Short answer: in Malawi, a man who is 158 cm counts as short, and a woman as slightly above average.
Short
Men · 16% are shorter
Slightly above average
Women · 65% are shorter
158 cm (5′2″)
62.2 in
16% of adult men in Malawi are shorter than this; 1 in 1.2 men is this tall or taller. The average man is 165 cm (5′5″).
65% of adult women in Malawi are shorter than this; 1 in 2.8 women is this tall or taller. The average woman is 155.6 cm (5′1″).
| Group | Average | Difference | Shorter in country | Shorter worldwide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men | 165 cm (5′5″) | −7 cm | 16% | 10% |
| Women | 155.6 cm (5′1″) | +2.4 cm | 65% | 57% |
Calculate your rank as a man → Calculate your rank as a woman →
Values are cohort-weighted averages for adults aged 18+, derived from NCD-RisC 2020 and UN population estimates; they do not reflect regional differences within a country. Details: methodology and sources.
What share of adults of the same sex is shorter than this?
| Men | Women | |
|---|---|---|
| Netherlands | 0.1% | 8% |
| United States | 0.8% | 29% |
| Brazil | 3% | 44% |
| China | 7% | 51% |
| Pakistan | 11% | 73% |
| India | 20% | 79% |
| Indonesia | 24% | 83% |
| Timor-Leste | 47% | 86% |
153 cm 154 cm 155 cm 156 cm 157 cm 159 cm 160 cm 161 cm 162 cm 163 cm 5′2″