Short answer: in China, a man counts as tall from 176.3 cm (5′9″) (tallest 20%) and very tall from 184.6 cm (6′1″) (tallest 3%). For women the thresholds are 163.9 cm (5′5″) and 171.5 cm (5′8″). Averages: men 169.6 cm (5′7″), women 157.8 cm (5′2″).
≥ 176.3 cm
Tall for a man (tallest 20%)
≥ 163.9 cm
Tall for a woman (tallest 20%)
| Men | Women | Percentile band | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Very short | < 154.5 cm (5′1″) | < 144.1 cm (4′9″) | P0–P3 |
| Short | 154.5–162.8 cm (5′4″) | 144.1–151.7 cm (5′0″) | P3–P20 |
| Slightly below average | 162.8–167.6 cm (5′6″) | 151.7–155.9 cm (5′1″) | P20–P40 |
| Average height | 167.6–171.6 cm (5′8″) | 155.9–159.6 cm (5′3″) | P40–P60 |
| Slightly above average | 171.6–176.3 cm (5′9″) | 159.6–163.9 cm (5′5″) | P60–P80 |
| Tall | 176.3–184.6 cm (6′1″) | 163.9–171.5 cm (5′8″) | P80–P97 |
| Very tall | ≥ 184.6 cm (6′1″) | ≥ 171.5 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 China, men under 162.8 cm (5′4″) are short (shortest 20%) and under 154.5 cm (5′1″) very short (shortest 3%). For women the limits are 151.7 cm (5′0″) and 144.1 cm (4′9″). 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.