Dataset

This dataset was created by Dilara Özcerit

Contents

This statistic represents the average height of men in the top 20 countries worldwide as of 2016. On average, men are ***** centimeters tall in Bosnia & Herzegovina.

From the project page https://clio-infra.eu/Indicators/Height.html:

This variable contains anthropometric information which can be used as an indicator for human health and welfare in 165 countries spanning the period 1810-1989, and a smaller number of countries 1500-1800

This statistic represents the average height of men and women in selected countries worldwide as of 2008. On average, men are ***** centimeters and women are ***** centimeters tall in Australia.

This is a data set from the publication

Hatton, T. J., & Bray, B. E. (2010). Long run trends in the heights of European men, 19th–20th centuries. Economics & Human Biology, 8(3), 405–413. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.ehb.2010.03.001The data set represents average height of the men from several European countries born in the cohorts 1856-1980, 5-years averages.

In the shown time-period the mean height of men and women has generally increased in England. According to the survey, the average height of males rose slightly during the period in consideration, from 174.4 centimeters in 1998 to 176.2 centimeters (approximately 5'9") in 2022. In comparison, the mean height of women was 162.3 centimeters (5'4") in 2022, up from 161 in 1998. Reasons for height increasing While a large part of an adult’s final height is based on genetics, the environment in which a person grows up is also important. Improvements in nutrition, healthcare, and hygiene have seen the average heights increase over the last century, particularly in developed countries. Average height is usually seen as a barometer for the overall health of the population of a country, as the most developed are usually among the ‘tallest’ countries. Average waist circumference also increasing The prevalence of obesity among adults in England has generally been trending upward since 2000. In that year, 21 percent of men and women in England were classified as obese. By 2021, however, this share was 26 percent among women and 25 percent among men. Every adult age group in England had an average BMI which was classified as overweight, apart from those aged 16 to 24, indicating there is a problem with overweightness in England.

** Apologies in advance for sharing the data in XLSX format but had no other choice as I wanted to present/share all the crucial information in 1 single file. **

Trends of adult height in India from 1998 to 2015

Several studies in the past have shown that the average height of adults across the globe is is on the rise, but against this trend, the average height of adults in India is declining at an alarming rate, as per a study titled ‘Trends of adult height in India from 1998 to 2015: Evidence from the National Family and Health Survey’.

The authors of this study have stated, “In the context of an overall increase in average heights worldwide, the decline in the average height of adults in India is alarming and demands an urgent enquiry. The argument for different standards of height for the Indian population as different genetic groups needs further scrutiny.”

The study further states that the decline in the average height of Indian adults is not just because of a genetic factor, but various non-genetic factors have also come into play, such as lifestyle, nutrition, social and economic determinants and so on.

Content

Acknowledgements & Citations

Citation: Choudhary KK, Das S, Ghodajkar P (2021) Trends of adult height in India from 1998 to 2015: Evidence from the National Family and Health Survey. PLoS ONE 16(9): e0255676. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0255676

Average human height by country - wikipedia

Inspiration

Read an article online about the decline of average height of adults in India and got curious about the data the researcher collected over 17 years.

Online Article link here

In 2023, the average height of South Korean men in their thirties lay at ****** centimeters. Men in older age groups tended to be shorter. On average, South Korean men were ****** centimeters tall that year. Diet and healthcare in South Korea It has been observed that improvements in nutrition and healthcare lead to increased average height over time. With the rapid industrialization in South Korea came improvements in healthcare and nutritional intake. South Korea ranks among the leading countries in the health index, which measures a population’s health and a country’s healthcare system. Even with an excellent healthcare system, South Koreans have increasingly been concerned about their diet and nutrition, exemplified by the share of people trying to consume certain nutrients every day. Height preferences in South Korea  According to a 2019 survey, for most respondents the preferred height for South Korean men was higher than the current average. This discrepancy was similar for the preferred height for women, showing how preferences for taller people stretched across genders. Not only are South Koreans preferring taller partners, but they are also getting taller over time. Another survey found that the ideal height for a spouse in the country came closer to the average height of younger generations.

File List HumanHeightWikipediaJan192011.csv HumanHeightDataFile.csv HeightHumanDataRefsFeb32011.doc Description HumanHeightWikipediaJan192011.csv contains height data originally downloaded from Wikipedia “Human Height” page, Jan. 19, 2011. HumanHeightDataFile.csv contains average per country male and female human height data with country name and latitude used for Figure 4. HeightHumanDataRefsFeb32011.doc contains publications and other sources for average per country human height data, based on sources listed on Wikipedia, supplemented with addition information and sources.

These are the results obtained by conducting the experiment "Average Height of 19-year-old Males and Females and GDP per Capita in 2019 for 164 Countries".

