Average Height by State [Updated May 2022] (2024)

The average height in the United States is 5 feet 4 inches (162.56 centimeters) for women and 5 feet 9 inches (175.26 centimeters) for men. This makes the United States the 40th tallest nation in the world.

Multiple factors contribute to one’s overall height. Genetics account for 60-80% of one’s height, and nutrition and exercise account for the remaining percentage. Childhood nutrition is believed to be a large factor in adult height. Race plays a large role in average heights in populations. White men (average height of 5 feet 10 inches) and black men (5 feet 9 inches) tend to be taller than Asian (5 feet 7 inches) and Hispanic (5 feet 7 inches) men. Alabama is one of the tallest states in the US and has a population that is 96% black or white.

To determine the average height in each of the 50 states, information as pulled from the Center for Disease Control’s (CDC) Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). This is an annual survey of more than 450,000 people conducted by the CDC to gather data about health and wellness in the United States, including health-related risk behaviors, chronic health conditions, and the use of preventative services. The BRFSS tracks weight and obesity, healthy eating, physical activity, and height.

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. The tallest states in the United States based on the average height for men (179 centimeters or above) are:

The tallest states in the United States based on the average height for women (164 centimeters or above) are:

  • District of Columbia
  • Iowa
  • Minnesota
  • Montana
  • Nebraska
  • North Dakota
  • Oregon
  • South Dakota
  • Utah
  • Wyoming

Hawaii has the shortest average height among both men and women. This can be attributed to the race factor previously mentioned. Hawaii’s population is less than one-third Black or white. Below is a table of each state’s average height for men and women. The data is self-reported; therefore, heights tend to be over-reported, about 2.7 centimeters for men (1 inch) and about 1.5 centimeters for women.

Average Height by State [Updated May 2022]

* Data is self-reported, so it is not 100% correct. In 2016, men self-reported their heights an average of 2.3 centimeters, or nearly a full inch, above what their actual measurements showed. Women over-reported their height too, by about 1.5 centimeters.

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Average Height by State [Updated May 2022]

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Average Height by State [Updated May 2022] (2024)

FAQs

What is the average height in the US 2022? ›

The average height in the United States is 5 feet 4 inches (162.56 centimeters) for women and 5 feet 9 inches (175.26 centimeters) for men. This makes the United States the 40th tallest nation in the world.

What is the average height in states? ›

Average Height in America
#StateAverage Height
45California5'6.7"
46New Hampshire5'6.6"
47Rhode Island5'6.5"
48New Mexico5'6.4"
45 more rows

Is 5 7 too short for a guy? ›

5'7 is considered to be of average height for a man in the USA. On average, adult men in the USA are about 5'9 tall.

What state has the tallest average height? ›

Colorado is the highest state in the United States, with an average elevation of 6,800 feet (2,074m) above sea level. The 10 states with the highest average elevation are all in the western region of the country, as this is, by far, the most mountainous region in the country.

How tall is an average Mexican man? ›

Here's a glance at the average height for men and women in key countries across North America: Canada: Men - 5 feet and 10.5 inches (179 cm); Women - 5 feet 5 inches (165 cm) Mexico: Men - 5 feet 7 inches (170 cm); Women - 5 feet 2 inches (157 cm)

What state has the tallest guys? ›

The tallest adult men in America live in Iowa and Alabama, while the tallest women live in South Dakota. Hawaii, meanwhile, can lay claim to the shortest members of either sex.

What is too short for a boy? ›

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 height is OK for a guy? ›

Table: Ideal height for men according to body weight
Body weightIdeal height
149 to 183 lbs5'10”
155 to 189 lbs5'11”
160 to 196 lbs6'0”
166 to 202 lbs6'1”
9 more rows
Jul 7, 2022

How short is too short for guys? ›

Her rule of thumb is men's shorts should be around two inches above the knee.

What race is the average tallest? ›

Dutch people are the tallest people in the world. They have an average height of 175.62 cm (5 feet 7.96 inches).

How tall is the average Russian man? ›

Download Table Data
CountryAvg Male Height (cm)Avg Male Height (in)
Russia176.655 ft. 10 in.
Hungary176.595 ft. 10 in.
Saint Lucia176.435 ft. 9 in.
North Macedonia176.435 ft. 9 in.
84 more rows

How tall is the average Chinese man? ›

5 ft 7.6 in

How tall is the average Texan? ›

Wisevoter said, “The average height in Texas is 5-foot-6, ranking 38th in terms of average height. The average male height is 5-foot-9, while the average female height is 5-foot-4.

What is the average height of a man by race? ›

Non-Hispanic white: 177.4 centimeters, or just under 5 feet, 10 inches. Non-Hispanic black: 175.5 centimeters, or just over 5 feet, 9 inches. Non-Hispanic Asian: 169.7 centimeters, or just under 5 feet, 7 inches. Hispanic: 169.5 centimeters, or just under 5 feet, 7 inches.

How tall is average American man? ›

The average height for men varies across the world. In the United States, the average male is about 5 feet 9 inches tall.

What country has the tallest men? ›

The Netherlands is also known as the land of giants. Ever wondered where the tallest men and women live in the world? Well, the answer is Netherlands. Also called a land of giants, the Netherlands is home to men with an average height of a Dutch man is 182.5 cm (about 6 feet).

