0in) 168.4 cm (5ft 6 1/2in) Students Morocco - 158.5 cm (5ft 2 1/2in) 25-49 Mozambique - 156 cm (5ft 1 1/2in) 25-49 Namibia - 160.7 cm (5ft 3 1/2in) 25-49 Nepal - 150.8 cm (4ft 11 1/2in) 25-49 Netherlands 181 cm (5ft 11 1/2in) 169 cm (5ft 6 1/2in) Caucasians, 16-18 Netherlands 182.70 cm (6ft 0in) - 30-34 Netherlands 180.8 cm (5ft 11in) 167.5 cm (5ft 6in) 20 Netherlands 183.2 cm (6ft 0in) 169.9 cm (5ft 7in) 20-30 Netherlands 183.8 cm (6ft 1/2in) 170.7 cm (5ft 7in) 21 New Zealand 177 cm (5ft 9 1/2in) 164 cm (5ft 4 1/2in) 20-49 New Zealand 178 cm (5ft 10in) 164 cm (5ft 4 1/2in) 20-24 Nicaragua - 153.7 cm (5ft 1/2in) 25-49 Nigeria 163.8 cm (5ft 4 1/2in) 157.8 cm (5ft 2in) 18-74 Nigeria 167.2 cm (5ft 6in) 160.3 cm (5ft 3in) 20-29 Norway 179.63 cm (5ft 10 1/2in) - 30-34 Norway 180.3 cm (5ft 11in) 167 cm (5ft 5 1/2in) 20-85 Norway 182.4 cm (6ft 0in) 168 cm (5ft 6in) 20-25 Norway 181.6 cm (5ft 11 1/2in) 168.2 cm (5ft 6in) 26-35 Peru 164 cm (5ft 4 1/2in) 151 cm (4ft 11 1/2in) 20 Philippines 161.9 cm (5ft 3 1/2in) 150.2 cm (4ft 11in) 20 Philippines 163.4 cm (5ft 4 1/2in) 151.7 cm (4ft 11 1/2in) 20-39 Poland 178.7 cm (5ft 10 1/2in) 165.1 cm (5ft 5in) 18 Portugal 173.9 cm (5ft 8 1/2in) - 18 Portugal 172.30 cm (5ft 8in) - 30-34 Portugal 171 cm (5ft 7 1/2in) 161 cm (5ft 3 1/2in) 20-50 Portugal 173.7 cm (5ft 8 1/2in) 163.7 cm (5ft 4 1/2in) 21 Qatar 170.8 cm (5ft 7in) 161.1 cm (5ft 3 1/2in) 18 Rwanda - 157.7 cm (5ft 2in) 25-49 Romania 172 cm (5ft 7 1/2in) 157 cm (5ft 2in) - Russia 177.2 cm (5ft 10in) 164.1 cm (5ft 4 1/2in) 24 Samoa - 166.6 cm (5ft 5 1/2in) 18-28 Saudi Arabia 168.9 cm (5ft 6 1/2in) 156.3 cm (5ft 1 1/2in) 18 Senegal - 163 cm (5ft 4in) 25-49 Serbia 182.0 cm (5ft 11 1/2in) 166.8 cm (5ft 5 1/2in) 18-30 Singapore 171 cm (5ft 7 1/2in) 160 cm (5ft 3in) Chinese students Slovakia 179.4 cm (5ft 10 1/2in) 165.6 cm (5ft 5in) 18 Slovenia-Ljubljana 180.3 cm (5ft 11in) 167.4 cm (5ft 6in) 19 South Africa 168 cm (5ft 6in) 159 cm (5ft 2 1/2in) 19 Sri Lanka 163.6 cm (5ft 4 1/2in) 151.4 cm (4ft 11 1/2in) 18+ Sri Lanka 165.6 cm (5ft 5in) 154.0 cm (5ft 1/2in) 18-29 Spain 173.1 cm (5ft 8in) - 18-70 Spain - 159.6 cm (5ft 3in) 18-70 Spain 175.3 cm (5ft 9in) - 18-34 Spain - 162.6 cm (5ft 4in) 18-19 Spain 175.30 cm (5ft 9in) - 30-34 Spain 174 cm (5ft 8 1/2in) 163 cm (5ft 4in) 20-49 Spain 176 cm (5ft 9 1/2in) 166 cm (5ft 5 1/2in) 20-24 Spain 178 cm (5ft 10in) 166.2 cm (5ft 5 1/2in) 21 Swaziland - 159.1 cm (5ft 2 1/2in) 25-49 Sweden 181.5 cm (5ft 11 1/2in) 166.8 cm (5ft 5 1/2in) 20-29 Sweden 180.4 cm (5ft 11in) - 30 Sweden 177.9 cm (5ft 10in) 164.6 cm (5ft 5in) 20-74 Switzerland 178.2 cm (5ft 10in) - 19 Switzerland 175.4 cm (5ft 9in) 164 cm (5ft 4 1/2in) 20-74 Taiwan 171.4 cm (5ft 7 1/2in) 159.9 cm (5ft 3in) 17 Tanzania - 156.6 cm (5ft 1 1/2in) 25-49 Thailand 170.3 cm (5ft 7in) 159 cm (5ft 2 1/2in) 15-19 Togo - 159.0 cm (5ft 2 1/2in) 25-49 Tonga 176.1 cm (5ft 9 1/2in) 165.3 cm (5ft 5in) 40 Turkey 173.6 cm (5ft 8 1/2in) 161.9 cm (5ft 3 1/2in) 20-22 Turkey-Ankara 174.1 cm (5ft 8 1/2in) 158.9 cm (5ft 2 1/2in) 18-59 Turkey-Ankara 176.1 cm (5ft 9 1/2in) 162 cm (5ft 4in) 18-29 Turkey - 156.4 cm (5ft 1 1/2in) 25-49 Uganda - 159.2 cm (5ft 2 1/2in) 25-49 United Arab Emirates 173.4 cm (5ft 8 1/2in) 156.4 cm (5ft 1 1/2in) - UK-England 175.3 cm (5ft 9in) 161.9 cm (5ft 3 1/2in) 16+ UK-England 177.8 cm (5ft 10in) 164.5 cm (5ft 5in) 25-34 UK-Scotland 175.0 cm (5ft 9in) 161.3 cm (5ft 3 1/2in) 16+ UK-Scotland 178.2 cm (5ft 10in) 163.5 cm (5ft 4 1/2in) 25-34 UK-Wales 177.0 cm (5ft 9 1/2in) 162.0 cm (5ft 4in) 16 U.S. 175.9 cm (5ft 9 1/2in) 162.1 cm (5ft 4in) All Americans, 20+ U.S. 176.3 cm (5ft 9 1/2in) 163.1 cm (5ft 4in) All Americans, 20-29 U.S. 176.9 cm (5ft 9 1/2in) 163.7 cm (5ft 4 1/2in) African Americans, 20-39 U.S. 171.1 cm (5ft 7 1/2in) 158.2 cm (5ft 2 1/2in) Hispanic/Latino, 20-39 U.S. 178.4 cm (5ft 10in) 164.9 cm (5ft 5in) Non-Hispanic White, 20-39 Uruguay 170 cm (5ft 7in) 158 cm (5ft 2in) Adults Uzbekistan - 159.9 cm (5ft 3in) 25-49 Vietnam 162.1 cm (5ft 4in) 152.2 cm (5ft 0in) 25-29 Vietnam 165.7 cm (5ft 5in) 155.2 cm (5ft 1in) 20-25 Zambia - 158.5 cm (5ft 2 1/2in) 25-49 Zimbabwe - 160.3 cm (5ft 3in) 25-49

