Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsMen in America vs. WorldwideDetermining FactorsWhen Do Men Stop Growing?Common Misconceptions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Men in America vs. Worldwide
Determining Factors
When Do Men Stop Growing?
Common Misconceptions
The average height for men in America is five feet nine inches.That’s a bit more than the average male height worldwide, which is 5 feet 7.5 inches.Genetics play the biggest role in height differences, which explains why some races are shorter or taller.For example, the average Asian male height in the U.S. is 5 feet 6.8 inches.However, health, nutrition, and socio-economic factors can all impact height too.
Continue reading to learn more about the average height for men, including what factors impact height, and where in the world men are tallest.
A note on sex versus genderSex refers to the biological characteristics, including DNA, hormones and more, many of which impact height. Gender refers to social and cultural ideas. The research around height centers on males, typically defined in the research as people who were assigned male at birth. We are utilizing this research, while understanding that not all men were assigned male at birth.Learn more about gender vs. sex here.
A note on sex versus gender
Sex refers to the biological characteristics, including DNA, hormones and more, many of which impact height. Gender refers to social and cultural ideas. The research around height centers on males, typically defined in the research as people who were assigned male at birth. We are utilizing this research, while understanding that not all men were assigned male at birth.Learn more about gender vs. sex here.
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Average Height for Men in America vs. Worldwide
On average, Americans are slightly taller than the average male height worldwide, which sat at 5 feet 7.5 inches in 2019. The tallest men live in the Netherlands, where the average height for males born in 1980 was 5 feet 10 inches. The shortest men live in East Timor, where the average male height is less than five feet three inches.
The research found some variation in height among American males. Here’s what the research found for different racial demographics in American males in 2016:
What Determines a Man’s Height?
However, there are other factors that can impact how tall a person is. One of the biggest factors is nutrition.People who are well-nourished and healthy tend to grow taller. That’s why people around the world are substantially taller now than they were 100 years ago.
These factors can also impact height:
When Do Men Stop Getting Taller?
Sometimes, people will grow slightly after the age of 16 (and yourpenis growthmay continue until you’re 21). Still, most people won’t have significant gains in height after 16.
Height Misconceptions
Around the world, height is generally celebrated in males. Research has shown that males often see their ideal height as taller than their actual stature.Research also shows that men are more likely to self-report that they’re taller than they actually are.
Health and happiness can come at any height. However, if your height is impacting your emotional or mental health, learning about body positivity or seeking therapy may help.
How Long Do Short People Live?
Summary
Remember, height isn’t a determination of your worth or masculinity—it’s simply a measurement, and one that will vary widely from person to person.
6 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.National health statistics report.
Roser, Max.Human height.Our World In Data.
Nemours.Growth and your 13- to 18-year-old.
Griffiths, Scott; et al.The tall and the short of it: An investigation of height ideals, height preferences, height dissatisfaction, heightism, and height-related quality of life impairment among sexual minority men.Body Image. 2017;23:146-154.
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