What Height Is Considered Short? Curious Height Facts Answer

Oluniyi Akande
Oct 13, 2023 By Oluniyi Akande
Originally Published on Nov 24, 2021
Image of a male person with a measuring tape.
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Age: 3-18
Read time: 5.5 Min

Height can be an important factor in a person's life.

Average height differs from country to country. There have been changes in the heights of humans since the beginning of history.

It is reported that people have grown taller over the centuries. What was considered a normal height, the average height for men during the 17th century was 5 ft 4 in (1.6 m), could now be considered short for a man.

Height is the measurement from the foot of a person's body to the topmost part of the head. It is measured in meters, centimeters, feet, and inches.

Different countries use different systems for measuring height, and this can be confusing at times. Although the ideal height is very debatable, a person at 5 ft 6 in (1.7 m) is considered to be the average among the majority of people.

The average height means that more than half of the population has the same height. The average height of men above 20 years old is 5 ft 9 in (1.79 m).

One should not be intimidated by anyone's height. It might feel like you are being dominated, but that's not the case.

Many people associate height with success, which is a baseless theory. Surely people in the entertainment industry might place success on the basis of height, as attractive looks are known to make the cut.

And, in sports too, height plays a crucial factor in some games such as basketball, volleyball, and football. But in other sports, it does not play a big deal.

Other fields of employment which do not need you to be attractive or physically fit, are not hindered by short heights.

As with all things in our generation, the height of a person has been given much more importance than is due. With the advent of social media, everything is adding up to the insecurities of people, making them question their values and looks, even if they are average or good-looking.

Many parents start giving supplements to their kids, in order to hope they will gain height. While there is no evidence in modern medicine, but the addition of preservatives to packaged foods has induced growth in height.

If you like this article, make sure to check out our other fun fact articles like what is the seventh month, and what is a queen.

What height classifies you as short?

Often people are very conscious of their height, but in reality, it need not ever negatively affect your life.

Comparing yourself to runway models or basketball players can really affect your self-esteem. But if you want to know where you stand, you should know about the average height of men and women.

The answer to the question of what height is considered short is different for men and women. Often, any height below 5 ft (1.52 m) is considered short. Height, like skin color, eye color, and hair, is hereditary.

People have used many ways to increase height, but only in some cases has it proven to be fruitful. As it was known that the average height of a person was actually 5 ft (1.52 m).

Even in the 1970s, it wasn't much of a problem to be short. But, with varying changes in diet and nutrition across different classes and countries, some people began to shoot taller than their counterparts.

This began a wave of insecurity among the population, and everyone tries to be of a certain height. In some countries, the leg bones are medically elongated, through some elevating procedures. These are done only on children and early teens, as after that increasing your height is known to be impossible.

However, the success rate of these operations is unknown. Early vitamin D and calcium supplements are also known to grow limbs to a desirable height.

But, there are perks to being short too. Many scientists have researched that people below the height of 5 ft (1.52 m) live longer.

And their counterparts, people who are taller have a lower life expectancy. Any height above 6 ft (1.82 m) is at higher risk. In animals too, the shortest growth one lives the longest, and the taller ones die soon.

What is considered a short height for a woman?

Women are usually portrayed as less bothered about their height than men.

At birth, boys are reported to be taller than girls. Puberty hits a female earlier, and body changes are more prominent in girls until around 20 years of age. After that, a girl reaches her final height.

The height of 4 ft 10 in (1.24 m) is considered short for a woman. The average height of women is 5 ft (1.52 m). Shoes with thick soles or heels are sometimes worn to add a little bit of height.

Little girl measuring height and smiling.

What height is considered short for a man?

Men are very concerned about their height, as they feel it adds to their attractiveness quotient a lot.

Usually, men grow a lot taller when puberty hits them. Around the age of 14, they start growing taller. A height below 5 ft 2 in (1.58 m) is considered short for a man. The average height for men is 5 ft 6 in (1.67 m).

There are also cases of gigantism and dwarfism in which case the matter of height becomes serious. Gigantism is the abnormal height growth of humans. It can be due to childhood hypopituitarism.

No cause is known for extreme height growth. Though it may not be a concern for health in most cases, it can be a cause of great discomfort. Structures and ceilings in public are made up to a certain height, and it might hinder a very tall person.

What height is considered short in America?

All around the world, there are different standards as to what height is considered tall or not.

Many people across the world flock to America for its weather, standard of living, and its hospitality. It is the home of Hollywood, where many actors, actresses, singers, and musicians start their careers.

There is an association of success with taller height. Height again plays an important role in the glamour industry, and therefore the standards of height are really high, especially among men. Men below 5 ft 4 in (1.64 m) are considered short in America.

There are also standards about what height is considered too tall. Any male or female with a height above 6 ft 3 in (1.92 m), is considered very tall.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for what height is considered short, then why not take a look at how many nerves are there in a human body, or how many edges does a cube have!

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Written by Oluniyi Akande

Doctorate specializing in Veterinary Medicine

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Oluniyi AkandeDoctorate specializing in Veterinary Medicine

With an accomplished background as a Veterinarian, SEO content writer, and public speaker, Oluniyi brings a wealth of skills and experience to his work. Holding a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of Ibadan, he provides exceptional consulting services to pet owners, animal farms, and agricultural establishments. Oluniyi's impressive writing career spans over five years, during which he has produced over 5000 high-quality short- and long-form pieces of content. His versatility shines through as he tackles a diverse array of topics, including pets, real estate, sports, games, technology, landscaping, healthcare, cosmetics, personal loans, debt management, construction, and agriculture.

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