See what percentage of adults you are taller than, based on population height distributions.
How this calculator arrives at its answer
Adult height follows a normal distribution closely, which means a mean and standard deviation are enough to place any height on the curve. This calculator converts your height into a z-score and then into a percentile.
Reference populations differ meaningfully — the same height sits at a different percentile in the US than globally — so the population selector changes the answer.
How to fill it in
- Enter your height in centimetres or inches.
- Choose your sex.
- Pick a reference population to compare against.
Formula reference
z = (your height − population mean) ÷ standard deviation
percentile = normal cumulative distribution of z
The default scenario, worked through
On the values this calculator opens with, the height percentile is 64.2th. Underneath, Taller than comes out at 64.2% of adults and Shorter than at 35.8% of adults. Change any field and every figure updates as you type.
FAQ
What is the average adult height?
In the US, roughly 175 cm for men and 162 cm for women, though figures vary by source and cohort.
Does this work for children?
No — children need age-specific growth charts, since the distribution shifts with every month of age.
Why does the population matter?
Average heights differ by tens of centimetres between countries, which moves any given height several percentile points.