Short answer: in China, a man who is 5′4″ counts as short, and a woman as slightly above average.
Short
Men · 19% are shorter
Slightly above average
Women · 75% are shorter
162.6 cm (5′4″)
64 in
19% of adult men in China are shorter than this; 1 in 1.2 men is this tall or taller. The average man is 169.6 cm (5′7″).
75% of adult women in China are shorter than this; 1 in 3.9 women is this tall or taller. The average woman is 157.8 cm (5′2″).
| Group | Average | Difference | Shorter in country | Shorter worldwide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men | 169.6 cm (5′7″) | −7 cm | 19% | 23% |
| Women | 157.8 cm (5′2″) | +4.8 cm | 75% | 77% |
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 | 0.6% | 22% |
| United States | 4% | 56% |
| Brazil | 10% | 69% |
| Nigeria | 13% | 78% |
| Pakistan | 28% | 90% |
| India | 42% | 93% |
| Indonesia | 46% | 95% |
| Timor-Leste | 71% | 96% |