Average height by country
Compare your height to national averages, ranked from tallest to shortest.
Compared with the average male in United Kingdom
3.2 cm
shorter than the average of 178.2 cm.
United Kingdom ranks #27 of 69 countries in this dataset (42 have a lower average).
Top 10 tallest-average countries (male)
| Rank | Country | Average height |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Netherlands | 183.8 cm |
| 2 | Montenegro | 183.3 cm |
| 3 | Estonia | 182.8 cm |
| 4 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 182.5 cm |
| 5 | Iceland | 182.1 cm |
| 6 | Denmark | 181.9 cm |
| 7 | Latvia | 181.2 cm |
| 8 | Czechia | 181.2 cm |
| 9 | Slovakia | 181 cm |
| 10 | Ukraine | 181 cm |
Worked example
- Height 180 cm, man
- UK average 178.2 cm
- Result 1.8 cm taller
Method and sources
NCD Risk Factor Collaboration (NCD-RisC), 2019 data (mean height, age 19), as compiled by World Population Review and heightcomparisoncalculator.com. NCD-RisC's own raw dataset (ncdrisc.org/data-downloads-height.html) could not be downloaded directly in this environment; figures here were cross-checked between the two compilations where they overlap.
Last reviewed 2026-09-19. Ranking compares a country's published mean height with every other country in this dataset (69 countries (MVP subset -- NCD-RisC's own dataset covers ~200; expand once the primary download is accessible)). It is not a percentile within the country itself; for that, use the percentile calculator.
Frequently asked questions
Where does this average height data come from?
Ultimately, the NCD Risk Factor Collaboration (NCD-RisC), the standard reference for global height trends. 69 countries (MVP subset -- NCD-RisC's own dataset covers ~200; expand once the primary download is accessible).
Why is my country not in the list?
This is a starter set covering many commonly-searched countries, not the full NCD-RisC dataset of around 200. We're expanding coverage — check back, or see the methodology page for how to suggest a country.
Is average height the same as median height?
Not quite — average (mean) height is the sum of all heights divided by the count, while median is the middle value. For height, which follows a roughly symmetric distribution, the two are usually very close in practice.
Why do men average taller than women in every country?
This is a well-established biological sex difference driven by growth hormone and puberty timing, consistent across essentially every population studied — the gap varies by country (commonly 12-14cm) but the direction does not.
Does this account for my country's specific ethnic or regional variation?
No — this tool compares against a single national average, which can mask real variation within a country (by region, ethnicity, or over time as a population's height changes generation to generation). Treat it as a starting point, not a precise personal benchmark.
More tools
- Height converter cm, metres, feet and inches in one tap.
- cm to feet chart Every height from 140 to 210 cm in feet and inches.
- Height difference Exact gap and percentage between two heights.
- You vs the world A map of how your height compares, country by country.
- Child percentile WHO and CDC growth charts, explained.
- Child height predictor A mid-parental estimate for your child.
Or go back to the comparison board.