How Tall is the Average American Man
How Tall is the Average American Man? Ever wonder if your height is about average to American height standards? Do you think you are far below that average or above it? Let’s talk about the average American height for both males and females, the comparison to other countries, and how race factors in different height averages.
WHAT IS THE AVERAGE?
Based on the latest data gathered from 1999 to 2019 by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the average height for an American male is as follows:
- Age between 20 to 39 is 179.1 cm, or about 5 feet, 9 inches
- Age between 40 to 59 is 178.8 cm, or about 5 feet, 9 inches
- Age 60 and older is 176.4 cm, or about 5 feet, 8 inches
Data for an average height of an American male based on race
- Non-Hispanic white is 180.4 cm, or 5 feet, 10 inches
- Non-Hispanic black is 178.5 cm, or 5 feet, 9 inches
- Non-Hispanic Asian is 172.7 cm, or 5 feet, 7 inches
- Hispanic is 172.5 cm, or 5 feet, 7 inches
For females, however, shows no significant change from the last 20 years as the average woman is 161.5 cm, or about 5 feet, 3 inches. Data below shows the different height averages for American females based on race.
- Non-Hispanic white is 165.5 cm, or 5 feet, 4.3 inches
- Non-Hispanic black is 164.5 cm, or 5 feet. 4 inches
- Non-Hispanic Asian is 156.9 cm, or 5 feet, 1.5 inches
- Hispanic is 157.6 cm, or 5 feet, 1.7 inches
In comparison with the rest of the world, the average height of both males and females in the United States is fairly above average.
Netherlands, Montenegro, Estonia, Denmark, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland, Czechia, Slovenia, Slovakia, and Croatia top the list with males averaging 183 cm, or 6 feet for men and 169 cm, or 5 feet, 6 inches for women. While Madagascar, Philippines, Bangladesh, Mozambique, Nepal, Guatemala, Solomon Islands, Yemen, Laos, and Timor-Leste, are at the bottom with men averaging 163.5 cm or 5 feet 4 inches, and women averages at 153.5 cm, or 5 feet. However, recent studies also show that race is not one of the major factors of the height of the modern era, but proper nutrition as well as new supplements out in the market, are great distributors in the increase in height for Asians and Hispanics.
Also, a great number of fast-food restaurants opening in almost all major cities in Asian or Hispanic countries, due to popularity and demand, it is expected that people in the area will most likely result in higher body-mass index(BMI), which in return contributes to growth in height and weight. With more Americans transitioning into healthier nutrition, hence lower BMI, food will be no longer trigger height development.
It is rather important to note that it is normal, for ages 60 and up, to lose height as bone and muscle density reduces as you age. You will most likely lose about a centimeter when you turn 50 and will increase rapidly when you reach 70. Also noted that there is a decrease in the average height of Americans as more Asian and Hispanic immigrants increased in the early 1990s.
