What is the average Australian female height?

January 18, 2019
, Australia, Average, Female, Height

Australia is home to 24 million people who live in nine million households. The people hail from 300 different ancestries but what is the average height of an Australian female? Over the past century, the population in Australia grew taller and taller. Proper hygiene and improved nutrition and healthcare contributed to the increase in height. A global height analysis report indicates growth around the world with height increase all over. The Australian female stand tall as the only non-European to rank highly.

The average Australian female height is 161.8 cm tall (5.3 Feet)

The Australian female according to recent Australian Bureau of Statistics indicates an average of 161.8 cm tall. According to the Australian Institute of Health and Wealth-fare, 41.7% of females over the age of 18 were a ‘Normal Weight’, and 28.8% were ‘Overweight but not obese’. Find the rest of the data here. The records also show that Australians are growing heavier and taller over the last two decades. For instance, between the year 1995-2012, women’s’ height increased at an average of 0.4cm. The weight too increased an average 4.1kg. The average female age is 38 years and is expected to live to over 84.6 years.

Average female height over history

People grow shorter as they get older. It’s a fact! Compared to the younger generation, the elderly above 75 years have an average height much lower. They are shorter compared to those in the 18-24 years age bracket. old women age 75 have an average height of 155.7 cm which is 8.1 cm shorter compared to those aged between 18-24 years whose height is 163.8 cm (Australian Bureau of Australia, 2013). The major factors behind growing shorter are due to compression of discs in the spine. Humans are dehydrated with age and curves or collapse are due to the reduction of bone density. Osteoporosis is the loss of bone density. Other reasons for growing shorter is during old age are losses of muscle in the torso area. Consequently, the human posture becomes stoop. Additionally, flattening of the feet leads to shortening in height. This shows a 5% reduction in height over the past half-century.

Average female height around the world

According to the most recent estimates by no surprise females from the Netherlands are on average the tallest women in the world with an average height of 169.9 cm. In comparison the shortest females in the world on average are Bolivian women with an average height of 142.2 cm. Australia’s average female height is 163.4 cm, which is similar to European heights. This is to be expected though considering the history of Australia. To back that theory up New Zealand, also a former British colony has an average female height of 164 cm. A big factor to a countries overall average height is the level of health care provided, which is why you see generally poorer counties having a lover average height.

Country	Average Female Height
Netherlands	169.9cm (5′ 7″)
United Kingdom	163.5cm (5′ 4.25″)
Australia	163.4cm (5′ 4.25″)
United States	162.2cm (5” 3.75″)
Mexico	155cm (5′ 1″)
Bolivia	142.2cm (4′ 8″)

There is great correlation between health and height of a countries population. Genetics play an integral part in a woman’s height but child malnutrition or suffering from serious illness may leaded to being shorter during adulthood. The majority of Australians have a decent livelihood. The children have enough food during the growing or development years. There are few cases of malnutrition in children enabling them to remain healthy due to a proper diet. The country also managed to fight communicable disease.

Some studies indicate that that taller generations of people live longer. Also, they are likely not to suffer from stroke or heart disease. Taller women also have fewer complications during child birth.

Proceed here to learn about the Average Male Height in Australia.

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Sources

Australian Bureau of Australia (2013). Profile of Health Australia 2011-13
Jurak, G., & Starc, G. (January 01, 2016). A century of trends in adult human height. Elife, 5.)
Ng, S. P., Korda, R., Clements, M., Latz, I., Bauman, A., Bambrick, H., Liu, B., … Banks, E. (December 01, 2011). Validity of self-reported height and weight and derived body mass index in middle-aged and elderly individuals in Australia. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 35, 6, 557-563.
Australian Government of Health and Welfare
The ‘typical’ Australian . Australian Bureau of statistics