How Tall Is the Average Woman?

Sam Adamson

The average female height varies significantly across the world due to genetics, nutrition, and living conditions. While the global average female height is approximately 159 cm (5 feet 2.5 inches), some countries consistently rank much taller or shorter than others.

This guide breaks down average female height by country, highlights regional patterns, and explains what counts as “tall” in different parts of the world. We will also compare the average country height with its prominent celebrities to provide a clearer context.

Quick Summary

Global average female height: 159 cm (5’2.5″)
Tallest country: Netherlands (170 cm / 5’7″)
Shortest countries: Guatemala, Philippines (149–150 cm / 4’11”)
Tall height (global standard): 170 cm (5’7″)+

The global height gap between countries exceeds 20 cm.

What Is the Average Female Height Globally?

The global average female height is 159 cm (5 ft 2.5 in). However, this number hides major variation:

European countries tend to have the tallest women
Asian and Latin American countries generally fall below the global average
Nutrition and healthcare access play a major role

What These Heights Look Like in Real Terms

Raw numbers don’t mean much without context. The easiest way to understand global height differences is to compare them with well-known public figures.

Country Averages vs Celebrity Heights

The average woman in the Netherlands (168–171 cm) is roughly in the same range as Gigi Hadid (178 cm), meaning average women there are noticeably tall by global standards.
The average woman in the United States (162–164 cm) is close to Scarlett Johansson (160 cm), slightly above average globally but typical in Western countries.
The average woman in the United Kingdom (161–164 cm) aligns with Emma Watson (165 cm), near the upper end of average.
The average South Korean woman (159–162 cm) is similar to Jennie (163 cm), reflecting East Asia’s mid-range averages.
The average woman in India (152–156 cm) closely matches Alia Bhatt (155 cm), showing how “average” shifts significantly by region.
The average woman in Pakistan (154–157 cm) is comparable to Mahira Khan (157 cm), near the higher end of the national average.
The average woman in Brazil (158–161 cm) aligns with Anitta (162 cm), who is slightly above average in her country.
The average woman in Guatemala (148–151 cm) is close to Ariana Grande (153 cm), exemplifying the lower end of global height distribution.

Most celebrities are not extremely tall; they are usually just slightly above the average height of their country, which makes them appear taller on screen.

Average Female Height by Country:

Heights are presented as ranges to reflect differences across datasets, age groups, and measurement methods rather than implying a single fixed value.

Europe:

Country	Height Range	Country	Height Range
Netherlands	168–171 cm	Switzerland	163–166 cm
Montenegro	167–170 cm	Belgium	163–165 cm
Estonia	166–169 cm	Poland	163–166 cm
Denmark	166–168 cm	Czech Republic	163–166 cm
Norway	165–168 cm	Belarus	163–166 cm
Iceland	165–168 cm	Ireland	162–165 cm
Latvia	165–168 cm	Slovakia	162–165 cm
Croatia	165–168 cm	Ukraine	162–165 cm
Sweden	165–167 cm	Russia	162–165 cm
Bosnia & Herzegovina	165–168 cm	UK	161–164 cm
Slovenia	164–167 cm	Hungary	161–164 cm
Austria	164–167 cm	Romania	160–163 cm
Finland	164–167 cm	Bulgaria	160–163 cm
Lithuania	164–167 cm	Spain	160–163 cm
Germany	164–166 cm	North Macedonia	160–163 cm
Serbia	164–167 cm	Italy	160–162 cm
France	162–164 cm	Portugal	159–162 cm
Greece	159–162 cm	Albania	158–161 cm

Asia:

Country	Height Range	Country	Height Range
Israel	162–165 cm	Japan	157–160 cm
Mongolia	160–163 cm	UAE	157–160 cm
South Korea	159–162 cm	Kuwait	157–160 cm
China	158–161 cm	Iraq	156–159 cm
Taiwan	158–161 cm	Saudi Arabia	156–159 cm
Hong Kong	158–161 cm	Oman	156–159 cm
Qatar	158–161 cm	North Korea	156–159 cm
Singapore	158–161 cm	Vietnam	154–157 cm
Turkey	158–161 cm	Pakistan	154–157 cm
Iran	158–160 cm	India	152–156 cm
Thailand	157–160 cm	Sri Lanka	152–155 cm
Malaysia	155–158 cm	Afghanistan	152–155 cm
Myanmar	152–155 cm	Cambodia	152–155 cm
Indonesia	150–153 cm	Laos	150–153 cm
Nepal	149–152 cm	Philippines	149–152 cm
Bangladesh	148–151 cm	—	—

Africa:

Country	Height Range	Country	Height Range
South Africa	158–162 cm	Nigeria	156–160 cm
Kenya	158–162 cm	Ethiopia	156–160 cm
Tunisia	158–161 cm	Senegal	156–160 cm
Libya	158–161 cm	Ivory Coast	156–160 cm
Egypt	157–160 cm	Cameroon	156–160 cm
Algeria	157–160 cm	Morocco	156–159 cm
Sudan	157–160 cm	Tanzania	155–159 cm
Ghana	155–159 cm	Uganda	155–159 cm
Zambia	155–159 cm	Angola	155–159 cm
Zimbabwe	156–160 cm	Rwanda	154–158 cm

North America:

Country	Height Range	Country	Height Range
USA	162–164 cm	Mexico	154–157 cm
Canada	162–164 cm	Costa Rica	154–157 cm
Cuba	158–161 cm	Haiti	154–157 cm
Dominican Republic	156–159 cm	Honduras	150–153 cm
Panama	155–158 cm	El Salvador	150–153 cm
Nicaragua	150–153 cm	Guatemala	148–151 cm

South America:

Country	Height Range	Country	Height Range
Uruguay	160–163 cm	Venezuela	156–159 cm
Argentina	159–162 cm	Paraguay	155–158 cm
Brazil	158–161 cm	Peru	152–155 cm
Chile	157–160 cm	Ecuador	152–155 cm
Colombia	156–159 cm	Bolivia	150–153 cm

Oceania:

Country	Height Range	Country	Height Range
New Zealand	162–165 cm	Fiji	156–160 cm
Australia	161–164 cm	Papua New Guinea	150–154 cm
Samoa	160–164 cm	Tonga	160–164 cm

Why Height Varies Between Countries

Genetics

Northern European populations consistently rank tallest, suggesting a strong genetic influence over generations.

Nutrition

Research shows improved childhood nutrition can increase average height by 2–5 cm per generation. For example, South Korea experienced rapid height growth after economic development in the late 20th century.