If you want to know the average height for generation Z and Millennials, then this article will help to quench your curiosity.
Is generation Z really much taller than previous generations? Or are we letting the heights of a few famous individuals cloud our judgment? Let’s find out.
See Also:
- Average female height in the United States
- Average height of men in the world
- Average freshman height
- Average sophomore height
What is the average height for generation Z?
What is the average height for generation Z? The average height for someone in the generation Z cohort is roughly 5 feet 9 inches for males and 5 feet 4 inches for females.
Unfortunately, there’s not much data that specifically examines the average height for gen Z because it’s not exactly a huge topic of interest for scientists.
However, we can look at the most recent National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey for guidance, which is where we pulled these figures from.
While it is possible that generation Z is taller than the current data suggests, many people who are curious about height tend to notice people who are really tall.
And since generation Z—which encompasses anyone born between 1997 and 2012, tends to be quite body conscious—it’s likely that they’re paying more attention to height—both on social media and in real life—compared to previous generations. [1]
Hence there’s more talk of gen Z being taller than previous generations.
Now, I’ve written hundreds of articles about height and done countless hours of research, so if you want my personal opinion, I’d say that gen Z and Millennials are around an inch taller on average than previous generations.
What is the average height for Millennials?
What is the average height for Millennials? The average height for Millennials is around 5 feet 4 inches for women and roughly 5 feet 9 inches for men.
If you were born between 1981 and 1996, then you’re classed as a Millennial. [2] Many Millennials tend to be taller than their parents, and this is reflected in the height data.
Younger men and women are usually taller than older men and women, indicating that Millennials tend to be taller than previous generations.
This height difference may be because Millennials and their families had easier access to nutritious foods when they were growing up.
Why are gen z so tall?
As I mentioned earlier, it’s probably the case that generation Z seems really tall rather than that they are really tall.
In the media, we often see examples of gen Z celebrities who are tall, which may lead people to believe, based on the online examples that they’ve seen, that generation Z is so much taller than previous generations.
The same is true in person: When you’re really focused on height, which I imagine you are if you’re reading this article, then you’re more likely to pay attention to other people’s height and thus notice the tall people.
All of these memories of tall individuals in your mind could cause you to think that there is a higher proportion of tall people among generation Z than there actually is.
Are generation Z taller than Millennials?
Is generation Z taller than Millennials? It’s currently not possible to say yes or no for certain. But, based on the height research that I’ve done, I’d say that generation Z and Millennials are roughly the same height.
I do think that generation Z and Millennials are around an inch taller than previous generations, which isn’t as much difference as many people would assume.
In more developed countries, such as the United States, the differences between generations are likely to be less pronounced due to the fact that previous generations had access to a better diet and healthcare than many parts of the world.
In conclusion
One thing’s for sure; generation Z and Millennials definitely aren’t short on average. We peg the average gen Z height and the average Millennial height at around 5 feet 9 for males and 5 feet 4 for females, based on the data.
Although—using my judgment and experience—I would say that generation Z and Millennials are a bit taller than the current data would suggest. Time will tell, though.
References
- Aparicio-Martinez, P., Perea-Moreno, A. J., Martinez-Jimenez, M. P., Redel-Macías, M. D., Pagliari, C., & Vaquero-Abellan, M. (2019). Social Media, Thin-Ideal, Body Dissatisfaction and Disordered Eating Attitudes: An Exploratory Analysis. International journal of environmental research and public health, 16(21), 4177. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16214177
- Dimock, M. (2022, April 21). Defining generations: Where Millennials end and Generation Z begins. Pew Research Center. Retrieved from https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2019/01/17/where-millennials-end-and-generation-z-begins/