Someone asked me what the average female height and weight was the other day… and I thought it would be kind of fun to find out. So I did a little digging and got some numbers for you – not only for the average female height and weight, but for males, too.
The data I found are for adults ages 20 and over in the U.S. from 1999-2002.
Average height, weight, and waist circumference
Women:
Height (inches): 63.8 (or about 5′4″)
Weight (pounds): 163
Waist circumference (inches): 36.5
Men:
Height (inches): 69.3 (or about 5′9″)
Weight (pounds): 190
Waist circumference (inches): 39.0
So, there you have it. I never realized 5′4″ was the average height for women – I’m 5′4″ and I always think I’m short!
What do you think of these measurements? Did anything surprise you?
Source: Anthropometric Reference Data for Children and Adults; U.S. Population, 1999-2002, Tables 17,19, 26, 30, 32, and 39
Tags: female, height, male, men, weight, women
I am 5′9″ and always wished I was just an inch taller. How about that. According to the averages, I am SUPER TALL WOMAN…LOL!
I’m pleasantly surprised and pleased to report that I am taller than the avrgae MAN!
I think the average height for a man seems a little short (no offense to any guy out there who is the average). I also am shocked by the average weights for both male and female. I wonder how the US compares to other developed countries?
Cool! How tall are you? I’m so jealous…
I’m surprised by the average height and weight of women. I’m 5′7 so I guess I’m above average in this case!
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I’m surprised by the weight, I really thought it would be lower!
I guess I’m a bit of a shrimp at 61 inches. I like my height (or lack of height) though.
Wow! I thought the height would be a little taller. I guess everyone seems tall to me though, me as the little shrimp I am at 5′2″.
Yeah, dancerCRB – I was surprised by the height, too! I’m 5′4″ and that’s considered the average height. It always seems like there are so many taller people!
It’s a fact that the average height has gone down over the years. You can see that most fashion models these days are an acceptable height of 5′9″. They are no longer shunned if they have the right look and figure. Tyra Banks increasingly has 5′9″ contestants on her ANTM TV show and they were criticized in the first couple of seasons, but after the successes of many models of this height, I don’t see many complaints anymore. Since the height of many people, probably Americans more so than others, they have to cater to the masses. Who can relate to a 6′ model? I’m 5′5″ and I’m about eye level or just a tad taller or just a tad shorter than most of the women I come in contact with when I wear average heels 1″-2″. I don’t feel short. I feel average as there are many women shorter than me and I don’t necessarily feel taller than them. If a women is taller than about 5′5″ – 5-7″ she is much taller than most women and likely doesn’t realize it, because as most shorter women, I wear 4″ heels everyday. So I stand equal in height or taller to anyone that is about 5′ 6″ – 5′9″ and doesn’t like to wear high heels. I’ve noticed that taller women, don’t like high heels, maybe that’s why they don’t notice that there are a lot of us average sized women out there that appear to be the same height as they are. With my 32″ jeans most people have no idea what size heels I have on. Just a thought.
Good point, Jaesha! Me, lately I’ve just been skipping the heels and just being a plain 5′4″
i just don’t know about that survey. well i might agree on the height although i guess most amricans were taller than the said average but the thing that makes me think well is the weight and WAISTLINE average!!!!!!! i don’t just notice that most amricans has a waistline more than 30 inches and that kind of weight…..i just wanna know if what are their basis in the survey, but anyway thanks for your surveys it guides me a lot.
Wow, I’m surprised that the weight is so high for an average. What age range did they survey?
Good question, Sheri. Let me see if I can find out…
Wow. I had no idea that americas were so short. I’m 5′7 and I’m like the shortest of my friends and not very tall for a girl. I’m Europeean though.
Anni, I always wanted to be 5′7″ or 5′8″ but now I’m okay with my 5′4″ self
heya. i am 5′10 and i would just like to know what my average weight is.
Hi Jenn – Are you asking what the average weight is for someone 5′10″?
Im a little shorter than 5′3 so im slightly below average haha. I thought the weight would be lower too. (For womens)
You’re not too much shorter than the average at all! I always thought it was much higher than 5′4″
I really thought the average height for women was 5′7″. Boy was I off. I’m 6′1″ so I’m definitely above average.
JohnnieSunshine – You’re 6′1″? Cool!
5ft 4in isn’t that short. In a reasonable pair of heels, a woman of that height would come in at 5ft 6-7in, which is nice. I feel like a Shetland pony next to my sister! I come from a family of short females – mum 5ft nothing, sister just over that. I am just over 5ft 9in (six feet in my heels, when I wear them, that is) and I feel like I stick out like a sore thumb at times! Buses can be tricky. I have lost count of the times I have bumped my head when standing up in the raised seats! I also catch men looking me up and down when I stand up, because I am often taller than them and also because I have long legs and look a lot shorter when I am sat down!
This is not a moanfest. I like being tall. The only real gripe I have is I can never get clothes that are trendy while fitting properly…
Hollyb – I am laughing at how you surprise people when you stand up, since you look shorter sitting down! Be careful in those buses.
oh my jebus! im 5′ 2.5” and i always thought i was majorly tall..whataapp with that!!not even average..lmao …>_< but im satisfied w/ it…^_~
Good grief. I’m 5′4” and I have always thought 120 was about average. It was when I was growing up in the sixties. Some even put it at 110. I now find myself well under the average weight. Does that mean I can get off the stupid diet now and go have a pile of noodles with butter and bacon?
eveh – I’m 5′4″ as well. Not sure about butter and bacon on that pile of noodles.
Did anyone ever stop to think that (the first humans to walk the earth) the first man was 6′5″ and the first female was 5′10″? So in everyone’s case as for men who are below 6 feet are short and below 5′8″ is considered modern pygmie while women 5′7″ and under is considered short and 5′4″ and below is dwarfing. In the ranks, 6 feet and up for a man is regular and 5′10″ is still pretty much regular female height. If you don’t believe me, read the statistics for yourself.