25 Countries with the Shortest People in the World: Where Does Vietnam Rank?

The Netherlands is ranked as the tallest country in the world. When it comes to adults, the average height of a Dutch person reaches 175.62 cm (5 feet 7.96 inches). However, at the other end of the scale, the average height is significantly lower.

Below is the ranking of average height data compiled from a health database conducted by the NCD Risk Factor Collaboration (a project affiliated with the Royal College of London, UK).

The ranking lists separate figures for the height of men and women in each country. By averaging these two numbers, one can get a preliminary idea of the average height of individuals in each country. The distinct figures for men and women are also provided.

A girl measuring her height with her hand – (Photo: Shutterstock).

25. Sri Lanka

• The average height of Sri Lankans is 160.12 cm (5 feet 3.04 inches).
• The average height of Sri Lankan men is 165.68 cm (5 feet 5.23 inches).
• The average height of Sri Lankan women is 154.56 cm (5 feet 0.85 inches).

24. Honduras

• The average height of Hondurans is 160.11 cm (5 feet 3.03 inches).
• The average height of Honduran men is 166.39 cm (5 feet 5.5 inches).
• The average height of Honduran women is 153.84 cm (5 feet 0.06 inches).

23. Liberia

• The average height of Liberians is 159.66 cm (5 feet 2.85 inches).
• The average height of Liberian men is 163.66 cm (5 feet 4.43 inches).
• The average height of Liberian women is 155.66 cm (5 feet 1.28 inches).

22. Myanmar

• The average height of Myanmar individuals is 159.52 cm (5 feet 2.80 inches).
• The average height of Myanmar men is 164.67 cm (5 feet 4.83 inches).
• The average height of Myanmar women is 154.37 cm (5 feet 0.77 inches).

21. Brunei

• The average height of Bruneians is 159.49 cm (5 feet 2.79 inches).
• The average height of Bruneian men is 165 cm (5 feet 4.96 inches).
• The average height of Bruneian women is 153.98 cm (5 feet 0.62 inches).

20. Bhutan

• The average height of Bhutanese is 159.46 cm (5 feet 2.77 inches).
• The average height of Bhutanese men is 165.3 cm (5 feet 5.07 inches).
• The average height of Bhutanese women is 153.62 cm (5 feet 0.48 inches).

19. Mozambique

• The average height of Mozambicans is 159.37 cm (5 feet 2.74 inches).
• The average height of Mozambican men is 164.79 cm (5 feet 4.88 inches).
• The average height of Mozambican women is 153.96 cm (5 feet 0.61 inches).

18. Solomon Islands

• The average height of Solomon Islanders is 159.27 cm (5 feet 2.70 inches).
• The average height of Solomon Islander men is 164.14 cm (5 feet 4.62 inches).
• The average height of Solomon Islander women is 154.41 cm (5 feet 0.79 inches).

17. Papua New Guinea

• The average height of Papua New Guineans is 159.21 cm (5 feet 2.68 inches).
• The average height of Papua New Guinean men is 163.56 cm (5 feet 4.39 inches).
• The average height of Papua New Guinean women is 154.87 cm (5 feet 0.97 inches).

16. Peru

• The average height of Peruvians is 159.08 cm (5 feet 2.63 inches).
• The average height of Peruvian men is 165.23 cm (5 feet 5.05 inches).
• The average height of Peruvian women is 152.93 cm (5 feet 0.21 inches).

15. Vietnam

• The average height of Vietnamese people is 159.01 cm (5 feet 2.60 inches).
• The average height of Vietnamese men is 164.44 cm (5 feet 4.74 inches).
• The average height of Vietnamese women is 153.59 cm (5 feet 0.46 inches).

14. India

• The average height of Indians is 158.76 cm (5 feet 2.50 inches).
• The average height of Indian men is 164.94 cm (5 feet 4.93 inches).
• The average height of Indian women is 152.58 cm (5 feet 0.07 inches).

13. Rwanda

• The average height of Rwandans is 158.73 cm (5 feet 2.49 inches).
• The average height of Rwandan men is 162.67 cm (5 feet 4.04 inches).
• The average height of Rwandan women is 158.73 cm (5 feet 2.49 inches).