The CSV file contains the raw data produced by processing, filtering and merging the input datasets. There are two rows for each of the 164 countries. In both rows, the country name, country code and GDP per capita are given. However, one row contains the average height of 19-year-old males (indicated by the value 'Boys' in the 'Sex' column) whereas the other displays the average height of 19-year-old females (indicated by the value 'Girls').

Furthermore, there are two PNG files which display the regression plots for the average height of 19-year-old males and females, respectively. Note that the x-scale (for the GDP per capita) is logarithmic.

Malawi MW: Prevalence of Stunting: Height for Age: Male: % of Children Under 5 data was reported at 51.800 % in 2010. This records a decrease from the previous number of 52.400 % for 2009. Malawi MW: Prevalence of Stunting: Height for Age: Male: % of Children Under 5 data is updated yearly, averaging 55.200 % from Dec 1992 (Median) to 2010, with 6 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 58.100 % in 1992 and a record low of 51.800 % in 2010. Malawi MW: Prevalence of Stunting: Height for Age: Male: % of Children Under 5 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Malawi – Table MW.World Bank: Health Statistics. Prevalence of stunting, male, is the percentage of boys under age 5 whose height for age is more than two standard deviations below the median for the international reference population ages 0-59 months. For children up to two years old height is measured by recumbent length. For older children height is measured by stature while standing. The data are based on the WHO's new child growth standards released in 2006.; ; World Health Organization, Global Database on Child Growth and Malnutrition. Country-level data are unadjusted data from national surveys, and thus may not be comparable across countries.; Linear mixed-effect model estimates; Undernourished children have lower resistance to infection and are more likely to die from common childhood ailments such as diarrheal diseases and respiratory infections. Frequent illness saps the nutritional status of those who survive, locking them into a vicious cycle of recurring sickness and faltering growth (UNICEF, www.childinfo.org). Estimates of child malnutrition, based on prevalence of underweight and stunting, are from national survey data. The proportion of underweight children is the most common malnutrition indicator. Being even mildly underweight increases the risk of death and inhibits cognitive development in children. And it perpetuates the problem across generations, as malnourished women are more likely to have low-birth-weight babies. Stunting, or being below median height for age, is often used as a proxy for multifaceted deprivation and as an indicator of long-term changes in malnutrition.

In 2020, the average height of males aged between 18 and 44 years in China figured at ***** centimeters, up *** centimeters compared to that in 2015. On the other side, obesity and overweight conditions have seen a gradual increase across the country mainly related to an unhealthy diet and a less active urban lifestyle.

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Height is influenced by a combination of genetic, environmental, and nutritional factors on a global scale. Genetic predispositions play a significant role in determining an individual's height, as certain populations may have inherent traits that contribute to taller or shorter statures. Additionally, environmental factors such as access to healthcare, sanitation, and overall socioeconomic conditions can impact growth patterns.

Nutrition is a crucial determinant of height, especially during the formative years of childhood and adolescence. Insufficient or imbalanced nutrition can stunt growth, leading to shorter stature. Conversely, adequate nutrition supports proper development and contributes to reaching one's genetic height potential.

On a global scale, variations in average height can be observed across different regions and populations. These differences are reflective of the complex interplay between genetics, environment, and nutrition. Understanding these global height factors is essential for addressing health disparities and implementing effective strategies to promote optimal growth and well-being worldwide.

Pakistan PK: Prevalence of Stunting: Height for Age: Male: % of Children Under 5 data was reported at 48.400 % in 2012. This records an increase from the previous number of 43.800 % for 2011. Pakistan PK: Prevalence of Stunting: Height for Age: Male: % of Children Under 5 data is updated yearly, averaging 43.800 % from Dec 1991 (Median) to 2012, with 5 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 56.700 % in 1991 and a record low of 42.200 % in 2001. Pakistan PK: Prevalence of Stunting: Height for Age: Male: % of Children Under 5 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Pakistan – Table PK.World Bank: Health Statistics. Prevalence of stunting, male, is the percentage of boys under age 5 whose height for age is more than two standard deviations below the median for the international reference population ages 0-59 months. For children up to two years old height is measured by recumbent length. For older children height is measured by stature while standing. The data are based on the WHO's new child growth standards released in 2006.; ; World Health Organization, Global Database on Child Growth and Malnutrition. Country-level data are unadjusted data from national surveys, and thus may not be comparable across countries.; Linear mixed-effect model estimates; Undernourished children have lower resistance to infection and are more likely to die from common childhood ailments such as diarrheal diseases and respiratory infections. Frequent illness saps the nutritional status of those who survive, locking them into a vicious cycle of recurring sickness and faltering growth (UNICEF, www.childinfo.org). Estimates of child malnutrition, based on prevalence of underweight and stunting, are from national survey data. The proportion of underweight children is the most common malnutrition indicator. Being even mildly underweight increases the risk of death and inhibits cognitive development in children. And it perpetuates the problem across generations, as malnourished women are more likely to have low-birth-weight babies. Stunting, or being below median height for age, is often used as a proxy for multifaceted deprivation and as an indicator of long-term changes in malnutrition.

