ALABAMA – A map measuring the height of men across the U.S. has calculated which states rank highest.
Alabama, Utah, South Dakota, Tennessee and Nebraska take first place, with an average height of 5 feet, 10 1/2 inches.
The map from Data Pandas/Daily Mail/Newsweek also reveals the shortest state to be Florida, where the average male comes in at 5-foot-9.
According to the National Center for Health Statistics, the average height for an American man is about 5-foot-10, while the average American woman is 5-foot-2 on average.
Worldwide, the United States has been falling short in the rankings for a number of years. In a ranking last year compiled by Business Insider and NCD Risk Factor Collaboration, US doesn’t even crack the top 25.
In their calculations, American men came in at 47th worldwide. The Netherlands took the top spot with an average male height of 6-foot-0.36.
The American ranking in height has been declining since the 19and American women were the fourth. But by 2024, that number had dropped by 43 places, according to data from science publisher, eLife.
In good news for Alabama and the other tall states, the biomedical and life sciences journal also found being taller is associated with enhanced longevity, and higher education and earnings. The study’s authors also said there is evidence taller people possibly even enjoy a bump in their social position.
It’s not all great news though.
While the data shows taller people generally live longer and are less likely to suffer from heart disease and stroke, they are also more likely to develop some cancers. Theories as to why vary, but studies have found a notable increase in colorectal, postmenopausal breast and ovarian cancers, and possibly pancreatic, prostate and premenopausal breast cancers.
Don’t miss out! Subscribe to our email newsletter to have all our smart stories delivered to your inbox.
