Short answer: in Botswana, a man counts as tall from 178.4 cm (5′10″) (tallest 20%) and very tall from 185.7 cm (6′1″) (tallest 3%). For women the thresholds are 166.9 cm (5′6″) and 173.7 cm (5′8″). Averages: men 172.5 cm (5′8″), women 161.3 cm (5′4″).
≥ 178.4 cm
Tall for a man (tallest 20%)
≥ 166.9 cm
Tall for a woman (tallest 20%)
| Men | Women | Percentile band | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Very short | < 159.2 cm (5′3″) | < 148.9 cm (4′11″) | P0–P3 |
| Short | 159.2–166.5 cm (5′6″) | 148.9–155.7 cm (5′1″) | P3–P20 |
| Slightly below average | 166.5–170.7 cm (5′7″) | 155.7–159.6 cm (5′3″) | P20–P40 |
| Average height | 170.7–174.2 cm (5′9″) | 159.6–163 cm (5′4″) | P40–P60 |
| Slightly above average | 174.2–178.4 cm (5′10″) | 163–166.9 cm (5′6″) | P60–P80 |
| Tall | 178.4–185.7 cm (6′1″) | 166.9–173.7 cm (5′8″) | P80–P97 |
| Very tall | ≥ 185.7 cm (6′1″) | ≥ 173.7 cm (5′8″) | P97–P100 |
Bands are percentiles among adults of the same sex: shortest 3% "very short", tallest 20% "tall", tallest 3% "very tall" — the same scale as every "Is it tall?" page on this site. Not a medical definition.
In Botswana, men under 166.5 cm (5′6″) are short (shortest 20%) and under 159.2 cm (5′3″) very short (shortest 3%). For women the limits are 155.7 cm (5′1″) and 148.9 cm (4′11″). Short or tall is just a statistical position.
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.