The answer to whether women are getting taller is complex, reflecting the secular trend in human stature. Globally, the average height of women has increased significantly over the past century, demonstrating a historical change in population biology. This increase reflects better overall living conditions, as adult height serves as a reliable biological indicator of a population’s health and net nutrition during childhood and adolescence. However, this upward trajectory is now slowing or has stopped completely in many highly developed nations, meaning the trend is not uniform across all regions today.
Global Historical Height Trends
The most significant changes in female height occurred during the 20th century, marked by consistent, substantial gains in stature across many industrialized nations. For women born between 1896 and 1996, the global average height increased by approximately ten centimeters. This rise in height demonstrates improved societal welfare over generations.
The scale of this increase is illustrated by examining specific countries that underwent rapid socioeconomic development. South Korean women, for example, experienced the largest documented height gain globally, becoming over 20 centimeters taller on average over the course of the century. Conversely, women in Guatemala born in 1896 were among the shortest recorded, with an average height of about 140.3 centimeters.
In Europe, nations that were already tall a century ago also saw increases. Swedish women averaged around 160.3 centimeters in the 1896 birth cohort. By the late 20th century, Latvian women had become one of the tallest groups, with average heights surpassing 168 centimeters.
Key Factors Driving Height Increases
The historical increase in average female height is not due to a change in the human gene pool but rather the improved realization of genetic potential. Genetics determine the maximum possible height, but environmental factors dictate the degree to which an individual reaches that maximum. The primary mechanism driving the secular trend is improved net nutrition during the critical growth periods of childhood and adolescence.
Better nutrition means consistent access to sufficient calories and protein necessary for bone and tissue growth, particularly during the rapid growth phase. Equally important is the reduction of the infectious disease burden, which acts as a stressor that diverts energy away from growth. Improvements in sanitation, public health infrastructure, and medical care mean that fewer children suffer from diseases that would otherwise stunt their growth permanently.
The health of the mother also plays a significant role in fetal development and the eventual height of her offspring. When maternal nutrition and health improve, the resulting better fetal growth leads to healthier birth weights, which are positively associated with adult stature. This intergenerational effect means that improvements in a mother’s life circumstances are passed on to the next generation.
Current Status and Geographical Differences
For many of the world’s wealthiest nations, the historical trend of increasing height has largely reached a plateau over the last two to three decades. This flattening suggests that these populations have essentially reached the upper limits of their genetic potential under current environmental conditions. Countries like the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and many Northern European nations have seen a marked slowdown or stabilization in average height.
Whether women are currently getting taller depends heavily on the specific geographical location, highlighting a global divergence. Many low- and middle-income countries that have recently invested in improved health and nutrition continue to see significant height gains, demonstrating a convergence with developed nations. For example, women in Colombia saw substantial gains in height between the 1950s and 1980s birth cohorts.
Conversely, some regions, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and parts of South Asia, have experienced a stagnation or even a slight decline in average adult female height. This reversal indicates that in these areas, childhood environmental conditions, including nutrition and disease exposure, are either not improving or have worsened for some segments of the population. The ongoing changes are now highly localized, reflecting persistent or widening socioeconomic inequalities in health and welfare.