The global average height, approximately 166.99 centimeters (5 feet 5.7 inches), shows considerable variation across regions, with the shortest people primarily located in Southeast Asia.
In contrast, the Netherlands is home to some of the tallest people in the world, with an average height of 177.07 centimeters (5 feet 9.7 inches)—almost 10 centimeters above the global average. Countries with the shortest average heights are mostly found in Southeast Asia and parts of Central and South America, due to a combination of various factors.
Below are the top five countries with the shortest average heights:
1. Timor Leste: 156.42 cm (5 feet 1.6 inches)
The world’s shortest average height is found in Timor Leste (East Timor), where the average height is estimated at 156.42 cm (5 feet 1.6 inches), which is mainly attributed to genetic factors that affect growth from childhood. The typical Timorese lady is approximately 151.15 cm (4 feet 11.5 inches), and the average Timorese male is approximately 159.79 cm (5 feet 2.9 inches).
2. Guatemala: 157.64 cm (5 feet 2 inches)
Guatemala has one of the lowest average heights in the world with the shortest people found therein. With an overall average height of roughly 157.64 cm (5 feet 2 inches). Women in this region have an average of about 149.38 cm (4 feet 10.8 inches), and men average about 163.4 cm (5 feet 4.3 inches). The reason for this is attributed to genetic factors that mostly influence indigenous cultures.
3. Laos: 157.94 cm (5 feet 2.2 inches)
In the Southeast Asian country, Laos, the average height is 157.94 cm (5 feet 2.2 inches), with women around 151.26 cm (4 feet 11.6 inches) tall, while males are about 160.51 cm (5 feet 3.2 inches). This is attributed to socioeconomic variables that impact diet health and hereditary factors.
4. Nepal: 158.38 cm (5 feet 2.4 inches)
Nepal is one of the nations with the smallest populations in the world with the average adult height in Nepal is around 158.38 cm (5 feet 2.4 inches), with women standing at 150.86 cm (4 feet 11.4 inches) and males standing at 162.31 cm (5 feet 3.9 inches). This is due to a mix of genetic and socioeconomic factors, especially those related to healthcare and nutrition.
5. Bangladesh: 158.73 cm (5 feet 2.5 inches)
Bangladesh’s average height is 158.73 cm (5 feet 2.5 inches), with women typically around 150.78 cm (4 feet 11.4 inches) tall, while men are typically 163.8 cm (5 feet 4.5 inches) ranking it among the lowest in the world.
While genetics plays an important role in establishing average heights across populations, it is only one component of the equation. According to Majid Ezzati, the director of Imperial College London’s Noncommunicable Diseases (NCD) study, diet, healthcare access, and socioeconomic situations all have an equal, if not greater, impact on physical development.
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