Short answer: in the United Kingdom, a man counts as tall from 182.1 cm (6′0″) (tallest 20%) and very tall from 189.6 cm (6′3″) (tallest 3%). For women the thresholds are 167.5 cm (5′6″) and 174.6 cm (5′9″). Averages: men 176.1 cm (5′9″), women 161.8 cm (5′4″).
≥ 182.1 cm
Tall for a man (tallest 20%)
≥ 167.5 cm
Tall for a woman (tallest 20%)
| Men | Women | Percentile band | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Very short | < 162.5 cm (5′4″) | < 149 cm (4′11″) | P0–P3 |
| Short | 162.5–170 cm (5′7″) | 149–156.1 cm (5′1″) | P3–P20 |
| Slightly below average | 170–174.2 cm (5′9″) | 156.1–160.1 cm (5′3″) | P20–P40 |
| Average height | 174.2–177.9 cm (5′10″) | 160.1–163.5 cm (5′4″) | P40–P60 |
| Slightly above average | 177.9–182.1 cm (6′0″) | 163.5–167.5 cm (5′6″) | P60–P80 |
| Tall | 182.1–189.6 cm (6′3″) | 167.5–174.6 cm (5′9″) | P80–P97 |
| Very tall | ≥ 189.6 cm (6′3″) | ≥ 174.6 cm (5′9″) | 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 United Kingdom, men under 170 cm (5′7″) are short (shortest 20%) and under 162.5 cm (5′4″) very short (shortest 3%). For women the limits are 156.1 cm (5′1″) and 149 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.