Countries with the Shortest Average Heights

The average height worldwide is approximately 166.99 centimeters, or 5 feet and 5.7 inches. However, this number varies tremendously depending on region and country. In the Netherlands, for example, the average height is 177.07 centimeters (5 feet, 9.7 inches), essentially 10 centimeters higher than the world average. On the other end of the spectrum, some countries have average heights that are around 10 centimeters below the global average.

Timor Leste has the shortest average height in the world, followed by the countries of Guatemala and Laos. The conditions that cause such consistently smaller statures come from a combination of genetics and development factors such as health and nutrition.

Top 10 Countries with the Shortest Average Heights

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1. Timor Leste - 156.42 centimeters (5 feet, 1.6 inches)

Timor Leste, also known as East Timor, is located in southeast Asia and has the shortest population in the world, with a height averaging just 156.42 centimeters. It has a small population as well, with just 1.39 million residents. Neolithic settlements on the land date back to around 35,000 years ago. After the Austronesian hunter-gatherer communities, Asian migrants began to settle on the land. Numerous small kingdoms have divided the country over the centuries, resulting in a diverse mix of languages and cultures today, with over 30 languages spoken throughout the country. Regarding nutrition, a high number of rural families depend on subsistence farming, resulting in limited food access for many. As a result, malnutrition is a relevant issue, with around 47% of children under five years old being stunted.

2. Guatemala - 157.64 centimeters (5 feet, 2.1 inches)

Guatemala, located in Central America, has the second shortest population worldwide, averaging 157.64 cm. The country has a population of approximately 16.56 million residents, reflecting a rich ethnic diversity. 56% are Ladinos/Mestizos, while nearly 42% are Indigenous, coming from communities such as K'iche', Q'eqchi, and Kaqchikel. Mayan cuisine is very influential, with beans, corn, and chilis being staple Guatemalan foods. Due to structural inequalities and climate crises, Guatemala is the sixth most chronically malnourished country in the world, affecting the health and well-being of men and women as well as contributing to stunted growth in some children.

3. Laos - 157.94 cm (5 feet, 2.2 inches)

Laos, a Southeast Asian country, is the third shortest country in the world, with an average height of 157.94 centimeters. The country today has a population of around 7.66 million residents. Before the 20th century, there were an estimated 60 different ethnic groups residing on the Laos land. Today, the Lao ethnicity is the most prominent, representing around half of the country’s population. Sticky rice is a staple food in Lao cuisine, with each person consuming around 171 kilograms of it on average annually. Regarding nutrition, about 1.8 million people in Lao are malnourished, representing nearly a fourth of the total population, largely a result of poverty.

4. Nepal - 158.38 cm (5 feet, 2.4 inches)

Nepal, a South Asian country, has an average height of 158.38 centimeters, making it the fourth shortest in the world. It has a population of 29.87 million people, with a large amount of ethnic diversity largely due to extensive migrations from Asian groups such as the Indo-Aryans and Tibeto groups. A typical diet in Nepal consists of wheat, rice, lentils, and corn. Social problems such as food insecurity, geographical challenges, and a lack of adequate healthcare access have resulted in large numbers of malnutrition, with 36% of children being stunted.

5. Bangladesh - 158.73 cm (5 feet, 2.5 inches)

With an average height of 158.73 centimeters, the South Asian country of Bangladesh is the fifth shortest in the world. It has an estimated population of 168.12 million people, making it the world’s eighth most populous country. The country itself is fairly ethnically homogeneous, with 99% of the population being part of the Bengali ethnolinguistic group. Rice is the country’s primary staple food, often accompanied by fish for protein. Food insecurity is a prominent concern, with 35% of the population not having adequate and stable access to food. As a result, 28% of children five and younger are stunted.

6. Madagascar - 159.11 cm (5 feet, 2.6 inches)

Averaging 159.11 centimeters, Madagascar has the sixth shortest population worldwide. The East African island country has a population of approximately 30.85 million, with over 90% of people belonging to the Malagasy ethnic groups. Rice is overwhelmingly Madagascar’s staple food, with varying side dishes depending on the region. With three-fourths of the country living under the poverty line, food insecurity and malnutrition affect the growth of many children. 1.8 million children under the age of five (47%) experience chronic malnutrition and stunting.

7. Yemen - 159.59 cm (5 feet, 2.8 inches)

Yemen, located in western Asia beneath Saudi Arabia, is the seventh shortest country in the world, having an average height of 159.59 centimeters. People have resided in the land of Yemen since around the 12th century B.C. Today, Yemen's citizens are primarily of Arab and Afro-Arab descent. Several crop staples are common in their diet, including corn, millet, wheat, sorghum, and barley. Lamb, goat, and chicken are common sources of protein. Ongoing conflict in the country, an unstable economy, and a lack of adequate social support have resulted in high malnutrition rates, with 49% of children under five being stunted.

8. Philippines - 159.69 cm (5 feet, 2.9 inches)

The Phillippines, an island country in Southeast Asia, is the eighth shortest country in the world, with an average height of 159.69 centimeters. The majority of Filipinos have ancestors who arrived from the Southeast Asian mainland, are of Malay descent, and are from the region that is now Indonesia. Rice is the country’s primary staple food, often accompanied by fish, meat, and vegetables. A lack of health education for parents and extreme poverty have resulted in high malnutrition levels, with about a third of all children under five in the country being stunted.

9. Mozambique - 159.86 cm (5 feet, 2.94 inches)

Mozambique, a country in southeast Africa, is the ninth shortest country in the world, averaging a height of 159.86 centimeters. It has a population of approximately 36.77 million people, diverse with many ethnic groups, although the Makua group is the most prominent. Xima, a porridge made with corn and maize flour, is the biggest staple food in the country, followed by cassava and rice. Many people depend heavily on these carbohydrate-rich staple foods, resulting in high levels of malnutrition. 2 million children in the country, or 43%, are chronically malnourished and stunted.

10. Solomon Islands - 159.93 cm (5 feet, 2.96 inches)

The Solomon Islands, located in Oceania northeast of Australia, is the tenth shortest country in the world, with an average height of 159.93 centimeters. Its small population of 815,500 people is primarily of Melanesian descent, along with a small percentage of Polynesian descent. Regarding diet, fish is the country’s most prominent staple food, frequently accompanied by rice, sweet potatoes, and vegetables. Between 2011 and 2020, malnourishment rose in the Solomon Islands by 16.5%. Agricultural households are among the most affected, with one-fifth of agricultural homes having insufficient money and resources to buy adequate food.

Final Thoughts

While genetics plays a large role in the height of an individual, malnutrition undeniably can play a role in stunting the height of populations, which is a common factor in all of the above countries. By addressing social problems such as poverty and food security, as well as providing education to parents regarding health and nutrition, countries could move towards reducing stunting and ensure healthy growth of the child population.

All Countries Ordered from Shortest to Tallest Average Heights, Men And Women