The average height of men varies around the world. In the United States, the average man is about 5 feet 9 inches tall.Factors such as genetics, nutrition and health can affect your position in growth charts.
Starting in early childhood, your health professional should monitor your height to make sure you are growing at a healthy pace and collect data for national growth charts. These charts help track your height compared to national averages, which can help you determinenutrient deficienciesor comorbidities.
As an adult, knowing your height can help you measure clothing or furniture, but it can also be used to track changes in your health as you age.
The average height of men in the US aged 20 and over is 5 feet 9 inches. This average is based on 2015-2016 data published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
This number does not indicate how tall a man should be; it's just a way to measure total population growth.
The average height of men worldwide
Men's heights vary slightly around the world. Socioeconomic factors such as access to high-quality food and genetics play a significant role in height differences.Compared to other countries, the average height of 5 feet 9 inches for American men is slightly in the middle of the world averages.
The highest average male height is in the Netherlands, averaging 72.4 inches or just over 6 feet tall.Southeast Asian countries and Guatemala were among the shortest, averaging 5 feet 4 inches or slightly less.
To estimate how much men's height varies around the world, in 2016 the NCD Risk Factor Collaboration published an analysis of 1,472 population studies from 200 countries. These studies included more than 18.6 million men born between 1896 and 1996.
Here is a comparison of men's height in different countries:
- Netherlands:6 pancakes
- Germany:5 stops 11 cal
- Bermuda Islands:5 stops 10 cal
- Greece:5 stops 10 cal
- Puerto Rico:5 stops 10 cal
- Australia:5 stops 10 cal
- You have:5 stops 10 cal
- United Kingdom: 5 stops 10 cal
- Brazil:5 stops 9 cal
- South Korea:5 stops 9 cal
- Iran:5 stops 9 cal
- Porcelain:5 stops 9 cal
- Mexico:5 stops 7 cal
- Kenya:5 stops 7 cal
- Indie:5 stops 5 cal
- Filipino:5 stops 4 cal
These measures are estimates based on available data. Since there were no standardized instructions for measuring or reporting height between countries, there may be slight differences in measurements between countries.
Men and people in general are taller than their ancestors. Ten thousand European male skeletons measured 5 feet 6 inches, about 3 inches off the current US average.
Even looking back only to the 1960s, the average man was an inch shorter than today's measurements. Statistics from the US National Health Survey from 1960 to 1962 showed that men were about 5 feet 8 inches tall.
Other countries have seen similar or even more drastic trends. One study found that men in Iran grew about 6.7 inches in the last 100 years, the largest increase in height in the world.
One theory to explain why men's height has increased is that our more modern lifestyles and technologies have led to better nutrition. Lifelong access to essential nutrients increases your chances of reaching your full growth potential. Alternatively, nutrient deficiencies can stunt growth.
However, this does not necessarily mean that people continue to develop. Researchers point out that better nutrition in itself does not necessarily mean increased height. Instead, access to food gives people the opportunity to reach their full growth potential and pass on their growth genes.
Growth factors
As with most physical characteristics, a person's genetics and environment play an important role in development. Your genetics will predetermine what your height may be. At the same time, other factors, such as nutrition, can help to achieve potential growth or hinder growth.
genetics
Height is an extremely heritable trait influenced by many genetic variants. In fact, scientists have identified more than 700 common genetic variants that affect height.
For example, if your parents are short and you don't have an underlying medical condition that affects your height, you may be shorter in height. This genetic condition is called familial short stature.
When you are a child, health professionals can calculate your potential genetic height (estimated adult height) by finding your parents' average height. Your parents' average height is the average height between your two parents and is basically an educated guess.
Because so many different genes and environmental factors affect height, it's not easy to predict height based on genetics alone.
Nutrition
Throughout childhood and adolescence, children need nutrients from food to grow and reach their potential height. Children who experience malnutrition or lack of nutrients may have stunted growth.This means that his height is short for his age. Growth retardation in childhood can affect growth in adulthood.
Studies have shown that certain nutrients, such as protein, are associated with taller men. A study of men from 105 countries found that those who ate more high-quality animal protein were taller.
