Global Height Chart: Average Male and Female Stature

Author: Ian C. Langtree - Writer/Editor for Disabled World (DW)
Published: 1 Dec 2017 - Updated: 18 Aug 2026
Publication Type: Charts, Graphs, Tables

Table of Contents:
Synopsis - Definition - Overview - FAQs - Insights, Updates - Related Content

Synopsis

This information presents the average height, weight, and body mass index for men and women aged 18 to 25 across 128 countries, shown in both metric and imperial units and sortable by country, stature, weight, or BMI. The figures are drawn from pooled, population-representative studies compiled by the NCD Risk Factor Collaboration (NCD-RisC), a network of health scientists coordinated by Imperial College London in partnership with the World Health Organization, with height and weight reflecting the 2022 analysis and BMI covering 2020 to 2024. Because NCD-RisC includes only studies where measurements were physically taken rather than self-reported, the data carries a level of reliability that survey-based estimates often lack. This matters for anyone comparing national growth patterns, since most variation between countries reflects nutrition, disease, and living conditions rather than genetics alone, and the underlying research appears in the peer-reviewed journals eLife and The Lancet. The page is genuinely useful for seniors and people with disabilities as well, because it notes that stature typically declines by roughly 1 to 2 cm per decade after age 40, so anyone sizing equipment, furniture, or assistive devices for older adults should read these young-adult averages as an upper bound rather than a fixed standard.

At a Glance

• 1 - Men are taller than women in every country listed.
• 2 - Metric values are rounded to two decimals, and imperial figures are converted from those rounded numbers.
• 3 - The Netherlands records the tallest male average at 1.84 m, while East Timor shows the shortest at 1.59 m.
• 4 - Quoted chart averages combine national figures equally, so they are not population-weighted and a single mean hides the wide spread within any country.

Topic Definition

Auxology

Auxology is the scientific study of human physical growth and development, examining how the body changes in size, proportion, and composition from conception through adulthood. It draws its name from the Greek word "auxein," meaning to grow or increase, and pays particular attention to childhood and adolescence, when growth is at its most rapid. The field measures traits such as height, weight, and body mass index while also investigating the biological forces behind them, including hormones, nutrition, genetics, and environment. Auxologists build the growth charts and reference standards that pediatricians rely on to judge whether a child is developing typically, and they study conditions where growth falters, whether from endocrine disorders, chronic illness, or malnutrition. Beyond the clinic, the discipline offers a window into population health, socioeconomic conditions, and even evolutionary biology, since the way people grow reflects both inherited traits and the circumstances they live in.

Overview

People from different countries grow to different heights. While genetics plays a role, most differences stem from other causes - malnourished children or those with serious diseases generally become shorter adults. Men are typically taller than women across all populations.

Auxology is the study of human growth. Height has long been recognized as a measure of health and wellness. The chart below shows the average height, weight, and Body Mass Index (BMI) data of males and females aged 18-25 in various world countries.

Jump To: Females | Males

You can sort the data by Country, Average Height, Average Weight, and BMI by clicking the column headers (requires JavaScript).

Average Adult Height, Weight and BMI of Females Aged 18-25 Around the World

Average Adult Height, Weight and BMI of Males Aged 18-25 Around the World

Data Source and Methodology

The figures in the tables below are drawn from pooled, population-representative measurement studies compiled by the NCD Risk Factor Collaboration (NCD-RisC), a network of health scientists coordinated by Imperial College London and working with the World Health Organization. Height and weight values reflect NCD-RisC's 2022 analysis; body mass index values summarize the years 2020 to 2024. Country-level values were compiled via WorldData.info.

What these numbers do and do not represent

• Age range: all figures refer to people aged 18 to 25 years. They are not averages for a whole national population of all ages.
• Older adults: stature declines with age, typically by around 1 to 2 cm per decade after age 40 through vertebral compression and postural change. Readers sizing equipment for seniors should treat the figures here as an upper bound.
• Measured, not self-reported: NCD-RisC restricts its pooling to studies in which height and weight were physically measured.
• Averages conceal spread: a national mean says nothing about the range. Designing to a single average will exclude a large share of any population.
• Unweighted country list: averages quoted across the chart are averages of national figures, not population-weighted global averages.
• Rounding: metric values are rounded to two decimal places; imperial conversions are derived from the rounded metric value.

Last verified against source: 03 August 2026.

