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Average height of men and women in the US
The average American man aged 20 and over is 175.3 cm (5 ft 9 in) and the average woman 161.3 cm (5 ft 3.5 in), according to heights measured by the CDC's National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2015–2018.
Average height by age
| Age | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
| 20–29 | 175.8 cm (5′9″) | 162.6 cm (5′4″) |
| 30–39 | 176.3 cm (5′9″) | 162.7 cm (5′4″) |
| 40–49 | 176.3 cm (5′9″) | 162.3 cm (5′4″) |
| 50–59 | 175.4 cm (5′9″) | 161.3 cm (5′4″) |
| 60–69 | 174.4 cm (5′9″) | 160.7 cm (5′3″) |
| 70–79 | 173 cm (5′8″) | 158.2 cm (5′2″) |
| 80 and over | 170.4 cm (5′7″) | 155.6 cm (5′1″) |
Average height falls with age: men aged 80 and over average 5.4 cm less than men in their twenties, and women 7 cm less. Part of that is shrinking with age (spinal discs compress), and part is that people born earlier grew up shorter.
What counts as tall or short?
For US men, the middle half (25th–75th percentile) runs from 170.1 to 180.2 cm (5′7″–5′11″); only 10% are taller than 184.7 cm (6′1″). For women, the middle half runs from 156.4 to 166 cm (5′2″–5′5″), and 10% are taller than 170.2 cm. Check any height with the percentile calculator or see 175 cm and 161 cm.