Short answer: in the Gambia, a man counts as tall from 173.5 cm (5′8″) (tallest 20%) and very tall from 180.9 cm (5′11″) (tallest 3%). For women the thresholds are 166.4 cm (5′6″) and 173.3 cm (5′8″). Averages: men 167.6 cm (5′6″), women 160.9 cm (5′3″).
≥ 173.5 cm
Tall for a man (tallest 20%)
≥ 166.4 cm
Tall for a woman (tallest 20%)
| Men | Women | Percentile band | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Very short | < 154.4 cm (5′1″) | < 148.4 cm (4′10″) | P0–P3 |
| Short | 154.4–161.7 cm (5′4″) | 148.4–155.3 cm (5′1″) | P3–P20 |
| Slightly below average | 161.7–165.8 cm (5′5″) | 155.3–159.2 cm (5′3″) | P20–P40 |
| Average height | 165.8–169.4 cm (5′7″) | 159.2–162.5 cm (5′4″) | P40–P60 |
| Slightly above average | 169.4–173.5 cm (5′8″) | 162.5–166.4 cm (5′6″) | P60–P80 |
| Tall | 173.5–180.9 cm (5′11″) | 166.4–173.3 cm (5′8″) | P80–P97 |
| Very tall | ≥ 180.9 cm (5′11″) | ≥ 173.3 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 the Gambia, men under 161.7 cm (5′4″) are short (shortest 20%) and under 154.4 cm (5′1″) very short (shortest 3%). For women the limits are 155.3 cm (5′1″) and 148.4 cm (4′10″). 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.