Consistent with other data, men from Northern and Central Europe (countries with the highest average male height) consumed the most animal protein, including dairy. In contrast, men from East Asia, countries with lower average height, ate more foods that were not as high in protein, such as rice.
medical conditions
Having certain chronic disorders, especially in childhood, can affect your height.
Conditions that make it difficult to absorb nutrients from food can stunt your growth in childhood. Other conditions can affect joints or bone structure, which can affect growth.
Some conditions often associated with lower nutrient absorption and shorter stature include:
- cystic fibrosis:A genetic condition that can affect digestion
- Idiopathic juvenile rheumatoid arthritis:Joint swelling can cause slow, fast, or uneven bone growth
- Anemia: A condition where a person has a lower level of red blood cells
- Chronic kidney failure:Kidney disease, which can cause reduced nutrient levels and loss of appetite.
- Inflammatory bowel disease:Crohn's diseaseyulcerative colitisboth cause inflammation in the digestive tract and can affect digestion
Other medical conditions can directly affect the way you grow up as a child and teenager, causing you to be unusually tall or short.
Gigantism, or exceptionally tall stature, can be caused by several different conditions that cause the body to produce too much growth hormone, including:
- Pituitary tumors:Abnormal growths on the pituitary gland, which is located in the skull
- kompleks Carneya:An endocrine disorder characterized by the formation of bumps and pigmented areas of the skin.
- McCune-Albright Syndrome:A genetic disease that affects bones, skin, and hormone-producing tissues
- Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 or type 4:abnormal cell growth
- neurofibromatosis:Growth of tumors affecting the brain, spinal cord and nerves
Extremely short stature is considered dwarfism, which can affect height in two ways: proportional short stature (PSS) and disproportionate short stature (DSS). PSS means that the arms, legs and torso are proportionately small. DSS means that the limbs or torso are much smaller and disproportionate to the body. An underlying genetic condition usually causes dwarfism, including:
- endocrine disorders
- growth hormone deficiency
- Bone diseases, e.gakondroplazja
Many people begin to lose height as they age. On average, older men lose about 0.08 to 0.10% of their height per year, or about 2 to 4 centimeters at the end of their lives.
You can begin to shrink after age 40, but loss of height usually becomes faster after age 70. Aging often leads to a decrease in muscle mass and bone density. These changes may cause it to become shorter over time.
Following practices that promote healthy aging can help you maintain your height for longer. This includes eating a nutritious diet, exercising, and going to your doctor's appointments. Regular visits to your doctor can help monitor your bone health to prevent and treat bone loss.
How to measure your own height
If you want to know how tall you are, find a flat wall with a mirror directly in front of it (you can also put a mirror facing the wall). Then follow the steps below to accurately measure your height:
- Stand straight against a wall with your heels touching the wall and your shoulders flat on the surface (head should not touch the wall).
- Place a flat, rigid object such as a hardcover book, piece of cardboard, or cutting board on top of your head and slide it back until it touches the wall and top of your head.
- If you have a mirror in front of you, check that the object is parallel to the floor and that your posture is not slanted or slanted.
- Using a pencil, mark a short horizontal line where the flat object hits the wall and touches your head (this will be the bottom of the object).
- Put the item down, take a measuring tape and measure from the floor to the mark to record its height.
Your height may not drop by an exact measure. In this case, you can measure your height to an accuracy of 1/8 inch.
The average height of a man varies by location, genetics, medical conditions, and nutrition.
In the United States, the estimated average male height is 5 feet 9 inches. Men in the Netherlands have a taller average height of around 6 feet, while Southeast Asian countries and Guatemala have a lower average height of 5 feet 4 inches.
Your genetics will initially determine how tall you will be, but access to nutrient-dense foods and the presence of chronic diseases can affect your potential height.
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FAQs
What is the average height of men? ›
For an average male in the U.S. (69 inches tall), a healthy weight would be 128–169 pounds (around 58–77 kilograms). People with overweight or obesity may be vulnerable to a wide range of medical conditions, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome.
