Mean Male Height (cm) 1898
Discover mean male height data across 266+ countries. Compare rankings and explore historical trends with interactive maps.
Interactive Map
Complete Data Rankings
Rank | ||
|---|---|---|
1 | Sweden | 172.11 |
2 | Norway | 171.522 |
3 | United States | 171.28 |
4 | Estonia | 171.066 |
5 | Iceland | 170.933 |
6 | Canada | 170.842 |
7 | Tonga | 170.526 |
8 | Denmark | 170.219 |
9 | French Polynesia | 170.087 |
10 | Netherlands | 169.786 |
11 | American Samoa | 169.782 |
12 | Latvia | 169.542 |
13 | Cook Islands | 169.54 |
14 | Samoa | 169.149 |
15 | Australia | 169.119 |
16 | Lithuania | 169.111 |
17 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 168.717 |
18 | Fiji | 168.706 |
19 | Niue | 168.662 |
20 | Slovakia | 168.604 |
21 | Croatia | 168.388 |
22 | Austria | 168.301 |
23 | Czech Republic | 168.258 |
24 | Tokelau | 168.199 |
25 | Finland | 168.004 |
26 | Belarus | 167.917 |
27 | Ukraine | 167.887 |
28 | Switzerland | 167.786 |
29 | New Zealand | 167.718 |
30 | Serbia | 167.697 |
31 | Slovenia | 167.631 |
32 | Luxembourg | 167.608 |
33 | Germany | 167.438 |
34 | Belgium | 167.393 |
35 | United Kingdom | 167.121 |
36 | Russia | 167.109 |
37 | Senegal | 166.835 |
38 | Kiribati | 166.793 |
39 | North Macedonia | 166.779 |
40 | Bulgaria | 166.728 |
41 | Montenegro | 166.726 |
42 | Hungary | 166.606 |
43 | Ireland | 166.598 |
44 | France | 166.595 |
45 | Botswana | 166.327 |
46 | Kenya | 165.925 |
47 | Pakistan | 165.681 |
48 | Seychelles | 165.634 |
49 | Tuvalu | 165.45 |
50 | South Africa | 165.368 |
51 | Mali | 165.254 |
52 | Barbados | 165.179 |
53 | Chad | 165.07 |
54 | Cabo Verde | 164.988 |
55 | Zimbabwe | 164.944 |
56 | Grenada | 164.855 |
57 | Nauru | 164.851 |
58 | Italy | 164.829 |
59 | Republic of Moldova | 164.803 |
60 | Dominica | 164.797 |
61 | Georgia | 164.756 |
62 | Micronesia (Fed. States of) | 164.74 |
63 | Namibia | 164.386 |
64 | Tunisia | 164.266 |
65 | Trinidad and Tobago | 164.251 |
66 | Palau | 164.234 |
67 | Romania | 164.109 |
68 | Niger | 164.102 |
69 | Uruguay | 164.087 |
70 | Poland | 163.98 |
71 | Eritrea | 163.978 |
72 | Cameroon | 163.695 |
73 | Vanuatu | 163.659 |
74 | Burkina Faso | 163.656 |
75 | Israel | 163.621 |
76 | Albania | 163.608 |
77 | Andorra | 163.568 |
78 | Guinea | 163.548 |
79 | Brazil | 163.404 |
80 | Jamaica | 163.404 |
81 | Eswatini | 163.365 |
82 | Guinea-Bissau | 163.022 |
83 | Togo | 162.943 |
84 | Singapore | 162.939 |
85 | Cyprus | 162.915 |
86 | Gabon | 162.861 |
87 | Cรดte d'Ivoire | 162.825 |
88 | Greece | 162.747 |
89 | Benin | 162.717 |
90 | Argentina | 162.632 |
91 | Ghana | 162.514 |
92 | Spain | 162.457 |
93 | Uganda | 162.436 |
94 | Zambia | 162.435 |
95 | Marshall Islands | 162.429 |
96 | Saint Lucia | 162.374 |
97 | Sao Tome and Principe | 162.359 |
98 | Angola | 162.348 |
99 | Equatorial Guinea | 162.303 |
100 | Paraguay | 162.297 |
101 | Armenia | 162.177 |
102 | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 162.107 |
103 | Bermuda | 162.084 |