12. Malawi

• The average height of Malawians is 158.31 cm (5 feet 2.32 inches).
• The average height of Malawian men is 162.22 cm (5 feet 3.86 inches).
• The average height of Malawian women is 154.4 cm (5 feet 0.78 inches).

11. Indonesia

• The average height of Indonesians is 158.17 cm (5 feet 2.27 inches).
• The average height of Indonesian men is 163.55 cm (5 feet 4.39 inches).
• The average height of Indonesian women is 152.79 cm (5 feet 0.15 inches).

10. Cambodia

• The average height of Cambodians is 158.11 cm (5 feet 2.24 inches).
• The average height of Cambodian men is 163.32 cm (5 feet 4.30 inches).
• The average height of Cambodian women is 152.9 cm (5 feet 0.19 inches).

9. Bangladesh

• The average height of Bangladeshis is 157.29 cm (5 feet 1.92 inches).
• The average height of Bangladeshi men is 163.8 cm (5 feet 4.48 inches).
• The average height of Bangladeshi women is 150.78 cm (4 feet 11.36 inches).

8. Marshall Islands

• The average height of Marshall Islanders is 157.05 cm (5 feet 1.83 inches).
• The average height of Marshall Islander men is 162.8 cm (5 feet 4.09 inches).
• The average height of Marshall Islander women is 151.3 cm (4 feet 11.56 inches).

7. Yemen

• The average height of Yemenis is 156.92 cm (5 feet 1.78 inches).
• The average height of Yemeni men is 159.88 cm (5 feet 2.94 inches).
• The average height of Yemeni women is 153.97 cm (5 feet 0.61 inches).

6. Nepal

• The average height of Nepalis is 156.58 cm (5 feet 1.64 inches).
• The average height of Nepali men is 162.31 cm (5 feet 3.90 inches).
• The average height of Nepali women is 150.86 cm (4 feet 11.39 inches).

5. Philippines

• The average height of Filipinos is 156.41 cm (5 feet 1.57 inches).
• The average height of Filipino men is 163.22 cm (5 feet 4.25 inches).
• The average height of Filipino women is 149.6 cm (4 feet 10.89 inches).

4. Guatemala

• The average height of Guatemalans is 156.39 cm (5 feet 1.57 inches).
• The average height of Guatemalan men is 163.4 cm (5 feet 4.33 inches).
• The average height of Guatemalan women is 149.38 cm (4 feet 10.81 inches).

3. Madagascar

• The average height of Malagasy people is 156.36 cm (5 feet 1.56 inches).
• The average height of Malagasy men is 161.54 cm (5 feet 3.60 inches).
• The average height of Malagasy women is 151.18 cm (4 feet 11.51 inches).

2. Laos

• The average height of Laotians is 155.89 cm (5 feet 1.37 inches).
• The average height of Laotian men is 160.51 cm (5 feet 3.19 inches).
• The average height of Laotian women is 151.26 cm (4 feet 11.55 inches).

1. East Timor

• The average height of East Timorese is 155.47 cm (5 feet 1.28 inches).
• The average height of East Timorese men is 159.79 cm (5 feet 2.90 inches).
• The average height of East Timorese women is 151.15 cm (4 feet 11.50 inches).

What is behind the height differences?

Genetics is only part of the answer, Majid Ezzati, who runs the NCD Risk Factor Collaboration research, told the BBC.

Regarding how average national heights have changed over decades, Majid Ezzati stated: “About one-third of the explanation may be due to genetic factors, but that does not explain the changes over time. Genetics do not change that quickly and they do not vary much across the globe. Therefore, the changes over time and the differences worldwide are largely due to environmental factors.”

According to the BBC, environmental factors such as poor diet may be part of the explanation, citing a study showing a 20 cm difference between children in the tallest and shortest countries.

This research may also help explain why average heights in some countries have increased or decreased over recent decades. While countries like Japan, South Korea, and China have seen an increase in height, some sub-Saharan African countries like Uganda and Sierra Leone have witnessed a decrease in the height of men, the BBC reports.

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