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The 95th percentile height for adult U.S. men is about 187–188 cm.

The Claim

A height of 6 feet 2 inches is approximately the 95th percentile for adult male height in the United States.

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The Short Version

The claim is well supported by U.S. anthropometric data. CDC/NCHS NHANES references place the 95th percentile for adult U.S. men at about 187.3-187.5 cm, while some related analyses put it near 188 cm. Since 6'2" equals 188.0 cm, describing it as approximately the 95th percentile is accurate.

Caveats

  • The exact 95th-percentile cutoff in recent CDC tables is slightly below 6'2"—about 187.5 cm rather than 188.0 cm.
  • This applies to U.S. adult men overall, not necessarily to specific age bands, racial/ethnic groups, or younger males.
  • Measured NHANES data are the strongest basis here; self-reported height sources can slightly overstate height percentiles.

The Receipts

  1. CDC Growth Charts

    CDC

  2. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES)

    CDC NCHS

  3. Anthropometric Reference Data for Children and Adults: United States, 2015–2018

    CDC / National Center for Health Statistics

  4. Vital and Health Statistics Series 3: Analytical and Epidemiological Studies

    CDC / National Center for Health Statistics

  5. Anthropometric Reference Data for Adults: United States, 2007–2010

    CDC / National Center for Health Statistics

  6. NHANES 2017-2018 Documentation

    CDC NCHS

  7. Comparisons of Self-Reported and Measured Height and Weight, BMI, and Obesity Prevalence from National Surveys: 1999–2016

    Preventing Chronic Disease (CDC / PMC)

  8. Mean Body Weight, Height, and BMI, United States, 1999-2002

    CDC NCHS

  9. Body Measurements

    CDC NCHS

  10. Anthropometric reference data for U.S. adults: Data from NHANES 2007–2010

    National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) / PMC

+ 7 more sources — see the full list on Lenz

Filed Under

United States

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