Mean Male Height (cm) 1928
Discover mean male height data across 266+ countries. Compare rankings and explore historical trends with interactive maps.
Interactive Map
Complete Data Rankings
Rank | ||
|---|---|---|
1 | Iceland | 177.022 |
2 | Norway | 175.867 |
3 | Sweden | 175.442 |
4 | Netherlands | 175.343 |
5 | United States | 174.963 |
6 | Denmark | 174.414 |
7 | Estonia | 174.015 |
8 | Canada | 173.337 |
9 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 173.235 |
10 | Tonga | 172.821 |
11 | Australia | 172.706 |
12 | Austria | 172.688 |
13 | Slovakia | 172.613 |
14 | Finland | 172.476 |
15 | Croatia | 172.355 |
16 | Czech Republic | 172.232 |
17 | New Zealand | 172.199 |
18 | Germany | 172.138 |
19 | Latvia | 172.131 |
20 | Luxembourg | 172.113 |
21 | United Kingdom | 172.024 |
22 | Lithuania | 171.896 |
23 | Switzerland | 171.811 |
24 | Serbia | 171.695 |
25 | Slovenia | 171.561 |
26 | French Polynesia | 171.467 |
27 | Cook Islands | 171.35 |
28 | American Samoa | 171.149 |
29 | Ireland | 171.101 |
30 | North Macedonia | 170.906 |
31 | Bulgaria | 170.858 |
32 | Montenegro | 170.857 |
33 | Hungary | 170.816 |
34 | Belgium | 170.816 |
35 | Fiji | 170.783 |
36 | Belarus | 170.775 |
37 | Ukraine | 170.755 |
38 | France | 170.477 |
39 | Barbados | 170.345 |
40 | Niue | 170.252 |
41 | Georgia | 170.188 |
42 | Grenada | 170.124 |
43 | Dominica | 170.05 |
44 | Senegal | 169.782 |
45 | Samoa | 169.701 |
46 | Trinidad and Tobago | 169.639 |
47 | Tokelau | 169.584 |
48 | Russia | 169.292 |
49 | Kenya | 169.181 |
50 | Poland | 168.892 |
51 | Jamaica | 168.855 |
52 | Botswana | 168.654 |
53 | Romania | 168.475 |
54 | Uruguay | 168.458 |
55 | Seychelles | 168.445 |
56 | Italy | 168.19 |
57 | Mali | 168.171 |
58 | Chad | 168.122 |
59 | Saint Lucia | 168.079 |
60 | Israel | 168.047 |
61 | Azerbaijan | 167.988 |
62 | Albania | 167.871 |
63 | Zimbabwe | 167.629 |
64 | Tunisia | 167.562 |
65 | Niger | 167.55 |
66 | Algeria | 167.507 |
67 | Greece | 167.482 |
68 | Cabo Verde | 167.478 |
69 | Republic of Moldova | 167.463 |
70 | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 167.411 |
71 | Suriname | 167.41 |
72 | Argentina | 167.402 |
73 | Andorra | 167.399 |
74 | Bahamas | 167.393 |
75 | Bermuda | 167.378 |
76 | Antigua and Barbuda | 167.368 |
77 | Namibia | 167.361 |
78 | Haiti | 167.34 |
79 | Armenia | 167.298 |
80 | Libya | 167.294 |
81 | Turkmenistan | 167.232 |
82 | Tuvalu | 167.215 |
83 | Kiribati | 167.1 |
84 | Uzbekistan | 167.086 |
85 | South Africa | 166.999 |
86 | Eritrea | 166.956 |
87 | State of Palestine | 166.913 |
88 | Cameroon | 166.875 |
89 | Tajikistan | 166.858 |
90 | Puerto Rico | 166.82 |
91 | Kazakhstan | 166.771 |
92 | Guinea | 166.757 |
93 | Cyprus | 166.748 |
94 | Turkey | 166.692 |
95 | Lebanon | 166.654 |
96 | Brazil | 166.548 |
97 | Kuwait | 166.506 |
98 | Burkina Faso | 166.496 |
99 | Uganda | 166.457 |
100 | Micronesia (Fed. States of) | 166.449 |
101 | Paraguay | 166.432 |
102 | Saint Kitts and Nevis | 166.356 |
103 | Pakistan | 166.206 |
104 | Spain | 166.161 |
105 | Benin | 166.149 |
106 | Nauru | 166.14 |
107 | Zambia | 166.062 |
108 | Guinea-Bissau | 166.023 |
109 | Cuba | 166.004 |
110 | Palau | 165.998 |
111 | Cรดte d'Ivoire | 165.971 |
112 | Gabon | 165.922 |
113 | Eswatini | 165.782 |
114 | Togo | 165.692 |
115 | Guyana | 165.599 |
116 | Jordan | 165.535 |
117 | Qatar | 165.518 |
118 | Mauritania | 165.435 |
119 | Angola | 165.4 |
120 | Equatorial Guinea | 165.399 |
121 | Dominican Republic | 165.398 |
122 | Egypt | 165.38 |
123 | United Arab Emirates | 165.371 |
124 | Syrian Arab Republic | 165.352 |
125 | Iraq | 165.35 |
126 | Congo | 165.347 |
127 | Sao Tome and Principe | 165.331 |
128 | Kyrgyzstan | 165.308 |
129 | Morocco | 165.28 |
130 | China | 165.245 |
131 | Congo, Democratic Republic of the | 165.242 |
132 | Vanuatu | 165.223 |
133 | Venezuela | 165.144 |
134 | Burundi | 165.074 |
135 | Ghana | 165.049 |
136 | Taiwan | 165.03 |
137 | Djibouti | 165.023 |
138 | Sudan | 165.003 |
139 | Ethiopia | 164.976 |
140 | Somalia | 164.97 |
141 | Iran | 164.861 |
142 | Chile | 164.83 |
143 | Marshall Islands | 164.728 |
144 | Tanzania | 164.67 |
145 | Malta | 164.659 |
146 | Singapore | 164.62 |
147 | Central African Republic | 164.544 |
148 | Honduras | 164.454 |
149 | Costa Rica | 164.419 |
150 | South Korea | 164.409 |
151 | El Salvador | 164.331 |
152 | North Korea | 164.161 |
153 | Nigeria | 164.106 |
154 | Rwanda | 164.1 |
155 | Saudi Arabia | 164.049 |
156 | Belize | 163.899 |
157 | Sierra Leone | 163.815 |
158 | Gambia | 163.776 |
159 | Lesotho | 163.744 |
160 | Portugal | 163.741 |
161 | Mongolia | 163.684 |
162 | Mauritius | 163.481 |
163 | Nicaragua | 163.358 |
164 | Solomon Islands | 163.251 |
165 | Greenland | 163.085 |
166 | China, Hong Kong SAR | 162.993 |