How tall is the average Puerto Rican man? ›

Average Height in the World
#CountryAverage Male Height
22Puerto Rico180 cm
23Andorra179 cm
24Antigua and Barbuda179 cm
25Australia179 cm
116 more rows

Does height affect size? ›

Some believe that shorter people are at an advantage because of their size, whereas others believe only taller people can become huge. But does height really affect your muscle growth? Height plays no significant factor in a person's ability to grow muscle.

What age do boys stop growing in height? ›

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.

Can a short boy love a tall girl? ›

While a short guy with a tall girl isn't as common as the opposite (a short girl and tall guy), you'll find many happy couples in the world who are similar in heights to you and your guy.

Will short boys get taller? ›

“Children who are short because their parents are short (familial short stature) or due to no obvious underlying cause (idiopathic short stature) usually grow at a normal rate for their age, or a slightly slower rate, and they track along a centile line on the growth chart,” says professor Dattani.

What height do females 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 ideal height for a girl? ›

What's the median height for girls? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) , the mean, or average, age-adjusted height for adult women 20 years old and up is 63.7 inches. That's just under 5 foot 4 inches.

What's the ideal weight for a man? ›

Ideal Weight Chart
MaleFemale
5' 10"149 - 183 lbs.135 - 165 lbs.
5' 11"155 - 189 lbs.140 - 171 lbs.
6' 0"160 - 196 lbs.144 - 176 lbs.
6' 1"166 - 202 lbs.149 - 182 lbs.
28 more rows

What is considered abnormally short? ›

Height is a physical trait on a continuum; the threshold between normal and abnormal is arbitrarily set. Short stature is classified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as height less than 5th percentile for age (1) and by the World Health Organization (WHO) as less than 3rd percentile (2).

How can you tell if a man is short? ›

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.

What's the shortest ethnicity? ›

  • Pygmies: “Pygmoi population” has an average male adult height <150 cm with reasonably well-conserved body proportions. ...
  • Sardinians: The Mediterranean island of Sardinia has the shortest stature amongst all European tribes. ...
  • Andaman Islanders: Islanders of Andaman have the shortest stature in India.
Jan 12, 2022

Can a boy be taller than his dad? ›

Genes aren't the sole predictor of a person's height. In some instances, a child might be much taller than their parents and other relatives. Or, perhaps, they may be much shorter. Such key differences may be explained by other factors outside of your genes that contribute to height.

How tall were Vikings? ›

The average height of Vikings as found by researchers and scholars, varied depending on a number of factors, including their age and gender. Typically, the average male Viking would usually be between 5 foot 7 and 5 foot 9, while the average female would be between 5 foot 1 and 5 foot 3.

How tall is the average German man? ›

Male
CountryAverage height / Weight / BMI
Latvia1.80 m27.1
Germany1.80 m27.4
Dominica1.80 m25.0
Belgium1.79 m26.8
116 more rows

How tall is the average Greek man? ›

5ft 9 1/2in

How tall were men in the 1940s? ›

The height of a man born in the United States in 1930 was 173.4 cm (68.3 inches); whereas in 1940 it was 176.1 cm (69.3 inches) – an increase of 2.7 cm (1 inch).

Who is taller Japanese or Chinese? ›

“[In global rankings], Chinese men rank 32nd with an average height of 1.697 metres – shorter than Japanese males at 29th with 1.707 metres and Koreans who rank 18th at 1.74 metres,” she said.

Which country has shortest average height? ›

1. Timor-Leste — 155.47cm (5 feet 1.28 inches) People on the Southeast Asian island of Timor are on average 155.47cm (5 feet 1.28 inches) tall.

What percentage of men are over 6ft? ›

In the U.S. population, about 14.5 percent of all men are six feet or over. Roughly 1% of US women are 6 feet tall or taller.

How tall is the average man 2022? ›

According to 2022 data1, the average height for men here is 178.2 cm - this is equal to 5 ft 9 in.

How tall should a 14 year old be in America? ›

What is considered a normal growth rate?
AgeHeight - FemalesHeight - Males
1255 to 64 inches54 to 63.5 inches
1459 to 67.5 inches59 to 69.5 inches
1660 to 68 inches63 to 73 inches
1860 to 68.5 inches65 to 74 inches
7 more rows

How tall is the average 20 year old USA? ›

The average height for American males 20+ is 69.1 inches (175.4 cm), or 5' 9" tall. The average height of an American female 20+ is 63.5 inches (161.5 cm), or 5' 3.5" tall.

How tall is a normal USA man? ›

The average height for men varies across the world. In the United States, the average male is about 5 feet 9 inches tall. 1 Factors like genetics, nutrition, and medical conditions can affect where you'll stand on the growth charts.

What is the ideal height for a man? ›

Table: Ideal height for men according to body weight
Body weightIdeal height
139 to 169 lbs5'8”
144 to 176 lbs5'9”
149 to 183 lbs5'10”
155 to 189 lbs5'11”
9 more rows
Jul 7, 2022

What country has the tallest people? ›

The Netherlands

Dutch people are the tallest people in the world. They have an average height of 175.62 cm (5 feet 7.96 inches). The Netherlands' King Willem-Alexander is 183 cm tall and Queen Maxim is 178 cm tall.

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