Mean Male Height (cm) 1947
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 | 179.713 |
2 | Netherlands | 178.682 |
3 | Sweden | 177.9 |
4 | Norway | 177.605 |
5 | Estonia | 177.021 |
6 | Denmark | 177.012 |
7 | United States | 176.913 |
8 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 176.472 |
9 | Finland | 176.057 |
10 | Australia | 175.62 |
11 | Germany | 175.595 |
12 | Czech Republic | 175.473 |
13 | Slovakia | 175.349 |
14 | Austria | 175.335 |
15 | Croatia | 175.21 |
16 | New Zealand | 175.191 |
17 | Serbia | 175.184 |
18 | Latvia | 175.151 |
19 | United Kingdom | 174.973 |
20 | Canada | 174.953 |
21 | Luxembourg | 174.918 |
22 | Tonga | 174.87 |
23 | Lithuania | 174.691 |
24 | Slovenia | 174.571 |
25 | Ireland | 174.367 |
26 | Switzerland | 174.118 |
27 | Belgium | 173.982 |
28 | North Macedonia | 173.906 |
29 | Montenegro | 173.871 |
30 | Bulgaria | 173.867 |
31 | Belarus | 173.752 |
32 | Ukraine | 173.743 |
33 | France | 173.433 |
34 | Hungary | 173.286 |
35 | Barbados | 173.13 |
36 | Grenada | 173.065 |
37 | Georgia | 172.995 |
38 | French Polynesia | 172.981 |
39 | Cook Islands | 172.911 |
40 | Dominica | 172.802 |
41 | Senegal | 172.706 |
42 | Russia | 172.575 |
43 | Fiji | 172.438 |
44 | Poland | 172.291 |
45 | American Samoa | 172.225 |
46 | Trinidad and Tobago | 172.094 |
47 | Niue | 172.053 |
48 | Jamaica | 171.881 |
49 | Romania | 171.594 |
50 | Greece | 171.582 |
51 | Kenya | 171.242 |
52 | Tokelau | 171.236 |
53 | Israel | 171.179 |
54 | Uruguay | 171.14 |
55 | Seychelles | 171.107 |
56 | Italy | 170.977 |
57 | Mali | 170.973 |
58 | Chad | 170.959 |
59 | Saint Lucia | 170.843 |
60 | Azerbaijan | 170.799 |
61 | Albania | 170.757 |
62 | Algeria | 170.722 |
63 | Botswana | 170.682 |
64 | Cabo Verde | 170.55 |
65 | Argentina | 170.529 |
66 | Libya | 170.453 |
67 | Andorra | 170.423 |
68 | Republic of Moldova | 170.353 |
69 | Samoa | 170.321 |
70 | Niger | 170.317 |
71 | Lebanon | 170.259 |
72 | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 170.177 |
73 | Suriname | 170.173 |
74 | Bahamas | 170.157 |
75 | Antigua and Barbuda | 170.133 |
76 | Bermuda | 170.13 |
77 | Haiti | 170.075 |
78 | Turkmenistan | 170.014 |
79 | Armenia | 170.005 |
80 | State of Palestine | 169.826 |
81 | Cameroon | 169.777 |
82 | Cyprus | 169.766 |
83 | Puerto Rico | 169.729 |
84 | Uzbekistan | 169.673 |
85 | Zimbabwe | 169.668 |
86 | Turkey | 169.598 |
87 | Tunisia | 169.592 |
88 | Tajikistan | 169.551 |
89 | Kuwait | 169.53 |
90 | Spain | 169.5 |
91 | Kazakhstan | 169.483 |
92 | Guinea | 169.356 |
93 | Namibia | 169.338 |
94 | Burkina Faso | 169.194 |
95 | Benin | 169.104 |
96 | Paraguay | 169.098 |
97 | Saint Kitts and Nevis | 169.023 |
98 | Cuba | 168.897 |
99 | Uganda | 168.867 |
100 | Eritrea | 168.831 |
101 | Jordan | 168.829 |
102 | Gabon | 168.757 |
103 | Guinea-Bissau | 168.727 |
104 | Egypt | 168.661 |
105 | Brazil | 168.644 |
106 | Congo | 168.588 |
107 | Cรดte d'Ivoire | 168.544 |
108 | Qatar | 168.495 |
109 | Zambia | 168.49 |
110 | United Arab Emirates | 168.348 |
111 | Iraq | 168.335 |
112 | Syrian Arab Republic | 168.334 |
113 | Sao Tome and Principe | 168.308 |
114 | Togo | 168.289 |
115 | Morocco | 168.276 |
116 | Kiribati | 168.241 |
117 | Tuvalu | 168.239 |
118 | Guyana | 168.233 |
119 | South Africa | 168.198 |
120 | Equatorial Guinea | 168.156 |
121 | Angola | 168.138 |
122 | Iran | 168.114 |
123 | Mauritania | 168.104 |
124 | Dominican Republic | 168.091 |
125 | Congo, Democratic Republic of the | 168.037 |
126 | Eswatini | 167.977 |
127 | Kyrgyzstan | 167.967 |
128 | Ghana | 167.739 |
129 | South Korea | 167.695 |
130 | Micronesia (Fed. States of) | 167.695 |
131 | Venezuela | 167.66 |
132 | Chile | 167.526 |
133 | Ethiopia | 167.509 |
134 | Burundi | 167.452 |
135 | Singapore | 167.413 |
136 | Djibouti | 167.403 |
137 | Sudan | 167.396 |
138 | Somalia | 167.372 |
139 | Central African Republic | 167.341 |
140 | Costa Rica | 167.25 |
141 | Nauru | 167.231 |
142 | Japan | 167.193 |
143 | Portugal | 167.173 |
144 | Pakistan | 167.141 |
145 | Malta | 167.131 |
146 | Palau | 167.124 |
147 | China | 167.058 |
148 | Tanzania | 166.96 |
149 | El Salvador | 166.719 |
150 | Nigeria | 166.715 |
151 | Belize | 166.69 |
152 | Honduras | 166.687 |
153 | Taiwan | 166.663 |
154 | Vanuatu | 166.603 |
155 | Greenland | 166.587 |
156 | Saudi Arabia | 166.534 |
157 | Rwanda | 166.492 |
158 | Mauritius | 166.479 |
159 | Gambia | 166.415 |
160 | Sierra Leone | 166.384 |
161 | North Korea | 166.2 |
162 | Bahrain | 166.044 |
163 | Panama | 165.907 |
164 | Nicaragua | 165.894 |
165 | Mongolia | 165.893 |
