What Is Considered Short for a Man

Although beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder, and what matters most is what’s on the inside, in the modern world that we live in, good looks are highly prioritized. Along with the desire to look handsome and hot, being tall matters a lot to most men. If you are one that is obsessed over your height and often wonders whether people consider you short or tall, we are here to help you overcome your confusion! So, let’s get started right away.

The average height for males has increased significantly over the past decades. This is mainly because of access to better healthcare and improvement in nutrition. In the USA, a man’s height is considered average if they stand 5 feet 9 inches tall. Men that have a height of 5 feet 7 inches or less are considered short. If a man’s height is higher than 5 feet 11 inches, then they are considered tall. Additionally, men with a height of 6 feet 3 inches or higher are considered very tall.

Average Height of Men in Different Countries (Globally)

While the average height for men in the U.S. is 5 feet 9 inches, it is important to note that this measurement only applies to the specific nation. What may be considered as short in one location might be regarded as tall in another. Following is a chart of the average height of men in different countries around the world:

CountryAverage Height
Philippines5 feet 4 inches
India5 feet 5 inches
Peru5 feet 6 inches
Mexico5 feet 7 inches
Japan5 feet 7 inches
China5 feet 8 inches
Iran5 feet 8 inches
Brazil5 feet 8 inches
Jamaica5 feet 9 inches
Canada5 feet 10 inches
UK5 feet 10 inches
Australia5 feet 11 inches
Germany5 feet 11 inches
Netherlands6 feet

As per the aforementioned information, it is clear that the average height of men differs drastically from country to country!

Short Stature, from a Medical Perspective

When the height of a person is below the typical height, it is referred to as short stature. Whether someone is considered tall or short depends mainly on the context. Due to the lack of preciseness on the subject, it isn’t always possible to understand when a person should be considered short. When it comes to the medical context, a person with a height greater than 2 standard deviations below the population’s mean for gender and age is known as short stature.

Causes of Short Stature

Young adults and children suffer from shortness, usually because of below-average growth during their childhood. Shortness in older adults, on the other hand, is usually because of loss of height from collapsed vertebrae due to osteoporosis or kyphosis of the spine. Family short stature and constitutional growth delay are the most reasons for short stature in children.

From a medical point of view, the interaction of multiple familial genes can be the reason for severe shortness. Other abnormal conditions such as chromosomal deletions, treatment with various drugs, mistreatment, disease of a major organ system, malnutrition, thyroid hormone deficiency, or chronic growth hormone can also cause short height.

The most common sign of this medical condition is an obvious slowing of growth. Children that do not have growth hormone deficiency may have short stature because of chronic kidney disease, Noonan syndrome, Turner syndrome, being small for gestational age, Wiedemann-Steiner syndrome, Prader-Willi syndrome, or other similar conditions. When the cause of short stature is unknown, it is referred to as idiopathic short stature.

When Should Men With Short Height Seek Medical Attention?

In order to understand if the short stature of a male child has a medical cause or not, it is important to consult a professional healthcare provider at an early age. This is because the entire process of diagnosing the disease and then treating it takes a lot of time. This is why it is essential for every person to have regular checkups with a pediatrician or a family doctor.

One can also monitor the height of their male child as well as their overall health while staying at home. Some obvious signs include:

  • A child having a significantly shorter height as compared to their classmates of the same gender and age
  • One-year-old clothes fitting a child comfortably
  • A child feeling tired and exhausted frequently

Bottom Line

We hope that with all the aforementioned information on what is considered short for a man, you found something worthwhile. Remember, your height doesn’t determine how good-looking or successful of a person you are. However, if you believe that your short height is associated with some underlying medical condition, it is best to consult a doctor immediately!