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The world's smallest man He Pingping sits on the lap of Svetlana Pankratova from Russia at Trafalgar Square in London

Interesting Facts

In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, Europeans in North America were far taller than those in Europe and were once the tallest people in the world.

The original indigenous population of the Plains Native Americans was also among the tallest populations of the world at the time.

Today several nations, including many European nations, have now surpassed the U.S. in average height, particularly the Netherlands, and Scandinavian nations.

In certain countries like the Philippines, younger generations are significantly shorter than those who were born in the 1970's and 1980's - despite today's economic growth and far better standard of living.

In Malaysia and Thailand, younger generations are currently experiencing average increased height.

Today, the tallest race of humans is the Nilotic peoples of Sudan such as the Dinka, they have been described as the tallest in the world, with the males in some communities having average heights of 1.9 m (6ft 3in) and females at 1.8 m (5ft 11in).

The tallest person in recorded history was Robert Pershing Wadlow who was born in Alton, Illinois USA.

The current worlds shortest man is He Pingping (Pictured above) from Mongolia.

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Page Citation:

Journal: Disabled World. Language: English. Author: Ian Langtree. Electronic Publication Date: 2017-12-01. Last Revised Date: 2019-11-29. Reference Title: "Height Chart of Men and Women in Different Countries", Source: Height Chart of Men and Women in Different Countries. Abstract: Chart showing the average height of males and females in various world countries. Retrieved 2020-09-27, from https://www.disabled-world.com/calculators-charts/height-chart.php - Reference Category Number: DW#286-13157.