What is the average Australian male 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 man? 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 that the average growth around the world recorded height increment. The Australian men stand tall as the only non-European to rank top 18 while the women jumped from 29th position to 15th. In every country, the men are taller compared to women (Jurak & Starc, 2016).

Average Australian male height

The average Australian male height is 175.6 cm tall (5.76 Feet)

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The Australian man according to recent Australian Bureau of Statistics indicates an average of 175.6 cm tall. The average weight is 85.9 kilograms which result to Body Mass Index (BMI) of 27 (Ng et al. 2011). The Australian man, therefore, lies squarely in the middle of weight category. The records show that Australians are growing heavier and taller over the last two decades. For instance, between the year 1995-2012, the men’s’ height increased at an average of 0.8cm. The weight too increased an average at 3.9kg. The men exercise at least 3 times a week and sleep just over 7 hours every night.  However, they are just a few kilograms from being regarded as obese. The average age is 36 years and expected to live to over 81.5 years.

Average height in Australia over history

The people grow shorter as they get old. Compared to the younger generation, the elderly above 75 years have an average height of 169.7 cm. they are shorter compared to those in the 18-24 years age bracket at 177.8 cm. old women age 75 have an average height of 155.7 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. The humans are dehydrated with age and curves or collapse 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 height around the world

According to the most recent estimates by no surprise men from the Netherlands are on average the tallest men in the world with a height of 183.8cm. In comparison the shortest men in the world on average are Indonesian males with an average height of 158cm. Australia’s average male height is 175.6cm, which is similar to the 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 male height of 177cm. 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 Male Height
Netherlands183.8cm (6′ 0.5″)
United Kingdom177.0cm (5′ 9.75″)
United States176.3cm (5′ 9.5″)
Australia175.6cm (5′ 9″)
Mexico167.0cm (5′ 5.75″)
Indonesia158.0cm (5′ 2.25″)

There great correlation between health and height of a county’s population.  Genetics play an integral part in a man’s height but adolescents or children malnourished or suffer from serious illness may be shorter during adulthood. Majority of the Australians have a decent livelihood. The children have enough food during the growing or development years. There are few cases of malnutrition in children and enabling them to remain healthy due to a proper diet. The country also managed to fight communicable disease.

Some studies indicate that that taller generation of people lives longer.  Also, they are likely not to suffer from stroke or heart disease. Taller women and born children have fewer complications after conception and after birth.

Proceed to learn about the Average Female 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.

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