Scientists and doctors measure the average height of females around the world in centimeters. Synthesized data from the 3 most reputable sources about average height for women worldwide and see how this height has changed over time.
Doctors can use measurements of your body, including height, to get a better idea of your health. Researchers can learn from trends in the average height of large populations over time how they can determine the quality and health of people living in particular areas.
Anthropometry is a scientific term that describes the measurement of the human body. It involves the measurement of body fat (the measurement of fat) and height (weight, BMI, body mass index, and skinfold thickness).
By interviewing and studying tens to thousands of people, researchers can learn about height trends. They then use this information to monitor overall human development, health, and physical fitness as well as the risk of disease.
This information will help you understand the value of such data as well as how it is obtained. Let’s begin by asking the question: Where do U.S. females rank among international peers?
Table of Contents
Here are some quick facts about the average height of women.
- Each country uses its own reporting method. There is no universal average height for women.
- There are many factors that affect height.
- All over the globe, men are on average taller than women.
Average Height for Women Worldwide
Globally, the trends in height over 100 years indicate social and environmental changes. Height increases could be due to changes in diet or less illness.
The average height gain for women in South Korea was almost eight inches. The women of Tuvalu, Polynesia, the Polynesian islands nation, saw the most growth, growing less than one inch.
By eight inches, the heights of the tallest and shortest women around the globe differ by approximately eight inches. Guatemalan women are on average the shortest at 4ft 10ins. Latvian women are 5’6.5 inches taller than the average person.
Chart showing the average height of males and females in various world countries.
| Country | Average male height | Average female height |
|---|---|---|
| Argentina | 174.46 cm (5 ft 8.6 in) | 161.03 cm (5 ft 3.4 in) |
| Australia | 178.4 cm (5′ 10.2″) | 163.9 cm (5′ 4.5″) |
| Bahrain | 165.1 cm (5′ 5″) | 154.7 cm (5′ 1″) |
| Belgium | 176.6 cm (5′ 9.5″) | 163.3 cm (5′ 4.3″) |
| Brazil | 169.0 cm (5′ 6.5″) | 158.0 cm (5′ 2.2″) |
| Cameroon | 170.6 cm (5′ 7.2″) | 161.3 cm (5′ 3.5″) |
| Canada | 174 cm (5′ 8.5″) | 161.0 cm (5′ 3.4″) |
| China (PRC) | 164.8 cm (5′ 4.9″) | 154.5 cm (5′ 0.8″) |
| China | 169.4 cm (5′ 6.7″) | 158.6 cm (5′ 2.5″) |
| Colombia | 170.64 cm (5′ 7.2″) | 158.65 cm (5′ 2.4″) |
| Cote d’Ivoire | 170.1 cm (5′ 7″) | 159.1 cm (5′ 2.7″) |
| Czech Republic | 180.3 cm (5′ 11″) | 167.3 cm (5′ 6.0″) |
| Denmark | 180.6 cm (5′ 11.1″) | |
| Dinaric Alps | 185.6 cm (6′ 1.0″) | 171.0 cm (5′ 7.2″) |
| Estonia | 179.1 cm (5′ 10.5″) | |
| Finland | 178.2 cm (5′ 10″) | 164.7 cm (5′ 4.7″) |
| France | 174.1 cm (5′ 8.5″) | 161.9 cm (5′ 3.7″) |
| Ghana | 169.46 cm (5′ 6.7″) | 158.53 cm (5′ 2.4″) |
| Gambia | 168.0 cm (5′ 6.1″) | 157.8 cm (5′ 2.2″) |
| Germany | 178.1 cm (5′ 10″) | 165 cm (5′ 4.9″) |
| Guatemala (Maya people) | 157.5 cm (5′ 2″) | 142.2 cm (4′ 6″) |
| Hong Kong | 170 cm (5′ 7″) | 158.8 cm (5′ 2.6″) |
| Hungary, Debrecen | 179.14 cm (5′ 10.4″) | 165.84 cm (5′ 5.2″) |
| Iceland | 181.7 cm (5′ 11.5″) | 167.6 cm (5′ 6″) |
| India | 165.3 cm (5′ 5″) | 165.3 cm (5′ 5″) |
| Indonesia | 158.0 cm (5′ 2.2″) | 147.0 cm (4′ 10.0″) |
| Indonesia, East Bali | 162.4 cm (5′ 3.9″) | 151.3 cm (4′ 11.5″) |
| Iran | 174.24 cm (5′ 8.6″) | 160.0 cm (5′ 3″) |
| Iraq | 165.4 cm (5′ 5.1″) | 155.8 cm (5′ 1.3″) |
| Israel | 175.6 cm (5′ 9.2″) | 162.7 cm (5′ 4.1″) |
| Italy – Middle & North | 176.9 cm (5′ 9.7″) | 163.2 cm (5′ 4.2″) |
