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Average Height
Norway Height Growth by Birth Year
How adult height in Norway has changed across birth cohorts from 1896 to 1996.
Height across birth cohorts
Growth story
Between 1896 and 1996, the mean adult male height in Norway rose from 171.2 cm to 179.7 cm — a gain of 8.5 cm over 100 years.
- The 14.1 cm gap between men and women is above the typical range.
- Height gains have plateaued since 1976.
Largest gain decade
The decade ending with the 1916 birth cohort saw the largest combined gain: men +1.5 cm, women +1.3 cm.
Most recent decade
From the 1986 to the 1996 birth cohort: men -0.2 cm, women -0.5 cm.
Height by 10-year birth cohort band
| Birth cohort | Men (cm) | Men gain | Women (cm) | Women gain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1896 | 171.2 | — | 159.2 | — |
| 1906 | 172.7 | +1.5 cm | 160.4 | +1.2 cm |
| 1916 | 174.2 | +1.5 cm | 161.7 | +1.3 cm |
| 1926 | 175.6 | +1.4 cm | 163.0 | +1.3 cm |
| 1936 | 176.8 | +1.2 cm | 164.1 | +1.1 cm |
| 1946 | 177.5 | +0.7 cm | 164.9 | +0.8 cm |
| 1956 | 178.6 | +1.1 cm | 165.7 | +0.8 cm |
| 1966 | 179.6 | +1.0 cm | 166.6 | +0.9 cm |
| 1976 | 180.0 | +0.4 cm | 166.6 | +0.0 cm |
| 1986 | 179.9 | -0.1 cm | 166.1 | -0.5 cm |
| 1996 | 179.7 | -0.2 cm | 165.6 | -0.5 cm |
Sources & methodology
Mean adult height by birth cohort, ages 20+. Figures are modelled from pooled population-representative surveys and measurement studies compiled by the NCD Risk Factor Collaboration (NCD-RisC) and published via Our World in Data.
Cohorts are labelled by birth year, not by survey year. Reported heights reflect the adult height those cohorts reached, typically measured in their 20s or 30s.
License: CC BY 4.0. Last updated: 2026-04-21.