167 | Malawi | 162.947 |
168 | Bahrain | 162.946 |
169 | Panama | 162.876 |
170 | Colombia | 162.852 |
171 | Mexico | 162.735 |
172 | Madagascar | 162.641 |
173 | Comoros | 162.606 |
174 | Afghanistan | 162.595 |
175 | Mozambique | 162.492 |
176 | India | 162.43 |
177 | Japan | 162.288 |
178 | Bhutan | 161.992 |
179 | Malaysia | 161.822 |
180 | Thailand | 161.46 |
181 | Oman | 161.195 |
182 | Liberia | 161.176 |
183 | Yemen | 161.082 |
184 | Myanmar | 161.041 |
185 | Bangladesh | 161.028 |
186 | Bolivia | 160.825 |
187 | Sri Lanka | 160.775 |
188 | Papua New Guinea | 160.722 |
189 | Ecuador | 159.92 |
190 | Guatemala | 159.893 |
191 | Brunei Darussalam | 159.557 |
192 | Peru | 159.324 |
193 | Vietnam | 159.297 |
194 | Nepal | 158.889 |
195 | Cambodia | 158.741 |
196 | Maldives | 158.692 |
197 | Philippines | 158.628 |
198 | Indonesia | 158.16 |
199 | Timor-Leste | 157.456 |
200 | Laos | 156.827 |
- #1
Iceland
- #2
Norway
- #3
Sweden
- #4
Netherlands
- #5
United States
- #6
Denmark
- #7
Estonia
- #8
Canada
- #9
Bosnia and Herzegovina
- #10
Tonga
Analysis: These countries represent the highest values in this dataset, showcasing significant scale and impact on global statistics.
- #200
Laos
- #199
Timor-Leste
- #198
Indonesia
- #197
Philippines
- #196
Maldives
- #195
Cambodia
- #194
Nepal
- #193
Vietnam
- #192
Peru
- #191
Brunei Darussalam
Context: These countries or territories have the lowest values, often due to geographic size, administrative status, or specific characteristics.
Analysis & Context
Global Overview of Mean Male Height (cm) in 1928
The country with the highest Mean Male Height (cm) in 1928 is Iceland, measuring 177.02 cm, while the global range of male heights spans from 156.83 cm in Laos to 177.02 cm in Iceland. The average male height across the 200 countries with available data is 166.57 cm, with a median of 166.45 cm.
Geographic Influences on Mean Male Height
Geography plays a significant role in the variation of male height across different countries. Northern European countries dominate the upper echelons of the height spectrum, with Norway at 175.87 cm and Sweden at 175.44 cm. These nations benefit from a combination of favorable genetics, nutrition, and social policies that prioritize health and well-being. In contrast, countries like Laos and Timor-Leste, which have mean heights of 156.83 cm and 157.46 cm respectively, often face challenges such as limited access to quality healthcare and nutrition, which are critical factors in determining physical development.
Economic Status and Nutritional Factors
The economic conditions of a country also correlate strongly with mean male height. Wealthier nations tend to have better healthcare systems and nutrition, leading to taller statures. For instance, the United States records a mean height of 174.96 cm, benefiting from its advanced economy and extensive food supply. Conversely, countries like Indonesia and Philippines, with heights of 158.16 cm and 158.63 cm respectively, struggle with poverty and malnutrition, which can stunt growth during critical developmental years. The disparity in height across different economic contexts highlights the importance of addressing nutritional deficiencies to promote better health outcomes.
Year-over-Year Changes and Emerging Trends
In 1928, the average change in mean male height was a modest 0.13 cm, indicating a gradual increase across many nations. Notably, Iran, the United Kingdom, Japan, and Algeria each experienced increases of 0.21 cm, reflecting improvements in health and nutrition, possibly linked to economic growth and social policies promoting public health. On the other hand, countries like Samoa, which saw a decrease of 0.01 cm, may be experiencing stagnation in height due to local dietary issues or health crises. The relatively minor changes in height across the board suggest that while some nations are improving, many others remain at a standstill, underscoring the need for targeted health initiatives.
Cultural Factors Influencing Height
Culture also plays a crucial role in determining mean male height. In countries where there is a strong emphasis on physical fitness and health, such as in Denmark at 174.41 cm, individuals often have access to resources that foster growth and development. In contrast, in nations where cultural practices may limit dietary diversity or promote sedentary lifestyles, such as in Vietnam with a height of 159.30 cm, the mean height tends to be lower. Understanding these cultural contexts is essential for developing effective public health policies that can address and mitigate the factors contributing to lower mean heights in various populations.
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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