| Italy – South | 174.2 cm (5′ 8.0″) | 160.8 cm (5′ 3.3″) |
| Japan | 171.2 cm (5′ 7.4″) | 158.8 cm (5′ 2.6″) |
| Korea, South | 175.26 cm (5′ 9″) | 162.56 cm (5′ 4″) |
| Lithuania | 176.3 cm (5′ 9.4″) | |
| Malaysia | 164.7 cm (5′ 4.8″) | 153.3 cm (5′ 0.4″) |
| Malta | 169 cm (5′ 6.5″) | 159 cm (5′ 2.6″) |
| Malawi | 166 cm (5′ 5.3″) | 155 cm (5′ 1.1″) |
| Mali | 171.3 cm (5′ 7.4″) | 160.4 cm (5′ 3.2″) |
| Mexico, State of Morelos | 167 cm (5′ 5.7″) | 155 cm (5′ 1.1″) |
| Netherlands | 184.8 cm (6′ 0.8″) | 168.7 cm (5′ 6.4″) |
| New Zealand | 177.0 cm (5′ 9.7″) | 165.0 cm (5′ 5″) |
| Nigeria | 163.8 cm (5′ 4.5″) | 157.8 cm (5′ 2.1″) |
| Norway | 179.9 cm (5′ 10.8″) | 167.2 cm (5′ 5.9″) |
| Philippines | 163.5 cm (5′ 4.4″) | 151.8 cm (4′ 11.8″) |
| Portugal | 172.8 cm (5′ 8″) | |
| Singapore | 170.6 cm (5′ 7.2″) | 160 cm (5′ 3″) |
| South Africa | 169.0 cm (5′ 6.5″) | 159.0 cm (5′ 2.5″) |
| Spain | 170 cm (5′ 7″) | 161 cm (5′ 3.3″) |
| Sweden | 180 cm (5′ 10.9″) | 166.9 cm (5′ 5.7″) |
| Switzerland | 175.5 cm (5′ 9″) | 164.0 cm (5′ 3.8″) |
| Taiwan | 171.45 cm (5′ 7.5″) | 159.68 cm (5′ 2.75″) |
| Thailand | 167.5 cm (5′ 5.9″) | 157.3 cm (5′ 1.9″) |
| Turkey | 173.74 cm (5′ 8.4″) | 161.4 cm (5′ 3.5″) |
| United Kingdom | 176.8 cm (5′ 9.6″) | 163.7 cm (5′ 4.4″) |
| U.S. | 178.2 cm (5′ 10.2″) | 164.1 cm (5′ 4.6″) |
| Vietnam | 167 cm | 156 cm |
The height of a person varies depending on where they live. Women from Central Asia and Europe (think Iran and Uzbekistan), are the tallest in the entire world. South Asian women, including those from Nepal and Bangladesh, are amongst the shortest.
These are the global height trends for women aged 18-40, as compiled by the website World Data.
- European women are averagely 5′ 6″ tall.
- The average height of a woman in Asia, including China is 5 feet.
- The average height of women in North America is slightly lower than that of women in the U.S.
- According to BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation), South Asia and Guatemala have the lowest average heights for women at less than 5 feet.
Average Height of Female Children and Teens
You may wonder how your child’s height compares with the national averages if they are a teen or child of a woman. NHANES data provides information on children from 2 years of age up to 19 years of age.
For example, the average height of females aged 2 years is 35.4 inches. The mean height increases to 56.3 inches at 10 years of age. The average height for female teens aged 14 years is 63.7 inches.
Your pediatrician will be able to assess your child’s growth against other children her age using growth charts. They can help you address any concerns and offer guidance about your child’s health.
Height evolution in women
With time, the average body shape and size change. In the 1960s, an average woman was 5′ 3″ tall and weighed in at 140 pounds. An average woman weighs 168 pounds now, an increase of 28lbs.
The average height of women in the U.S. is only one inch higher than in the previous period. This indicates that weight is growing much faster than height.
How tall are American women?
Over the past two decades, the average height of American women hasn’t been much different. The average American woman stood at 63.6 inches (6 feet 3 inches) in 2016.
The average height of U.S. females varies depending on their race or ethnicity.
- White non-Hispanic: 5ft 4.3in
- African American 5′ 4″
- Hispanic American: 5ft 1.7in
- Asian American 5′ 1.5″
America’s height declines
There are many factors that can affect the average height of women.
The average increase in height in the United States has been slower than the global median.
According to a 2016 survey, the average height of Americans has increased slower than that of people from other high-income countries.
However, this has not been the norm. In 1914, the third-tallest men in America and the fourth-tallest woman in the world were both males.
