The average height for adult women varies around the world. In the United States, the average woman is a little under 5 feet 4 inches tall at 63.7 inches (161.8 centimeters). This data is reported by the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), which was conducted from 2011 to 2014.﻿﻿

Average Female Height in the U.S.

The average height of women in the U.S. has some variation by ethnicity. Here are the categories and statistics reported on that survey.

Non-Hispanic white women: 64.1 inches (162.9 centimeters)

Non-Hispanic black women: 64.2 inches (163.0 centimeters)

Non-Hispanic Asian women: 61.8 inches (157.0 centimeters)

Hispanic (includes Mexican American) women: 62.0 inches (157.5 centimeters)

Mexican American women: 61.9 inches (157.3 cm)

Height Changes Over Time

Figures for how the height of women has changed over the years have been derived from early surveys. For instance, we know that Pilgrim women in the Massachusetts colony around 1620 probably averaged about 60 1/2 inches, or just a little over 5 feet tall.

There have been substantial changes since the 1900s. Not surprisingly, women in the United States have been getting taller over the past 100 years.

United States women averaged 62.4 inches (1900 to 1908)

United States women averaged 63.7 inches (1948 to 1950)

United States women averaged 64.3 inches in 1955

Some historic measurement surveys are not considered very accurate as they were done while the subjects were wearing shoes and it is hard to control for the variability of women's shoes in different eras. Measurements since the 1960s are considered to be more accurate and include body mass index, weight, height, and even head circumference.

Women probably will not keep growing taller. Better health and nutrition, which was likely a big part of this growth spurt, can only go so far. In fact, many experts think that the height potential may have maxed out already. Immigration also has an influence on changes in height over time in a region as people from areas with lower health and nutrition enter the population.﻿﻿

Average Female Height Worldwide

Various unofficial sources say the average adult female height worldwide is 5 feet 3 inches or 5 feet 4 inches, without saying how they arrived at that answer. It isn't easy to pin down, as each country has its own statistics, sampling methods, and reports.

Any overall change in the height of women in China and India, each with about 18 percent of the world population, could change the worldwide average significantly. Here are some trends in the height of women around the world:

In many European countries, such as the Netherlands, the average woman is 5 feet 6 inches tall. ﻿ ﻿

﻿ In many other countries. including India and various countries in Asia, Southeast Asia, Central, and South America, the average woman's height is 5 feet 0 inches or less. ﻿ ﻿ Women in India have barely been increasing in height over the past few decades. ﻿ ﻿

﻿ Women in India have barely been increasing in height over the past few decades. ﻿ Various reports on the Chinese population list the average woman's height between 61.5 and 63.0 inches. The average height has been increasing for girls by 1.2 inches (3.0 centimeters) or more, which predicts taller population averages for China in the years to come. ﻿ ﻿

Average Height of Girls

The average height of a woman is a good statistic to know as you wonder about your own child's growth. Not everyone is going to grow to be 5 feet 10 inches tall. In fact, half of the American women are shorter than 5 feet 4 inches tall. Shorter stature doesn't mean that your child isn't growing well, needs growth hormone, or that she is too short.

Your pediatrician assesses how well your child is growing with growth charts, which you can also learn how to use.

A Word From Verywell

Better nutrition and a supportive environment in infancy and childhood can give a child the best chance of reaching her natural height. The average height of women is a way to monitor general health and living conditions for a population but it is not a judgment of an individual.