104 | Congo | 162.068 |
105 | Bahamas | 162.067 |
106 | Azerbaijan | 162.058 |
107 | Suriname | 162.056 |
108 | Antigua and Barbuda | 162.05 |
109 | Turkmenistan | 162.032 |
110 | Haiti | 162.031 |
111 | Congo, Democratic Republic of the | 162.026 |
112 | Malta | 161.992 |
113 | India | 161.955 |
114 | Burundi | 161.789 |
115 | Mauritania | 161.747 |
116 | Tajikistan | 161.72 |
117 | Djibouti | 161.71 |
118 | Sudan | 161.705 |
119 | Somalia | 161.653 |
120 | Libya | 161.616 |
121 | Taiwan | 161.57 |
122 | Kazakhstan | 161.564 |
123 | Central African Republic | 161.536 |
124 | Ethiopia | 161.491 |
125 | Lesotho | 161.457 |
126 | Uzbekistan | 161.456 |
127 | Bhutan | 161.289 |
128 | China | 161.279 |
129 | Afghanistan | 161.228 |
130 | State of Palestine | 161.215 |
131 | Nigeria | 161.214 |
132 | Lebanon | 161.051 |
133 | Tanzania | 161.015 |
134 | Solomon Islands | 160.965 |
135 | Chile | 160.932 |
136 | Gambia | 160.879 |
137 | Puerto Rico | 160.876 |
138 | Kuwait | 160.859 |
139 | Algeria | 160.817 |
140 | North Korea | 160.815 |
141 | Mauritius | 160.777 |
142 | Sierra Leone | 160.741 |
143 | Turkey | 160.687 |
144 | Saint Kitts and Nevis | 160.671 |
145 | Dominican Republic | 160.564 |
146 | Kyrgyzstan | 160.551 |
147 | Venezuela | 160.271 |
148 | Guyana | 160.251 |
149 | Cuba | 160.243 |
150 | Rwanda | 160.193 |
151 | South Korea | 160.022 |
152 | China, Hong Kong SAR | 159.915 |
153 | Comoros | 159.882 |
154 | United Arab Emirates | 159.662 |
155 | Greenland | 159.646 |
156 | Iraq | 159.614 |
157 | Syrian Arab Republic | 159.598 |
158 | Qatar | 159.594 |
159 | Morocco | 159.566 |
160 | Malawi | 159.431 |
161 | Mongolia | 159.369 |
162 | Papua New Guinea | 159.345 |
163 | Mozambique | 159.314 |
164 | Jordan | 159.28 |
165 | Portugal | 159.18 |
166 | Egypt | 159.047 |
167 | Madagascar | 158.917 |
168 | El Salvador | 158.827 |
169 | Liberia | 158.803 |
170 | Honduras | 158.751 |
171 | Bangladesh | 158.702 |
172 | Thailand | 158.654 |
173 | Saudi Arabia | 158.483 |
174 | Belize | 158.477 |
175 | Costa Rica | 158.091 |
176 | Malaysia | 157.849 |
177 | Colombia | 157.63 |
178 | Nepal | 157.603 |
179 | Myanmar | 157.565 |
180 | Nicaragua | 157.563 |
181 | Iran | 157.515 |
182 | Panama | 157.328 |
183 | Sri Lanka | 157.179 |
184 | Mexico | 157.111 |
185 | Bahrain | 157.075 |
186 | Bolivia | 156.58 |
187 | Japan | 156.567 |
188 | Oman | 156.061 |
189 | Brunei Darussalam | 156.034 |
190 | Maldives | 156.015 |
191 | Ecuador | 155.875 |
192 | Vietnam | 155.555 |
193 | Peru | 155.18 |
194 | Cambodia | 155.133 |
195 | Philippines | 154.985 |
196 | Yemen | 154.911 |
197 | Indonesia | 154.878 |
198 | Guatemala | 154.249 |
199 | Timor-Leste | 153.325 |
200 | Laos | 153.146 |
- #1
Sweden
- #2
Norway
- #3
United States
- #4
Estonia
- #5
Iceland
- #6
Canada
- #7
Tonga
- #8
Denmark
- #9
French Polynesia
- #10
Netherlands
Analysis: These countries represent the highest values in this dataset, showcasing significant scale and impact on global statistics.
