There is a great variation in average human height around the world. In some parts like in Congo, the tallest Pygmy men are no taller than five feet, while in the same continent - in South Sudan, the Dinka males are nearly six feet tall on average.
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| Same species -- profound difference: Becca Swanson (5'10"), Pygmy people (4'5" to 4'10" here), Kerri Walsh Jennings (6'2"), and Big Show (7" in his prime) |
The reason for this variation in the height of people of the same species is mostly genetics which has been shaped by our adaption to environment throughout the history our species.
Humans have biological plasticity, or an ability to adapt biologically to our environment. An adaptation is any variation that can increase one's biological fitness in a specific environment; more simply it is the successful interaction of a population with its environment.
So if it is nesscary to a group of humans survival to be taller, like in a hunter and gatherer situation, they would adept to be taller. And if it is beneficial to a group of humans to be shorter and thus smaller, like in a situation where food is scare -- they would adept to be shorter.
Here we have collected the heights of some of the countries around the world. This data is collected from official sources wherever and whenever possible and is updated reguarly.
Though still a slight discrepancy (up to half an inch) from real life could be expected from the heights listed here.
| Country | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Indonesia | 5'4" | 4'11" |
| India | 5'5½" | 5'½" |
| Mexico | 5'6½" | 5'1½" |
| China | 5'6½" | 5'1½" |
| Japan | 5'7½" | 5'2½" |
| South Korea | 5'8" | 5'3" |
| Brazil | 5'8" | 5'3" |
| Russia | 5'9" | 5'3¾" |
| France | 5'9" | 5'3¾" |
| United States | 5'9¼" | 5'4" |
| United Kingdom | 5'9½" | 5'4¼" |
| Canada | 5'10" | 5'4½" |
| Australia | 5'10" | 5'4½" |
| Germany | 5'10½" | 5'5" |
| Sweden | 5'11½" | 5'5½" |
| Netherlands | 5'11½" | 5'6" |
| Dinka people of South Sudan | 6" | 5'7" |