Height comparison

Compare your height with the average UK adult and with another person, such as a partner or sibling.

Your details

Compared with the UK average

+2.3 in

Taller than average

UK average woman5 ft 4 in
Difference to the other personthey are 5.0 in taller

Averages hide a lot of variety: about two thirds of adults are within 7 cm (nearly 3 inches) of them. Measure in the morning, barefoot, heels to the wall: you are up to 1 cm shorter by bedtime.

The averages

The UK numbers

The Health Survey for England measured adults in 2019. The average man was 175.5 cm (5 ft 9 in) and the average woman 161.7 cm (5 ft 3.7 in). At 5 ft 6 in (167.6 cm), a woman is about 2.3 in taller than average.

Over time

Are we getting taller?

Barely, now. UK adults gained around 10 cm over the 20th century as food and health improved, but between 1993 and 2019 the average man grew by just over 1 cm and the average woman by half that.

Around the world

For comparison

Country	Average man	Average woman
Netherlands	about 183 cm	about 170 cm
UK	175.5 cm	161.7 cm
USA	about 175 cm	about 161 cm
India	about 165 cm	about 153 cm

Figures for other countries are rounded from the NCD Risk Factor Collaboration, which pooled height data worldwide.

Losing height

When it is worth a mention

Most of us lose a little height from our 40s as the discs in the spine thin. Losing more than 4 cm (about 1.5 in) from your tallest adult height is different: NICE lists it as a sign of a possible spine fracture from thin bones, which often causes no pain. Add the tallest height you remember, from a passport, driving licence or old medical, and we work out the difference. Over 4 cm, mention it to your GP.

Questions

Common questions

What is the average height in the UK?

About 5 ft 9 in (175.5 cm) for men and 5 ft 4 in (161.7 cm) for women, from the Health Survey for England 2019.

Do people shrink with age?

Yes, a little. Most people lose 1 to 3 cm from their 40s onwards as the discs in the spine thin.

Does height affect health?

A bit, both ways. Taller people have slightly lower heart disease risk and slightly higher risk of some cancers. It is not something to worry about.

Sources

Last checked 21 October 2026. Spotted something wrong? Tell us and we will fix it.

About growth and height

Worried about a child’s height or growth? Your health visitor, school nurse or GP can check it against UK growth charts. Losing more than an inch or two of height as an adult is worth mentioning to your GP.