The average adult man worldwide is about 5 ft 8 in (around 173 cm).

Quick Scoop

  • Global average male height: about 5'8" / 173 cm.
  • In many Western countries (like the U.S., Canada, much of Europe), averages are closer to 5'9"–5'11" (175–180 cm).
  • Some countries (like the Netherlands) have averages near 6 ft (around 183 cm), while others are closer to 5'4"–5'6".

Why it varies

Height depends on several factors:

  1. Genetics – Family height patterns and population genetics.
  2. Nutrition and health in childhood – Good diet and low illness generally mean taller adult height.
  3. Socioeconomic factors – Access to healthcare, food quality, and living conditions.

Simple way to think about it

If you line up men from all over the world, someone around 5'8" (173 cm) would sit very close to the overall middle.

In many modern online forum discussions about height, you’ll often see people treat 5'8"–5'10" as “roughly average” for a man, with regional differences acknowledged.

Note: Information gathered from public data and health sources available on the internet and summarized here.