One century later, these women were the 42nd tallest in the world and men the 37th.
The Netherlands was the country with the highest average height for men at 6’0_ in 2014. Latvia was the country with the highest average height for women, at 5 feet 7 inches.
The 2016 survey authors noted that Americans are experiencing slower height increases due to poor nutrition.
The potential causes of the slowing growth of height in America could be due to immigrants from countries with lower birth weights and less quality obstetrical and pediatric care.
What factors influence height?
Your genes or your DNA play an important role in height. Scientists believe that your height is at least 80% down to your genes. Research has shown that there are nearly 700 genes that influence height.
However, your life circumstances can also impact the outcome. Experts link poor nutrition to low living standards which can hinder growth.
The average height of a country’s population can tell a lot about its quality of life. While some factors are inherent, others affect the standard of living.
Genetics
Height is largely determined by genetics. Genetic makeup accounts for 60 to 80 percent of height differences. A child who is shorter than both parents will likely be shorter.
Height and other developmental factors can be affected by certain genetic conditions. Turner syndrome is a condition that results in a height below the average for women.
Localization
The place a person grows up can have an impact on their height.
How tall someone grows up can impact how tall they get. Important factors that are location-related include:
- The cleanliness of the water
- Sanitation
- Nutrition
- Access to vaccinations
- Access to high-quality healthcare, especially in childhood and during pregnancy
- Climate
Hormones
The human growth hormone (HGH), is used to determine height and other related factors. It doesn’t matter where someone lives, their height won’t be affected if they don’t have this hormone.
According to research published in the International Journal of Pediatric Endocrinology, HGH supplements may help normalize height for children with unexplainedly short stature.
Nutrition
Healthy eating habits can increase the height of children. Essential nutrients such as calcium, vitamin D, and protein should be included in this diet.
Sleep
Sleep is essential for growth hormones. A child should get between 8 and 10 hours of sleep each night for normal development.
Family environment
Negative experiences or trauma can hinder a child’s ability to grow. A child who lives in an unfamiliar environment is more likely to develop illness and have less growth.
Research has shown that pre-adolescent girls are more likely to grow up in a nurturing home.
Sex
Men are generally taller than women and boys tend to grow faster during puberty. Boys grow taller until 22 years of age, while girls usually stop growing taller at age 19. Men are 6 inches taller on average than women.
These differences can be attributed to chromosomes. Researchers discovered that genetic variants of the X chromosomes can cause a variety of differences between men and women, including height.
These variants are more common in women. These gene variants are more common in women who have two X chromosomes.
How to Measure Height
Do you want to find out where your height is? You can measure yourself. It is easier to measure yourself with the help of someone else.
The following steps will ensure that you measure accurately:
- Take off your shoes and hair accessories.
- Do not stand on a rug or carpet, but on a hard surface.
- Your feet should be flat on the ground. If possible, avoid molding along the wall.
- Your shoulders should be level. Your arms should be straight at your sides.
- Your back, shoulders, and rear end should be pressed against the wall. You may find that some parts of your body don’t touch the wall, but that’s okay.
- Look straight ahead. Your line of sight should be parallel to the floor.
- To ensure that a ruler or book is securely on your crown, lower it down.
- Mark the wall beneath the flat object.
- Measure the distance between the floor and the mark to the nearest 1/8 inches or 0.1 cm.
Your doctor might use a stadiometer, a portable or wall-mounted measuring tool for height measurement, during a physical exam.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 5'7 average height for a woman?
Yes, she would be considered tall. American women are averagely 5' 3 1/2" 1/2 tall. The standard deviation is approximately 2.7 inches. A woman 5' 7" tall is one standard deviation higher than the mean. She is therefore significantly taller than the average American woman (5' 7")
How tall is the average 2024 Woman?
The average height of the United States is 5' 4in (162.56 cm) for women and 5ft 9in (175.26 cm) for men. The United States is the 40th-tallest country in the world.
What is the most attractive height for a woman?
Women were 5ft 5in tall, with 5ft 3in and 5ft 7in coming in second and third.
When will a girl stop growing?
Girls develop at an accelerated rate throughout their childhood and infancy. Their growth rate increases dramatically once they reach puberty.
Girls typically stop growing at 14-15 years of age, or two years after their first period. Scientists have shown that women usually stop growing by the age of 19.
- References:
The average height of women by year of birth, 1896 to 1996
https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/average-height-of-women?tab=chart&time=earliest..1996
Anthropometric Reference Data for Children and Adults: the United States, 2015–2018
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/series/sr_03/sr03-046-508.pdf
Measured average height, weight, and waist circumference for adults aged 20 and over
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/body-measurements.htm
Average sizes of men and women
https://www.worlddata.info/average-bodyheight.php