References

• NCD Risk Factor Collaboration (NCD-RisC). "A century of trends in adult human height." eLife 2016;5:e13410. https://elifesciences.org/articles/13410
• NCD Risk Factor Collaboration (NCD-RisC). "Worldwide trends in underweight and obesity from 1990 to 2022: a pooled analysis of 3663 population-representative studies with 222 million children, adolescents, and adults." The Lancet 2024;403(10431):1027-1050. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(23)02750-2/fulltext
• NCD Risk Factor Collaboration. "Height - Data Downloads." ncdrisc.org
• WorldData.info. "Average height and weight by country." worlddata.info
• World Health Organization. "Body mass index." who.int
• US National Center for Health Statistics. "National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES): Anthropometric Reference Data." cdc.gov

Frequently Asked Questions

At what age do most people stop growing taller?

Most girls reach their final adult stature around age 15 to 17 and most boys around age 17 to 19, once the growth plates at the ends of the long bones fuse after puberty. A small amount of trunk growth can continue into the early twenties for some people, which is one reason population studies often use an 18 to 25 age band as the peak stature window.

Why are men on average taller than women?

Boys typically begin puberty about two years later than girls, giving them a longer stretch of childhood growth before the growth plates close, and they also tend to have a faster growth spurt driven by higher testosterone levels. The combined effect produces an adult gap of roughly 12 to 14 cm in most populations, which is why male averages exceed female averages in every country listed.

How can height be estimated for someone who cannot stand upright?

Clinicians commonly use proxy measures such as knee height, arm span, ulna length, or demi span, then apply a validated equation to estimate full stature. These methods are widely used for wheelchair users, people with severe scoliosis or contractures, and bedbound patients, and they are important because dosing calculations, BMI, and equipment sizing all depend on a reasonable stature figure.

How do you convert a height in meters to feet and inches?

Multiply the height in meters by 39.3701 to get total inches, then divide by 12 for whole feet and keep the remainder as inches. For example, 1.75 m equals about 68.9 inches, which is 5 feet 8.9 inches, and rounding at each step can shift the result by a fraction of an inch.

Has average adult height changed over the past century?

Yes, adult stature increased substantially in most countries during the twentieth century, with some populations gaining well over 10 cm as nutrition, sanitation, and childhood disease control improved. The gains have slowed or leveled off in many high income nations, while several countries have seen little change or even small declines, which researchers link to persistent nutritional and health inequalities.

Does a person's height vary during the course of a single day?

Yes, most people are slightly taller in the morning than at night, typically by around 1 to 2 cm. The spinal discs compress gradually under body weight through the day and rehydrate during sleep, so research protocols usually specify a consistent time of day and a standardized posture when measuring stature.

Can an adult do anything to become taller?

Once the growth plates have fused, no supplement, stretching routine, or exercise program will increase skeletal height, and products marketed as height increasers are not supported by evidence. Improving posture, strengthening core and back muscles, and treating conditions such as scoliosis can restore a small amount of apparent height, while surgical limb lengthening is an invasive procedure reserved for specific medical indications.

What is considered medically short stature?

Short stature is generally defined as height below the 3rd percentile for age and sex, or more than two standard deviations below the population mean, rather than by a single fixed number. Most people who meet that definition are simply healthy variants of normal growth, though clinicians may investigate causes such as growth hormone deficiency, thyroid disorders, celiac disease, chronic illness, or genetic conditions when growth slows unexpectedly.

Update History

• 18 Aug 2026 - Corrected FAQ Error.
• 03 Aug 2026 - Fixed broken link to WHO.
• 29 Jul 2026 - Added a data source and methodology section citing the NCD Risk Factor Collaboration, with a full reference list. Clarified throughout that figures cover ages 18 to 25. Added an At a Glance summary and a frequently asked questions section. Added North Korea, bringing both tables to 128 countries. Removed an inaccurate reference to urban and rural distinctions. Expanded the page's structured data.
• 1 Dec 2017 - First published.

Insights, Analysis, and Developments

Editorial Note: Height has long served as a quiet barometer of a nation's health, and these figures reward a careful reader more than a casual glance, because a tall national average can mask deep inequality while a modest one may reflect steady, broadly shared nutrition. The data covers only the 18 to 25 age band, so it captures populations near their peak stature rather than the full sweep of a country's citizens, which is precisely why designers, clinicians, and caregivers should resist treating any single number as a universal fit. Pacific nations such as American Samoa, the Cook Islands, and Tonga stand out for markedly higher weight and BMI readings, a pattern researchers tie to shifts in diet and lifestyle rather than stature itself, and the last verification against source was recorded on 28 July 2026, giving anyone who cites this material a clear reference point for currency.

Author Credentials: Ian is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Disabled World, a leading resource for news and information on disability issues. With a global perspective shaped by years of travel and lived experience, Ian is a committed proponent of the Social Model of Disability-a transformative framework developed by disabled activists in the 1970s that emphasizes dismantling societal barriers rather than focusing solely on individual impairments. His work reflects a deep commitment to disability rights, accessibility, and social inclusion. To learn more about Ian's background, expertise, and accomplishments, visit his full biography.