Short answer: in Malawi, a man counts as tall from 170.9 cm (5′7″) (tallest 20%) and very tall from 178.3 cm (5′10″) (tallest 3%). For women the thresholds are 161.1 cm (5′3″) and 167.9 cm (5′6″). Averages: men 165 cm (5′5″), women 155.6 cm (5′1″).
≥ 170.9 cm
Tall for a man (tallest 20%)
≥ 161.1 cm
Tall for a woman (tallest 20%)
| Men | Women | Percentile band | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Very short | < 151.7 cm (5′0″) | < 143.2 cm (4′8″) | P0–P3 |
| Short | 151.7–159 cm (5′3″) | 143.2–150 cm (4′11″) | P3–P20 |
| Slightly below average | 159–163.2 cm (5′4″) | 150–153.9 cm (5′1″) | P20–P40 |
| Average height | 163.2–166.8 cm (5′6″) | 153.9–157.2 cm (5′2″) | P40–P60 |
| Slightly above average | 166.8–170.9 cm (5′7″) | 157.2–161.1 cm (5′3″) | P60–P80 |
| Tall | 170.9–178.3 cm (5′10″) | 161.1–167.9 cm (5′6″) | P80–P97 |
| Very tall | ≥ 178.3 cm (5′10″) | ≥ 167.9 cm (5′6″) | 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 Malawi, men under 159 cm (5′3″) are short (shortest 20%) and under 151.7 cm (5′0″) very short (shortest 3%). For women the limits are 150 cm (4′11″) and 143.2 cm (4′8″). 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.