What height is enough for a man? ›| Body weight | Ideal height |
|---|---|
| 149 to 183 lbs | 5'10” |
| 155 to 189 lbs | 5'11” |
| 160 to 196 lbs | 6'0” |
| 166 to 202 lbs | 6'1” |
On a global scale, the average height of men is around 5 feet 9 inches (175 cm), while the average height of women is around 5 feet 4 inches (162 cm).
Is 5 7 a good height for a man? ›The ordinary guy it is also almost 6 feet tall, or 182.5 cm. As such, if you are a guy and stand 5 feet 7 inches, you would be regarded as short in the USA.
What height do girls prefer? ›A study on women's and men's height preferences found that women are most satisfied when their partner was 8 inches (21cm) taller. Men are most satisfied when they are 3 inches (8cm) taller than their partners. Another study found that among men, 13.5 percent prefer to date only women shorter than them.
What is the most attractive height? ›The ideal height for a woman, according to the average man, is 5'6”. Notably, this excludes 10% of men who say there is no such thing as too short and 9% who say no height is too tall. Similarly, there is no "too short" for 4% of women and no "too tall" for 7%.
Is 5 7 average height for a man in the US? ›The average height for men varies across the world. In the United States, the average male is about 5 feet 9 inches tall.
Is 5 ft 10 short for a man? ›No, 5'10" is not considered short for a man. In fact, it is slightly above the average height for men in many countries. At 5′10 inches you are the benchmark for human males. If someone is taller than you they are tall and if they are shorter than you then they are short.
Is 5 ft 8 short for a man? ›It's just a little below average, but still average, a 5′8 guy is taller than at least 85–90% of girls, I was in the 5′8 range when I was 16–17 (Now I'm 5′10 at 20), and, after being a midget for my whole tween and teen years, when I reached 5′8 at 16 I didn't feel short anymore, I felt comfortable, in an average range ...
What is the most attractive male height and weight? ›The 'Perfect' Man
The average 'perfect man' would be just a tad taller than 6 feet with a weight of 187lbs. That's roughly the size of Bradley Cooper, Channing Tatum or Gerard Butler, in case you were wondering. They also collected data on the most desirable body traits and body parts.
How to grow taller? ›
What can I do to become taller? Taking good care of yourself — eating well, exercising regularly, and getting plenty of rest — is the best way to stay healthy and help your body reach its natural potential. There's no magic pill for increasing height. In fact, your genes are the major determinant of how tall you'll be.
Is 5 ft 11 short for a man? ›The numbers presented here are from a legitimate source, ie the CDC. American men who are 5′11″ are in the 75th percentile for height distribution. That means that 75% of American men are SHORTER than 5′11″. So yes, it is tall for a man.
Why do girls like tall men? ›Tall men are seen as protective and strong.
While short men are just as capable of looking after their partners, tall guys exude a sense of safety that many women appreciate. When a shorter woman is with a taller man, she might feel like she doesn't have to worry about her own security or protection.
Previous studies have found that women generally prefer men somewhat taller than themselves while guys typically go for a shorter gal. This new research revealed that men were taller than their female partners in 92.5% of the actual pairings, which is more often than expected on the basis of chance.
How tall is considered short? ›According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, short stature means an estimated final height below 5 feet 3 inches for boys or 4 feet 11 inches for girls. The average height in the United States is 5 feet 8 inches for men and 5 feet 4 inches for women.
What is the hottest height for a guy? ›Those same studies also found that some men are too tall. The most attractive height range for men is between 5'11” and 6'3”. Men that get into the “freakishly tall” stage find it harder to date “beautiful women”. Fortunately science backs up the claim that looks aren't everything when choosing a partner.
What is the happiest male height? ›for males, 5 ft. 4 in. for females — report higher levels of happiness than smaller people. (See 10 perfect jobs for the recession — and after.)
What is the most attractive age for a man? ›Furthermore, a data dive by Christian Rudder, co-founder of OkCupid, has used surveys to find the male age women find attractive above all others. The result? Between 38 and 39.
What state has the tallest men? ›The tallest states based on average height for men and based on average height for women are different. The tallest women tend to be clustered in the northern plains states, with the tallest living in South Dakota. The tallest men live in Iowa and Alabama.