- #200
Laos
- #199
Timor-Leste
- #198
Guatemala
- #197
Indonesia
- #196
Yemen
- #195
Philippines
- #194
Cambodia
- #193
Peru
- #192
Vietnam
- #191
Ecuador
Context: These countries or territories have the lowest values, often due to geographic size, administrative status, or specific characteristics.
Analysis & Context
Sweden leads the world in mean male height (cm) in 1898, measuring 172.11 cm, while the global range spans from 153.15 cm in Laos to the aforementioned height. The global average mean male height stands at 162.72 cm, with a median of 162.30 cm, reflecting significant regional disparities influenced by various socio-economic factors.
Geographic Disparities in Mean Male Height (cm)
The data reveals notable geographic disparities in mean male height across different regions. Scandinavian countries dominate the upper echelons, with Norway at 171.52 cm and Denmark at 170.22 cm. These heights can be attributed to a combination of favorable genetic factors and high living standards, including access to quality nutrition and healthcare. In contrast, countries in Southeast Asia, such as Laos and Timor-Leste, record the lowest mean heights of 153.15 cm and 153.33 cm, respectively. This discrepancy is often linked to economic challenges, food insecurity, and lower health outcomes.
Impact of Nutrition and Economic Conditions
Nutrition plays a critical role in determining mean male height, particularly in developing nations. For example, the average male height in Guatemala is 154.25 cm, which can be attributed to chronic malnutrition and limited access to diverse diets. Conversely, developed nations like Canada at 170.84 cm benefit from robust agricultural systems and food security, leading to healthier populations. The stark contrast in heights illustrates how economic conditions directly impact public health and nutrition, thereby influencing growth patterns across populations.
Year-over-Year Trends and Notable Changes
The analysis of year-over-year changes in mean male height reveals incremental growth across several countries. The average increase is modest at 0.12 cm, yet significant movers include Iran, Algeria, and Egypt, each registering an increase of 0.21 cm. These improvements may reflect better health policies, increased awareness of nutrition, and investments in healthcare systems. In contrast, countries like Kiribati and India show stagnation or minimal decline, indicating persistent challenges in health and economic conditions that may hinder growth.
Socio-Economic Factors Influencing Height
The socio-economic landscape profoundly impacts mean male height, with wealthier nations typically exhibiting taller averages. For instance, the United States records an impressive height of 171.28 cm, supported by its high GDP and extensive healthcare infrastructure. In contrast, Yemen, with a height of 154.91 cm, suffers from ongoing conflicts and economic instability, which have detrimental effects on health and nutrition. This correlation highlights how socio-economic stability is essential in fostering growth and improving overall population health.
In conclusion, the mean male height data from 1898 not only provides insights into physical stature but also serves as a reflection of broader socio-economic conditions. The stark contrasts between countries underscore the importance of addressing nutrition, healthcare access, and economic stability to foster healthier populations worldwide.
Data Source
Our World in Data
Our World in Data is a collaborative effort between researchers at the University of Oxford, who are the scientific editors of the website content; and the UK-based nonprofit organization Global Change Data Lab (GCDL), which publishes and maintains the website and the data tools that make our work possible.
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