Average Male Height in Sri Lanka: 1800 to Today (and Tomorrow)

Updated July 2026 · ⬇ download this dataset (CSV) · methodology

In the 2020s, average male height in Sri Lanka stands at 165 cm — ranking #155 of 157 countries. In 1900 it was 161 cm. (Source: NCD-RisC, compiled by MYRIAD)

Stature is rarely a matter of coincidence. When viewed across centuries, the average male height in Sri Lanka acts as a biological ledger, recording the accumulation of childhood nutrition and health standards. Each centimeter gained is a silent testament to improvements in living conditions and societal development. While numbers on a chart might seem abstract, they represent the literal growth of generations. This data provides a stark look at the physical trajectory of a population, mapping the quiet, steady progress of human development from the 1800s estimate 160 to the 2020s 165.

The historical arc begins in the 1800s estimate 160, moving with measured precision through the 1900s estimate 161. Throughout the twentieth century, growth rates began to shift more noticeably, rising from 162 in the 1950s to 163 in the 1980s. By the 2020s, average male height in Sri Lanka stands at 165 cm — ranking #155 of 157 countries. Projections for the coming century suggest a continued upward trend, with the 2100s projection 167.4 indicating a long-term transition as health outcomes and nutritional access evolve alongside the global landscape.

To consider your own place in history, imagine the physical reality of a man born in the 1800s estimate 160 compared to one born during the 2020s 165. These shifts define the baseline for millions of lives, reflecting changes in public health and the environment. As you explore these statistics, you might wonder how your own milestones align with the broader patterns of human existence documented in these cohorts. Visit our interactive tool to see where you rank among everyone ever born.

🇱🇰 Mean adult male height by birth cohort — a proxy for childhood nutrition and health. For Sri Lanka, the story across three centuries is below — every value is a statistical fact about the lives actually lived there.

Decade by decade

DecadeAverage Male Height (cm)
1800s estimate160
1810s estimate160.1
1820s estimate160.2
1830s estimate160.3
1840s estimate160.4
1850s estimate160.5
1860s estimate160.6
1870s estimate160.7
1880s estimate160.8
1890s estimate160.9
1900s estimate161
1910s estimate161.2
1920s estimate161.4
1930s estimate161.6
1940s estimate161.8
1950s162
1960s162.33
1970s162.67
1980s163
1990s163.5
2000s164
2010s164.5
2020s165
2030s projection165.3
2040s projection165.6
2050s projection165.9
2060s projection166.2
2070s projection166.5
2080s projection166.8
2090s projection167.1
2100s projection167.4

Keep exploring

Questions people ask

What is the Average Male Height in Sri Lanka today?

165 cm in the 2020s (NCD-RisC).

How much did Average Male Height in Sri Lanka change since 1950?

From 162 to 165 cm — a change of about 2%.

Where does Sri Lanka rank worldwide?

#155 of 157 countries covered by MYRIAD in the 2020s.

Where does YOUR life rank? →