Let’s get straight to it—people in some countries are just noticeably taller than others, and it’s not just genetics at play. For instance, the Dutch have held the crown for years, with men averaging around 6 feet (183 cm) and women not far behind at about 5 feet 7 inches (170 cm). These aren’t just random figures; they’re the result of generations shaped by high-quality nutrition, public healthcare, and yes—strong genetics.
But here’s what most people miss: genetics only give you a blueprint, not the final product. Countries like Denmark, Norway, and the Netherlands have invested heavily in prenatal care, childhood nutrition, and physical well-being—all of which contribute directly to their population’s height. On the flip side, nations facing undernutrition or health disparities often show significantly lower height averages. So if you’re thinking about your own growth potential, these global trends offer more than curiosity—they give clues.
According to World Population Review’s 2022 report on the average height by countries around the world, the Netherlands still ranks at the 1st position with the mean height for men at 6 feet (183.78 centimeters) and 5 feet 7 inches (170.35 centimeters) for women [1].
In fact, the Dutch were relatively short just 150 years ago. In 1860, the average height of the Dutch soldier was only 5 feet 5 inches. Meanwhile, American men were 2.7 inches taller. But after 1860, the mean height increased in many parts of the world, especially the Netherlands. And while the growth spurt in the U.S. has stopped in recent years, the Dutch continue to grow taller.
What happened since then?
The Dutch have gotten taller so quickly in a short time, and most of the growth is related to their changing environment. Also, they are one of the world’s biggest producers and consumers of dairy products and better medical care. What is more, scientists suggest that natural selection may have played a vital role in a recent study [2].
This is the second country that has the tallest people. Montenegro is a small mountainous country along the central Mediterranean and Southern Europe. The men of Montenegro have an average height of 6 feet (183.30 centimeters). Meanwhile, the mean Montenegrin woman stands at 5 feet 7 inches (169.96 centimeters).
Who would have thought this small country in southern Europe would behold “the third tallest” country in the world? The average height of men in Bosnia and Herzegovina is 5 feet 11 inches (182.47 centimeters), and the average height of women is 5 feet 5 inches (167.47 centimeters).
Iceland is located between the North Atlantic Ocean and the Greenland Sea. It is northwest of the United Kingdom and is a bit smaller than the state of Kentucky, USA. Icelandic men are 5 feet 11 inches (182.10 centimeters) tall on average, while Icelandic women are an average of 5 feet 6 inches (168.91 centimeters) tall.
Denmark is situated near the Netherlands but a bit further north along the North Sea. This country comes in fifth with an average height of 5 feet 11 inches (181.19 centimeters) for men and 5 feet 6 inches (169.47 centimeters) for women.
The Czech Republic is a country in central Europe and ranks 6th in the world with a mean height of men around 5 feet 11 inches (181.19 centimeters) tall. And for women, the mean height is 5 feet 5 inches (167.96 centimeters).
Located in northeastern Europe with a coastline along the Baltic Sea, Latvia comes to the seventh country in the world for the average height of its population. On average, men are 5 feet 11 inches (181.17 centimeters) tall, and women are 5 feet 6 inches (168.81 centimeters) tall.
Rounding up the Balkan countries with tall people, Croatia is some of the tallest countries in the world. On average, Croatian males are 5 feet 11 inches (180.76 centimeters) tall, and females measure 5 feet 5 inches (168.80 centimeters). An interesting thing is that Balkan countries do very well in sports, like basketball and volleyball. That is why people in these areas are taller than others.
Norway is a small country in northern European, which shares the Scandinavian Peninsula with Finland and Sweden. The average Norwegian man stands a soaring 5 feet 11 inches (180.48 centimeters). Meanwhile, Norwegian women have a mean height of 5 feet 5 inches (166.45 centimeters).