In 2023, South Korean high school students were among the tallest in Asia, with male students aged 16 years old averaging ***** cm and female students averaging ***** cm. Both South Korean men and women have seen drastic increases in height over the past century, and in the case of women, the change in average height is the largest increase for any population in the world. Height is linked to health The average height of a population can be a good indicator for the overall health of that country; aside from genetic factors, nutrition and childhood infections play an important role in how a child will develop in terms of growth. South Koreans can expect to live longer these days; the average life expectancy at birth has steadily increased and was at **** years as of 2022. Women are expected to live slightly longer than men by around five years. The average weight of South Korean high school students has also generally increased over the years, which may suggest nutrition has improved. However, as with many other OECD countries, the obesity rate has also increased among the population.

Supplementary files for article Supplementary information files for Height and body-mass index trajectories of school-aged children and adolescents from 1985 to 2019 in 200 countries and territories: a pooled analysis of 2181 population-based studies with 65 million participants.BackgroundComparable global data on health and nutrition of school-aged children and adolescents are scarce. We aimed to estimate age trajectories and time trends in mean height and mean body-mass index (BMI), which measures weight gain beyond what is expected from height gain, for school-aged children and adolescents.MethodsFor this pooled analysis, we used a database of cardiometabolic risk factors collated by the Non-Communicable Disease Risk Factor Collaboration. We applied a Bayesian hierarchical model to estimate trends from 1985 to 2019 in mean height and mean BMI in 1-year age groups for ages 5–19 years. The model allowed for non-linear changes over time in mean height and mean BMI and for non-linear changes with age of children and adolescents, including periods of rapid growth during adolescence.FindingsWe pooled data from 2181 population-based studies, with measurements of height and weight in 65 million participants in 200 countries and territories. In 2019, we estimated a difference of 20 cm or higher in mean height of 19-year-old adolescents between countries with the tallest populations (the Netherlands, Montenegro, Estonia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina for boys; and the Netherlands, Montenegro, Denmark, and Iceland for girls) and those with the shortest populations (Timor-Leste, Laos, Solomon Islands, and Papua New Guinea for boys; and Guatemala, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Timor-Leste for girls). In the same year, the difference between the highest mean BMI (in Pacific island countries, Kuwait, Bahrain, The Bahamas, Chile, the USA, and New Zealand for both boys and girls and in South Africa for girls) and lowest mean BMI (in India, Bangladesh, Timor-Leste, Ethiopia, and Chad for boys and girls; and in Japan and Romania for girls) was approximately 9–10 kg/m2. In some countries, children aged 5 years started with healthier height or BMI than the global median and, in some cases, as healthy as the best performing countries, but they became progressively less healthy compared with their comparators as they grew older by not growing as tall (eg, boys in Austria and Barbados, and girls in Belgium and Puerto Rico) or gaining too much weight for their height (eg, girls and boys in Kuwait, Bahrain, Fiji, Jamaica, and Mexico; and girls in South Africa and New Zealand). In other countries, growing children overtook the height of their comparators (eg, Latvia, Czech Republic, Morocco, and Iran) or curbed their weight gain (eg, Italy, France, and Croatia) in late childhood and adolescence. When changes in both height and BMI were considered, girls in South Korea, Vietnam, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and some central Asian countries (eg, Armenia and Azerbaijan), and boys in central and western Europe (eg, Portugal, Denmark, Poland, and Montenegro) had the healthiest changes in anthropometric status over the past 3·5 decades because, compared with children and adolescents in other countries, they had a much larger gain in height than they did in BMI. The unhealthiest changes—gaining too little height, too much weight for their height compared with children in other countries, or both—occurred in many countries in sub-Saharan Africa, New Zealand, and the USA for boys and girls; in Malaysia and some Pacific island nations for boys; and in Mexico for girls.InterpretationThe height and BMI trajectories over age and time of school-aged children and adolescents are highly variable across countries, which indicates heterogeneous nutritional quality and lifelong health advantages and risks.

