The global average height is approximately 166.99 cm (5 feet 5.7 inches), but this figure varies widely across regions.
While the Netherlands has some of the tallest people, averaging around 177.07 cm (5 feet 9.7 inches), countries with shorter averages are predominantly found in Southeast Asia and parts of Central and South America, influenced by a mix of genetic, dietary, and socioeconomic factors.
Here are the top five countries with the shortest average heights:
1.Timor Leste: 156.42 cm (5 feet 1.6 inches)
East Timor has the shortest average height globally, with an overall average of 156.42 cm (5 feet 1.6 inches). Timorese women average around 151.15 cm (4 feet 11.5 inches), while men are about 159.79 cm (5 feet 2.9 inches). Genetic factors primarily influence this stature.
2.Guatemala: 157.64 cm (5 feet 2 inches)
In Guatemala, the average height is about 157.64 cm (5 feet 2 inches), with women around 149.38 cm (4 feet 10.8 inches) and men at 163.4 cm (5 feet 4.3 inches). Genetics, especially within indigenous populations, significantly contribute to this average.
3.Laos: 157.94 cm (5 feet 2.2 inches)
The average height in Laos is 157.94 cm (5 feet 2.2 inches), with women averaging 151.26 cm (4 feet 11.6 inches) and men around 160.51 cm (5 feet 3.2 inches). A combination of socioeconomic factors affecting diet and health, along with genetic influences, impact these averages.
4.Nepal: 158.38 cm (5 feet 2.4 inches)
In Nepal, the average adult height is around 158.38 cm (5 feet 2.4 inches). Nepalese women average about 150.86 cm (4 feet 11.4 inches), while men reach around 162.31 cm (5 feet 3.9 inches). Genetic and socioeconomic factors, particularly those related to healthcare and nutrition, play a role in the country’s height average.
5.Bangladesh: 158.73 cm (5 feet 2.5 inches)
Bangladesh has an average height of 158.73 cm (5 feet 2.5 inches), with women at about 150.78 cm (4 feet 11.4 inches) and men at 163.8 cm (5 feet 4.5 inches). Genetic factors, combined with nutrition and healthcare access, contribute to these lower averages.
While genetics is a key factor, other variables such as diet, access to healthcare, and socioeconomic conditions also play crucial roles in shaping average height across populations. Majid Ezzati, a researcher at Imperial College London, highlights that these environmental factors can often have as much or more impact than genetics on physical development.
, but this figure varies widely across regions.){kind=link}