Average Height in El Salvador (2026 Data)
The average height in El Salvador is approximately 5'6" (168 cm) for men and 5'1" (155 cm) for women, based on NCD-RisC pooled height estimates.
Average Height in El Salvador: Men and Women
Adult height in El Salvador reflects decades of genetics, childhood nutrition, healthcare access, and living conditions. The most recent pooled international estimates provide the best available figures for current average stature among adults.
For men, the population mean is about 168 cm (5'6"); for women, about 155 cm (5'1"). These figures represent adults aged 18 and older and are typically measured barefoot in health surveys.
Height varies by region, ethnicity, and birth cohort within El Salvador. The averages below describe the national picture; individual heights span a wide range above and below these means.
Average Height by Age Group in El Salvador
| Age Group | Men (cm / ft-in) | Women (cm / ft-in) |
|---|---|---|
| 18–25 | 170 cm (5'7") | 156 cm (5'1") |
| 26–35 | 169 cm (5'7") | 156 cm (5'1") |
| 36–50 | 168 cm (5'6") | 155 cm (5'1") |
| 50+ | 167 cm (5'6") | 154 cm (5'1") |
Age-group estimates derived from NCD-RisC pooled height estimates. Younger cohorts typically measure slightly taller than older groups due to secular height trends.
How El Salvador Compares to the World and the US
Globally, the approximate mean adult height is about 171 cm (5'7") for men and 159 cm (5'2.5") for women, based on NCD-RisC pooled estimates. Compared to this, El Salvador men are 3 cm shorter than the global male mean and women are 4 cm shorter than the global female mean.
The United States averages about 175 cm (5'9") for men and 162 cm (5'4") for women (CDC/NHANES). El Salvador men are 7 cm shorter than US men on average; El Salvador women are 7 cm shorter than US women.
El Salvador ranks among the shorter Central American populations, similar to Nicaragua and Honduras.
Why Heights Differ: Genetics, Nutrition, and Trends
Height is roughly 80% genetic and 20% environmental, but nutrition in the first years of life matters enormously at the population level. El Salvador's predominantly Mestizo population and history of childhood undernutrition keep averages below the global mean. Urbanization and remittance-driven living standards are slowly lifting younger cohorts.
Younger Salvadorans are taller than older generations as nutrition improves.
Comparing your personal height to El Salvador's average is informative, but percentile rankings depend on which reference population you use. Our calculator compares against US CDC/NHANES data, which may differ from El Salvador's national distribution.
Data source: NCD-RisC pooled height estimates. For US percentile comparisons, see our methodology page.
Frequently Asked Questions
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