South Korea has one of the most documented — and dramatic — height increases of any country in the 20th century. If you’re curious how tall Koreans are today, the short answer: Korean men average around 5’8″ (173–174 cm) and Korean women average around 5’3″ (160–161 cm), based on recent national health surveys. But those numbers carry more context than they first appear to.
The averages vary by age group, measurement source, and generation. A 20-year-old Korean man and a 60-year-old Korean man do not share the same average — by a margin that turns out to be genuinely interesting.
Key Takeaways
- Adult Korean men average approximately 173–174 cm (about 5’8″), and Korean women average approximately 160–161 cm (about 5’3.5″)
- South Korea’s average height has increased dramatically over the past century — one of the largest secular growth trends recorded anywhere
- The gap between younger and older Koreans is striking: younger generations are meaningfully taller than their grandparents
- Improved childhood nutrition and healthcare, not genetics alone, explain most of this change
- Korean men are slightly shorter than American men on average; Korean women are close to American women, with modest differences
What Is the Average Height of Korean Men and Women?
According to South Korea’s national health data, adult Korean men stand an average of approximately 173–174 cm (5’8.1″–5’8.5″). Adult Korean women average around 160–161 cm (5’3″–5’3.5″). These figures reflect surveys of adults across all age groups, which is worth keeping in mind — because younger Koreans skew noticeably taller.
| Group | Average Height (cm) | Average Height (ft/in) |
|---|---|---|
| Korean men (all adults) | ~173–174 cm | ~5’8″ |
| Korean women (all adults) | ~160–161 cm | ~5’3.5″ |
| Korean men (ages 20–29) | ~174–175 cm | ~5’8.5″ |
| Korean women (ages 20–29) | ~161–162 cm | ~5’3.5″–5’4″ |
Different datasets produce slightly different numbers depending on methodology and the age range included. The figures above reflect the general consensus from South Korean national health surveys.
How Does Korean Height Compare With Americans?
The US and South Korea are similar enough in height that the gap often surprises people expecting a large difference — but real differences exist.
Korean Men vs. American Men
American adult men average around 175.4 cm (5’9″) according to CDC body measurement data. Korean men average about 1.5–2 cm shorter. That’s roughly half an inch — meaningful at the population level, essentially invisible in any individual interaction.
Athletic performance differences attributed to height between Korean and American men have more to do with sport selection, training infrastructure, and population size than any inherent physical gap.
Korean Women vs. American Women
American adult women average around 161.3 cm (5’3.4″), again per CDC data. Korean women average nearly identically — around 160–161 cm. For practical purposes, the female averages have converged. The difference is under a centimeter.
This near-convergence for women is partly a reflection of how much Korean women’s height has increased over the past several decades.
Why Have Koreans Become Taller Over Time?
The scale of South Korea’s height increase over the 20th century is one of the more striking data points in human growth research. Korean men born in the 1930s averaged around 163–165 cm. Men born in the 1990s average closer to 174–175 cm. That’s roughly 10 cm — about 4 inches — in two to three generations.
Genetics do not explain this. Gene pools don’t shift that fast. Environment does.
Improved Nutrition
The biggest driver is diet. After the Korean War left much of the country in poverty, economic development in the 1960s through 1980s transformed what Korean children ate. Protein intake increased substantially — meat, dairy, and fish became regular rather than occasional. Calcium and vitamin D followed.
Nutrition is the most important external factor for linear growth, and Korean children in the postwar decades finally had access to enough of it. The height increase tracked almost exactly alongside GDP growth and protein availability. That’s not a coincidence.
Healthcare and Living Conditions
Better childhood healthcare compounded the nutrition gains. Vaccinations reduced the burden of growth-disrupting illnesses. Prenatal and pediatric care improved. Sanitation reduced chronic infections that, during early childhood, quietly suppress growth.
Growth interruptions early in life — repeated illness, poor sanitation, insufficient food — leave permanent marks on final adult height. Remove those interruptions and children reach closer to what their genetics allow.
Genetics vs. Environment
Genetics set the range. Environment determines where within that range a person lands. Research suggests roughly 80% of the variation in height between individuals is genetic — but that doesn’t mean 80% of the population-level height increase is genetic. When an entire population shifts upward by 10 cm in two generations, that’s environment.
The Korean case is a clear demonstration of what happens when a population goes from nutritional scarcity to nutritional adequacy across childhood. The genetic ceiling was always there. The postwar generations are the first to fully reach it.
Height Differences Across Korean Age Groups
This is where the data gets genuinely interesting. The average height of all Korean adults looks modest compared to older Taller South Koreans partly because it includes a large elderly population who grew up during or shortly after the Korean War.