Moldova MD: Prevalence of Stunting: Height for Age: Male: % of Children Under 5 data was reported at 5.800 % in 2012. This records a decrease from the previous number of 11.000 % for 2005. Moldova MD: Prevalence of Stunting: Height for Age: Male: % of Children Under 5 data is updated yearly, averaging 8.400 % from Dec 2005 (Median) to 2012, with 2 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 11.000 % in 2005 and a record low of 5.800 % in 2012. Moldova MD: Prevalence of Stunting: Height for Age: Male: % of Children Under 5 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Moldova – Table MD.World Bank.WDI: Health Statistics. Prevalence of stunting, male, is the percentage of boys under age 5 whose height for age is more than two standard deviations below the median for the international reference population ages 0-59 months. For children up to two years old height is measured by recumbent length. For older children height is measured by stature while standing. The data are based on the WHO's new child growth standards released in 2006.; ; World Health Organization, Global Database on Child Growth and Malnutrition. Country-level data are unadjusted data from national surveys, and thus may not be comparable across countries.; Linear mixed-effect model estimates; Undernourished children have lower resistance to infection and are more likely to die from common childhood ailments such as diarrheal diseases and respiratory infections. Frequent illness saps the nutritional status of those who survive, locking them into a vicious cycle of recurring sickness and faltering growth (UNICEF, www.childinfo.org). Estimates of child malnutrition, based on prevalence of underweight and stunting, are from national survey data. The proportion of underweight children is the most common malnutrition indicator. Being even mildly underweight increases the risk of death and inhibits cognitive development in children. And it perpetuates the problem across generations, as malnourished women are more likely to have low-birth-weight babies. Stunting, or being below median height for age, is often used as a proxy for multifaceted deprivation and as an indicator of long-term changes in malnutrition.

Abstract The physical heights definition of heights, proposed by Helmert in 1890 is one of the commonly used heights systems in practice. In Helmert’s definition, the mean value of gravity along plumbline is computed by simplifying the topography with a Bouguer shell containing masses with mean density value. Although this approximation might be accurate enough many purposes, a more rigorous definition can be determined by considering the effects of terrain, topographic mass density variation, and masses contained in the geoid the mean gravity value along the plumbline. The purpose of this paper is to compute the corrections for the Helmert’s definition of the orthometric heights to obtain the rigorous orthometric heights in the state of São Paulo and adjacent states and to evaluate these corrections. The heights system used in Brazil (until July 2018) and some South American countries is normal-orthometric heights, therefore the corrections needs to be applied accordingly. Our numerical results show that there are significant differences between the normal-orthometric and rigorous orthometric heights, with maximum values of ~ 0.4 m, minimum of ~ -0.8 m and mean value of ~ -0.32 m. There are larger differences between normal-orthometric and normal height than the ones between normal and rigorous definition of orthometric heights.

Iraq IQ: Prevalence of Overweight: Weight for Height: Male: % of Children Under 5 data was reported at 12.500 % in 2011. This records a decrease from the previous number of 15.600 % for 2006. Iraq IQ: Prevalence of Overweight: Weight for Height: Male: % of Children Under 5 data is updated yearly, averaging 12.500 % from Dec 2000 (Median) to 2011, with 3 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 15.600 % in 2006 and a record low of 5.700 % in 2000. Iraq IQ: Prevalence of Overweight: Weight for Height: Male: % of Children Under 5 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Iraq – Table IQ.World Bank.WDI: Health Statistics. Prevalence of overweight, male, is the percentage of boys under age 5 whose weight for height is more than two standard deviations above the median for the international reference population of the corresponding age as established by the WHO's new child growth standards released in 2006.; ; World Health Organization, Global Database on Child Growth and Malnutrition. Country-level data are unadjusted data from national surveys, and thus may not be comparable across countries.; Linear mixed-effect model estimates; Estimates of overweight children are also from national survey data. Once considered only a high-income economy problem, overweight children have become a growing concern in developing countries. Research shows an association between childhood obesity and a high prevalence of diabetes, respiratory disease, high blood pressure, and psychosocial and orthopedic disorders (de Onis and Blössner 2003). Childhood obesity is associated with a higher chance of obesity, premature death, and disability in adulthood. In addition to increased future risks, obese children experience breathing difficulties and increased risk of fractures, hypertension, early markers of cardiovascular disease, insulin resistance, and psychological effects. Children in low- and middle-income countries are more vulnerable to inadequate nutrition before birth and in infancy and early childhood. Many of these children are exposed to high-fat, high-sugar, high-salt, calorie-dense, micronutrient-poor foods, which tend be lower in cost than more nutritious foods. These dietary patterns, in conjunction with low levels of physical activity, result in sharp increases in childhood obesity, while under-nutrition continues

As per the results of a large scale survey in 2019, the average height of Indian respondents was five feet and *** inches. Among the surveyed Indian cities, Chennai had the tallest people, whereas Hyderabad had the shortest people in the country.