166 | Lesotho | 165.805 |
167 | China, Hong Kong SAR | 165.725 |
168 | Colombia | 165.706 |
169 | Marshall Islands | 165.644 |
170 | Solomon Islands | 165.234 |
171 | Mexico | 165.138 |
172 | Malawi | 165.056 |
173 | Mozambique | 165.014 |
174 | Madagascar | 164.963 |
175 | Comoros | 164.834 |
176 | Oman | 164.486 |
177 | Malaysia | 164.336 |
178 | Afghanistan | 163.931 |
179 | Yemen | 163.746 |
180 | Liberia | 163.634 |
181 | Bolivia | 163.571 |
182 | Thailand | 163.509 |
183 | India | 163.359 |
184 | Bangladesh | 162.961 |
185 | Myanmar | 162.839 |
186 | Sri Lanka | 162.826 |
187 | Bhutan | 162.77 |
188 | Ecuador | 162.744 |
189 | Guatemala | 162.372 |
190 | Peru | 162.246 |
191 | Papua New Guinea | 162.128 |
192 | Brunei Darussalam | 161.796 |
193 | Vietnam | 161.783 |
194 | Maldives | 160.926 |
195 | Cambodia | 160.862 |
196 | Philippines | 160.826 |
197 | Indonesia | 160.524 |
198 | Nepal | 160.505 |
199 | Timor-Leste | 159.83 |
200 | Laos | 158.977 |
- #1
Iceland
- #2
Netherlands
- #3
Sweden
- #4
Norway
- #5
Estonia
- #6
Denmark
- #7
United States
- #8
Bosnia and Herzegovina
- #9
Finland
- #10
Australia
Analysis: These countries represent the highest values in this dataset, showcasing significant scale and impact on global statistics.
- #200
Laos
- #199
Timor-Leste
- #198
Nepal
- #197
Indonesia
- #196
Philippines
- #195
Cambodia
- #194
Maldives
- #193
Vietnam
- #192
Brunei Darussalam
- #191
Papua New Guinea
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 1947
The country with the highest Mean Male Height (cm) in 1947 is Iceland, measuring at 179.71 cm, while the global range of heights spans from a minimum of 158.98 cm to a maximum of 179.71 cm. The average male height across the 200 countries surveyed is 169.13 cm, with a median of 168.83 cm, reflecting significant variability influenced by numerous social and economic factors.
Geographic Influences on Male Height
The data indicates that geographic location plays a crucial role in determining mean male height. Northern European countries dominate the top rankings, with the Netherlands at 178.68 cm and Sweden at 177.90 cm. Factors contributing to these heights include genetics, nutrition, and overall health standards prevalent in these regions. In contrast, countries in Southeast Asia, such as Laos at 158.98 cm and Timor-Leste at 159.83 cm, exhibit significantly lower averages. Poor nutrition and healthcare access are critical in explaining these disparities. The height gap between the top and bottom countries illustrates the impact of socioeconomic conditions on physical development.
Year-over-Year Changes and Trends
In 1947, the average year-over-year change in mean male height was modest at 0.14 cm (0.1%), reflecting gradual improvements in health and nutrition. Notably, Japan saw the largest increase at +0.27 cm, likely due to post-war recovery efforts and improved living standards. Other significant gainers included Greece (+0.24 cm) and Serbia (+0.22 cm), which also experienced socio-economic improvements. Conversely, countries like Pakistan, United States, and India recorded slight declines of 0.06 cm, indicating possible stagnation or challenges in health advancements during this period.
Socioeconomic Factors and Their Impact on Height
The relationship between socioeconomic status and mean male height is evident in the data. Wealthier nations tend to have higher average heights, as seen with the United States at 176.91 cm and Australia at 175.62 cm. These nations benefit from better healthcare systems, higher standards of living, and improved nutrition. In contrast, countries like Nepal (160.50 cm) and Indonesia (160.52 cm) face economic challenges that limit access to adequate food and healthcare, stunting growth. This correlation underscores the importance of economic policies and health initiatives in promoting physical development among 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.
Visit Data SourceHistorical Data by Year
Explore Mean Male Height (cm) data across different years. Compare trends and see how statistics have changed over time.
More People and Society Facts
Currently married (Percent)
The percentage of currently married individuals by country highlights societal trends in family structure and relationships. Understanding these statistics can provide insights into cultural norms and demographic shifts, influencing policies and social programs.
View dataBrowse All People and Society
Explore more facts and statistics in this category
All Categories
Discover more categories with comprehensive global data