Known as Scandinavia in northern Europe, half of Sweden covers lush and large forests with over 100,000 lakes. On average, Swedish men are around 5 feet 11 inches (180.40 centimeters) tall, and women are 5 feet 5 inches (166.67 centimeters).
People are taller in some countries primarily due to differences in genetics, nutrition, and socioeconomic conditions. Populations in nations with high GDP per capita, such as the Netherlands or Norway, tend to grow taller on average because of consistent access to nutrient-rich diets, superior healthcare access, and early investment in child health. Protein intake, particularly during key growth spurts, is a critical environmental factor influencing height. Countries with higher animal protein consumption often exhibit taller average heights, as observed in various European nations. In contrast, undernutrition in lower-income countries stunts early childhood development, which directly limits adult stature.
Genetics also play a defining role in average height, though environmental triggers often determine gene expression. Studies in developmental biology have shown that specific gene variants influence potential height, but without adequate nutrition and healthcare, genetic potential may remain unrealized. Height trends also correlate with urbanization, where access to healthcare, clean water, and diversified diets improves overall growth conditions. According to the World Health Organization, improvements in sanitation and early-life nutrition reduce disease burden, allowing for more consistent average growth patterns across populations. The interplay of these factors—especially where nutrition and height intersect—explains why some countries are taller and highlights how policy-driven improvements in child welfare can influence generational height increases
The average male height consistently exceeds the average female height across all countries, a biological phenomenon known as sexual dimorphism in height. This global trend reflects consistent patterns in sex-based anthropometry, driven by hormonal, genetic, and environmental factors. Data from the NCD Risk Factor Collaboration (NCD-RisC) shows that adult males are, on average, 13 cm taller than females globally. For instance, in the Netherlands—where the tallest people reside—the average male height is 182.5 cm, while the average female height is 168.7 cm. This height gap widens in some Northern European and Central Asian nations but narrows in parts of Southeast Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa, indicating that regional nutrition and healthcare play crucial roles in shaping the gender height difference.
Sex-based height disparities begin early and become more pronounced during puberty, where pubertal height gain drives the male growth curve higher and longer than the female growth curve. According to WHO growth charts, boys experience a later but more sustained growth spurt, peaking around age 14, while girls reach peak height velocity closer to age 12. This results in the persistent height differential observed in adulthood. Studies also indicate that socioeconomic status, urbanization, and gender health disparities influence growth outcomes, particularly in lower-income countries, where early-life nutrition affects average female height by country more severely. These gender-based stats emphasize the importance of tailored public health strategies to address disparities in adolescent growth, reinforcing how height by gender is both a biological and a social indicator.
Although Turkey is not among the top countries with the tallest average height, the tallest person in the world is living there.
Sultan Kosen, a Turkish part-time farmer, is known as the tallest person in the world. His height is 8 feet 2.82 inches (251 centimeters), and his weight is nearly 500 pounds (226.8 kilograms). Moreover, his hand is 11.22 inches (28.5 centimeters), owning the largest hands in the world right now.
Why is he so tall?
The reason why Sultan has exceptional growth and height is due to a condition of over-production of growth hormone levels, called pituitary gigantism. Although he has a gigantic frame, his physical strength is not strong. So, he always wears crutches to move around, balance, and support his body.
Since Sultan Kosen became the tallest man in the world, he has acquired many dreams he wanted. He received a free Gamma Knife treatment to prevent him grow getting taller, switched from Turkey to the United States, and found love. In addition, he is going to earn a Ph.D. in Marine Engineering and build common schools and hospitals for children in his hometown and India. That said his story is a great inspiration to many people all over the world.
The tallest country in the world is the Netherlands. Also, all of the other tallest countries in the world mentioned above seem to be located in Europe. These countries have high life expectancies, healthy diets, and low obesity rates that contribute to their tall frame. But many other genetic and environmental factors also play a vital role in height. In case you want to know more about factors affecting the height growth of a person, click here for further information.
We hope this article on countries with the tallest people in the world was interesting and helpful.
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