Average Height in Japan 2023
Japan is renowned for many things, including its technology, bustling yet orderly cities, stunning natural attractions, a culture that is more than a thousand years old, and the nation with the highest life expectancy.
When we consider what average height is, we are referring to the average height of the inhabitants of a particular area, which can be a city, a country, or another location. Japan is renowned for a multitude of things, but the average height is not one of them.
Yet, Japan’s average height has changed significantly during the previous century. Let’s Find out the average height in Japan and much more.
Average Height of Japan’s Several Age Groups
Many variables influence human growth during childhood and adolescence. Usually, genetics is the most important element. The genetic height potential of a person is altered by numerous factors, including food, exercise, psychological condition, and chronic disease if the individual has one.
| Age | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
| 20-25 | 171.50 cm (5 feet 8 inches.) | 158.49 cm (5 feet 2 inches) |
| 26-30 | 172.05 cm (5 feet 8 inches) | 158.94 cm (5 feet 3 inches) |
| 31-35 | 172.12 cm (5 feet 8 inches) | 158.70 cm (5 feet 2 inches) |
| 36-40 | 172.31 cm (5 feet 8 inches) | 158.96 cm (5 feet 3 inches) |
| 41-45 | 171.62 cm (5 feet 8 inches) | 158.90 cm (5 feet 3 inches) |
| 46-50 | 171.71 cm (5 feet 8 inches) | 158.56 cm (5 feet 2 inches) |
| 51-55 | 170.81 cm (5 feet 7 inches) | 157.96 cm (5 feet 2 inches) |
| 56-60 | 170.02 cm (5 feet 7 inches) | 157.01 cm (5 feet 2 inches) |
| 61-65 | 168.39 cm (5 feet 6 inches) | 155.78 cm (5 feet 1 inch) |
| 66-70 | 166.60 cm (5 feet 6 inches) | 154.05 cm (5 feet 1 inch) |
| 71-75 | 165.03 cm (5 feet 5 inches) | 152.39 cm (4 feet 12 inches) |
| 76-80 | 163.28 cm (5 feet 4 inches) | 151.03 cm (4 feet 11 inches) |
The average height of 17-year-old Japanese men is 170.7 cm (5 feet, 7.2 inches) and the average height of 17-year-old Japanese women is 157.8 cm (5 feet, 5 inches) (5 feet 2.1 inches). We would also like to add the average weight of 17-year-olds: men weigh 137.7 lb (62.5 kg) and women weigh 116.6 lb (52.9 kg). We separated the average height and weight of 17-year-old Japanese people because we want you to be able to compare the height of Japanese teenagers to that of Japanese adults.
It can be seen from the statistics that the average height of the new generation is not more than that of Japanese individuals aged 20 to 49. According to Japan’s National Health and Nutrition Survey, the average male height was only 160.3 centimetres (5 feet, 3.1 inches) and the average height of a Japanese woman was only 148.9 centimetres (4 feet, 10 inches) seventy years ago, indicating a 10-centimetre increase in height in Japan over the past seven decades.
The typical peak height in Japan occurs between the ages of 35 and 39, or for those born between 1983 and 1987. After that, however, a study reveals a fall in the average height in Japan. Up until the late 1980s, the growth in height was attributable to the government’s efforts to promote improved health, diet, and physical activity. However, the decrease in average height is believed to be due to the current low birth weight of infants in Japan.
Japan’s average male height
The average height of Japanese men is 170.8 cm (5 feet, 7.2 inches), which corresponds to the height of Japanese individuals aged 50-54. Compared to the average height of American males, it is 5 cm shorter (1.8 inches). And if we compare it to the typical male European height, it is over 10 centimetres (3.8 inches) shorter, which is to be expected given that Europe has the highest average height among the continents.
Nonetheless, as compared to the global average height of men, Japanese men are not particularly short. The average height of men worldwide is 171 centimetres (5 feet, 7.3 inches), which is only 0.2 centimetres more than the average height of men in Japan.
Japan’s average female height
In contrast, the average female height in Japan is significantly lower than the average male height and is 159.5 cm (5 feet 2.8 inches). The average Japanese woman is 2 cm (0.7 inches) shorter than the average American woman, and 7.5 cm (2.9 inches) shorter than the average European woman (3 inches).
The global average height of a woman is 159.5 centimetres (5 feet, 2.8 inches), which is the same as the average height of women in Japan.
Japan has the smallest newborn in the world
As we have discussed previously, the birth weight of newborns in Japan is decreasing significantly. The four-year-old Sekino Ryusuke was born in Karuizawa, Japan in 2018. When he was born, he weighed only 258 grammes and was 22 centimetres in height, garnering media attention as the world’s smallest infant.
In November 2021, when he was three years old, he weighed 7.16 kilogrammes and measured 74.2 centimetres tall. Toshiko, his mother, adds that Sekino is constantly hungry and has a voracious appetite.
Average Height in Japan and other parts of the world
In the following, the average height of people in Japan is displayed next to other countries, like the USA, Sweden, Norway, Germany, and Canada so that you can see the height difference between Japanese people and other countries in the world.
| Country | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
| Japan | 170.80 cm (5 feet 7 inches) | 159.5 cm (5 feet 2 inches) |
| USA | 177 cm (5 feet 8 inches) | 163 cm (5 feet 3 inches) |
| Sweden | 180 cm (5 feet 9 inches) | 167 cm (5 feet 4 inches) |
| Norway | 180 cm (5 feet 9 inches) | 166 cm (5 feet 4 inches) |
| Germany | 180 cm (5 feet 9 inches) | 166 cm (5 feet 4 inches) |
| Belgium | 179 cm (5 feet 8 inches) | 164 cm (5 feet 3 inches) |
| Swiss | 179 cm (5 feet 8 inches) | 164 cm (5 feet 3 inches) |
| Canada | 178 cm (5 feet 8 inches) | 165 cm (5 feet 4 inches) |
| Austria | 178 cm (5 feet 8 inches) | 166 cm (5 feet 4 inches) |
| France | 178 cm (5 feet 8 inches) | 164 cm (5 feet 3 inches) |
| England | 178 cm (5 feet 8 inches) | 164 cm (5 feet 3 inches) |
| Iran | 175 cm (5 feet 7 inches) | 161 cm (5 feet 2 inches) |
FAQ
What is the Average Height in Japan in 2023?
The average height of Japanese men is 170.8 cm (5 feet, 7.2 inches), and the average female height in Japan is 159.5 cm (5 feet 2.8 inches).