Which state has the tallest people? ›For instance, Montana and Utah are the tallest states in America with an average height of 5'7.7″, while Hawaii has the lowest average height of 5'6″.
At what age do boys stop growing? ›
Changes in Boys
They tend to grow most quickly between ages 12 and 15. The growth spurt of boys is, on average, about 2 years later than that of girls. By age 16, most boys have stopped growing, but their muscles will continue to develop.
Short is 5′ 6″ or less for guys. Here is a guide.... 5′6″ or less is short, 5′7″ to 5′10″ is medium height average (not short) and not tall…but 5′11″ to 6′4″ is tall. 6′5″ up to 6' 8″ is extremely tall.
How many men are 5 foot 10? ›| 5'8'' | 26.7 | 93.3 |
| 5'9'' | 38.9 | 97.2 |
| 5'10'' | 53.7 | 99.5 |
| 5'11'' | 68.3 | 99.7 |
| 6' | 80.1 | 100.0 |
A short king isn't just any male-presenting person of modest stature – it's someone who has the strength of character to flourish in the face of conventional male beauty standards.
What size should 5 8 man be? ›| Height | 130 -150 LBS | 160-170 LBS |
|---|---|---|
| 5'8" | XS | M |
| 5'9" | XS | M |
| 5'10" | XS | M |
| 5'11" | XS | M |
It sounds counterintuitive because a higher waist can shorten the appearance of your torso, but a higher waistline does elongate the visual line of your legs, making you look taller. As a shorter men, a general rule of thumb is that you want your legs to look taller.
Is 5 ft 9 small for a man? ›5′6″ or less is short, 5′7″ to 5′10″ is medium average size not short, 5′11″ up to 6′4″ is tall. 6'5″ up to 6′8″ is extremely tall. 6′9″ and above is leading towards gigantism.
What male height is most attractive? ›Those same studies also found that some men are too tall. The most attractive height range for men is between 5'11” and 6'3”. Men that get into the “freakishly tall” stage find it harder to date “beautiful women”. Fortunately science backs up the claim that looks aren't everything when choosing a partner.
Is 5 11 a good height for a guy? ›But 5′11″ is still in the 75th percentile of height in the US for males, which means we are taller than 75% of adult men. That's pretty good. It's the prefect height for a man. Not short, not too tall, perfect to be athletic.
Is 5 10 a good height for a guy? ›5′10 (178 cm) is an internationally good height for men. Not tall but definitely not short. At 5′10 you can build a nice body without looking stocky, you can date tall girls and not look awkward and nobody will criticize you about your height.
What age are men most attractive? ›
Furthermore, a data dive by Christian Rudder, co-founder of OkCupid, has used surveys to find the male age women find attractive above all others. The result? Between 38 and 39.
Does height matter in a guy? ›Height does not affect dating and marriage at all. If they can get past the initial (potential) awkwardness physical traits matter less each day and a couple starts seeing each other's beauty from within. Practically: Sometimes. Lots of people never get over the aforementioned awkwardness.
What size does a 5'11 man wear? ›| Height | 130 -150 LBS | 160-170 LBS |
|---|---|---|
| 5'10" | XS | M |
| 5'11" | XS | M |
| 6' | M | |
| 6'1" | M |
So seeing as that the average height is under 6ft, by definition being 6ft and over is tall (i.e, above the national average).
How much does height matter in a guy? ›Regardless of their own height, recent studies have shown that almost all women prefer their male partners to be taller but not too much taller, with 67% of women on average choosing a partner who is no more than 7 inches taller than themselves2.
What is too short for a guy? ›In the U.S.? Anything under 5′8″. The average adult man in the United States is about 5′10″ but many men are even taller than that. I'm a woman and 5′7″ — the majority of men I encounter in my daily life are taller than me.
What is the shortest height for a man? ›Men. Chandra was declared the shortest human adult ever documented and verified, measuring 21.51 in (54.64 cm). Height confirmed by Guinness World Records. Guinness World Records verified Mohammed's height at 22 in (57 cm).