The Average Height of Americans
Height is one of the simplest ways to compare populations — and one of the most revealing. How tall a country's people are, on average, says as much about childhood nutrition and healthcare access as it does about genetics. So where do Americans actually stand today, and how does that compare to the rest of the world?
Below, we break down the current average height of American men and women, how it varies by state, where the U.S. ranks globally, and why that ranking has been slipping over the past few decades.
What Is the Average Height of Americans?
Based on current national health data, here's where the average U.S. adult stands:
These are national averages, of course — actual height depends heavily on genetics, along with childhood nutrition, sleep, and overall health. Individual variation is completely normal.
How Height Varies by State
Average height isn't identical from state to state. Hover over any state on the map below to see its average men's height, based on CDC-referenced data.
Men's Avg Height (in)
A 2016 CDC survey of over 450,000 people across all 50 states found average heights that were fairly consistent nationwide — with most states clustering close to the national figures above. A partial breakdown of that survey appears below.
| State | Avg. Height — Men | Avg. Height — Women |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | >179 cm | 163–164 cm |
| Alaska | 177–179 cm | 163–164 cm |
| Arizona | 177–179 cm | >163 cm |
| Arkansas | 177–179 cm | 163–164 cm |
| California | 177 cm | >163 cm |
| Colorado | 177–179 cm | 163–164 cm |
| Connecticut | 177–179 cm | >163 cm |
| Delaware | 177–179 cm | 163–164 cm |
| Florida | 177–179 cm | >163 cm |
| Georgia | 177–179 cm | 163–164 cm |
| Hawaii | >177 cm | >163 cm |
| Idaho | 177–179 cm | 163–164 cm |
| Illinois | 177–179 cm | 163–164 cm |
| Indiana | 177–179 cm | 163–164 cm |
| Iowa | 177–179 cm | >164 cm |
| Kansas | 177–179 cm | 163–164 cm |
Table shown covers the first 16 states alphabetically from the original source data — the interactive map above uses full 50-state figures. See note to Jared below regarding this table.
Overall, average heights across states are relatively consistent and sit slightly above the national average cited earlier. Because the underlying survey sample is limited, it's hard to draw precise conclusions about any single state from this data alone.
How Americans Compare to the Rest of the World
There was a time when Americans were among the tallest people in the world. Since then, many other countries — particularly in Northern and Western Europe — have seen faster gains in average height, while U.S. growth has slowed. The result is a steady drop in the global rankings, even as the U.S. population has, on average, gotten taller than it was a century ago.
For context on where other populations land, see our roundup of the tallest men in the world.
Why Americans Are Getting Fatter and Shorter
Data from the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) shows that American adults have gotten heavier over the past two decades, even as height gains have stalled.
| Group | Average Weight (Year 2000) | Average Weight (Recent) |
|---|---|---|
| Men | 190 lb (86 kg) | 198 lb (89.8 kg) |
| Women | 163 lb (74 kg) | 170 lb (77 kg) |
Access to consistent prenatal and early-childhood healthcare also matters. Compared with many European countries, the U.S. has higher rates of infant mortality and childhood poverty — both linked to reduced growth potential at a population level.
What's Next for American Height?
Whether the U.S. climbs back up the global height rankings will depend far more on everyday habits and healthcare access than on any single innovation. Diet quality, maternal and infant healthcare, and childhood nutrition are the biggest levers — and none of them shift quickly.
On an individual level, the fundamentals still apply: balanced nutrition, enough sleep, regular activity, and good posture help each person reach their own genetic potential — even if the national average moves slowly.
The average American stands about 5'9" (men) or 5'4" (women) — solidly average by global standards, but no longer near the top. The bigger story isn't any one state or statistic; it's a decades-long trend shaped by nutrition, healthcare, and lifestyle. Those same levers are exactly what's within an individual family's control, regardless of where the national ranking sits.
FAQ
What is the average height of Americans?
Has the average height in the U.S. changed over time?
How does the average American height compare globally?
What factors affect a person's height?
Can you still grow taller after age 18?
References
- Fryar CD, Carroll MD, Gu Q, Afful J, Ogden CL. Anthropometric Reference Data for Children and Adults: United States, 2015–2018. National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), Vital and Health Statistics, Series 3, No. 46. — cdc.gov/nchs
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) — cdc.gov/nchs/nhanes
- NCD Risk Factor Collaboration. A century of trends in adult human height. eLife, 2016. — elifesciences.org/articles/13410