Younger Koreans — those in their 20s and 30s — are meaningfully taller than Koreans in their 50s, 60s, and 70s. The generational gap within a single country can be as large as 8–10 cm for men. That’s roughly the same as the gap between Korean and Dutch men.
If you’re comparing heights for purposes like travel, fashion sizing, or sport, the relevant figure is the younger adult average, not the all-ages average.
How Korean Height Compares With Other Asian Countries
South Korea sits near the top of Asian height averages — particularly for men. The regional picture is more varied than most people assume.
Japan
Japanese men average around 170–171 cm; Japanese women around 157–158 cm. Korean men are slightly taller on average, by about 3 cm. Both countries experienced similar postwar economic growth and dietary improvements, though South Korea’s height increase was somewhat faster and later-starting.
China
Chinese averages vary substantially by region — urban northern Chinese men average close to Korean men, around 172–174 cm, while rural and southern averages are lower. National averages for Chinese men sit around 169–172 cm depending on the dataset. Comparing national averages between China and South Korea obscures significant internal variation.
Vietnam and Southeast Asia
Vietnamese men average around 164–165 cm; Filipino men around 163–164 cm. Southeast Asian populations generally sit 8–10 cm shorter than South Koreans on average, reflecting both different nutritional histories and some genetic differences. These gaps have been narrowing as economic development across the region continues.
Common Myths About Korean Height
“All Koreans Are Short”
The stereotype dates from an era when it was more accurate — and still describes older generations. Younger Koreans are solidly average by global standards and taller than most of East and Southeast Asia. A 22-year-old Korean man in Seoul at 5’9″ is not an outlier.
“K-Pop Stars Represent the Average”
This is selection bias, not statistics. K-pop agencies actively recruit tall performers because height reads well on stage and screen. Male K-pop idols frequently stand 180–184 cm — well above the national average. Using them as a reference point for typical Korean height is like judging the American male average by the NBA.
“Height Is Entirely Genetic”
As covered above: genetics set the ceiling, not the outcome. Two children with identical genetic height potential, raised with different nutrition and childhood health, will not be the same height. The Korean generational data makes this point more clearly than almost any other example in the world.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Average Height of Koreans
How tall is the average Korean man?
Korean men average approximately 173–174 cm, or around 5’8″. Younger adult men (20s and 30s) tend to be slightly taller, averaging closer to 174–175 cm.
How tall is the average Korean woman?
Korean women average approximately 160–161 cm, or about 5’3.5″. This is nearly identical to the American female average.
Are Koreans taller than Japanese people?
On average, yes — by about 2–3 cm for men and 2–3 cm for women. Both countries have seen substantial height increases over the past century, with South Korea’s increase slightly larger and more recent in timing.
Why are younger Koreans taller?
Younger Koreans grew up with better nutrition, healthcare, and living standards than their grandparents’ generation did. The generational gap within South Korea can be as large as 8–10 cm for men — a direct reflection of improved childhood conditions.
Has Korean height increased over time?
Dramatically. Korean men born in the 1930s averaged around 163–165 cm. Those born in the 1990s average around 174–175 cm. That’s roughly 10 cm of increase in two to three generations — one of the largest secular growth trends documented globally.
How does Korean height compare with Americans?
Korean men average about 1.5–2 cm shorter than American men (who average 175.4 cm per CDC data). Korean women and American women are nearly identical in average height — the difference is under a centimeter.
Does diet affect height?
Yes — during childhood and adolescence, before growth plates close. Adequate protein, calcium, vitamin D, and zinc help children reach the top of their genetic height range. The Korean height increase tracks almost exactly alongside improvements in childhood diet after the 1960s.
Are Korean athletes taller than average?
Depends entirely on the sport. Korean basketball players are selected for height. Korean soccer players and martial artists are closer to the national average. Sport selection works in both directions: tall individuals are drawn to height-advantaged sports, which inflates averages within those sports without reflecting the population.
Final Thoughts
The average height of Koreans tells you something about biology, but it tells you more about history. The numbers are a record of what adequate nutrition and healthcare do for a generation of children who have access to both — and what their absence does to children who don’t.
Younger Koreans stand significantly taller than their grandparents not because the genetics changed, but because the conditions did. That’s worth remembering the next time you see a population-level height statistic anywhere. The number always reflects more than it appears to.
Jay Lauer is a health researcher with 15+ years specializing in bone development and growth nutrition. He holds a B.S. in Kinesiology and is a certified health coach (ACE). As lead author at HowToGrowTaller.com, Jay has published 300+ evidence-based articles, citing sources from PubMed and NIH. He regularly reviews and updates content to reflect the latest clinical research.