The Average Nigerian Is Short - Culture - Nairaland
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| The Average Nigerian Is Short by Nobody: 9:38pm On Oct 02, 2013 |
Nigerians are shorter than other Africans and east asians, is this true? Countries Height (cm) Height (in) Population Netherlands 181,0 5’11.3″ 16,318,199 Iceland 179,8 5’10.8″ 319,355 Norway 179,7 5’10.7″ 4,737,171 Sweden 179,3 5’10.6″ 8,986,400 Denmark 178,8 5’10.4″ 5,413,392 Finland 178,4 5’10.2″ 5,214,512 Czech Republic 178,3 5’10.2″ 10,246,178 Slovenia 178,1 5’10.1″ 2,007,711 Luxembourg 178,0 5’10.1″ 486,006 Croatia 177,6 5’9.9″ 4,496,869 Germany 177,4 5’9.8″ 82,424,609 Estonia 177,1 5’9.7″ 1,307,605 Austria 177,0 5’9.7″ 8,174,762 Belgium 176,6 5’9.5″ 10,348,276 Serbia 176,5 5’9.5″ 10,159,046 Switzerland 176,5 5’9.5″ 7,450,867 United States 176,4 5’9.4″ 293,027,571 Australia 176,3 5’9.4″ 19,913,144 Poland 176,0 5’9.3″ 38,626,349 Greece 175,7 5’9.2″ 10,647,529 New Zealand 175,5 5’9.1″ 3,993,817 United Kingdom 175,4 5’9.1″ 60,270,708 Hungary 175,3 5’9″ 10,106,017 Ukraine 175,0 5’8.9″ 47,732,079 Ireland 175,0 5’8.9″ 3,969,558 Russia 175,0 5’8.9″ 143,782,338 Israel 175,0 5’8.9″ 7,112,359 Lithuania 175,0 5’8.9″ 3,565,205 Canada 174,3 5’8.6″ 32,507,874 Lebanon 174,2 5’8.6″ 3,777,218 Turkey 174,1 5’8.5″ 68,893,918 France 174,1 5’8.5″ 60,424,213 Uzbekistan 173,4 5’8.3″ 26,410,416 Italy 173,2 5’8.2″ 58,057,477 Senegal 173,0 5’8.1″ 10,852,147 Jamaica 172,8 5’8″ 2,804,332 Mali 172,5 5’7.9″ 12,324,029 Spain 172,0 5’7.7″ 40,280,780 Romania 172,0 5’7.7″ 22,355,551 Azerbaijan 172,0 5’7.7″ 8,177,717 Uruguay 171,8 5’7.6″ 3,399,237 Argentina 171,3 5’7.4″ 39,144,753 South Korea 171,0 5’7.3″ 48,598,175 Syria 171,0 5’7.3″ 18,016,874 Morocco 170,7 5’7.2″ 32,209,101 Iran 170,6 5’7.2″ 67,503,205 Portugal 170,5 5’7.1″ 10,524,145 Côte d’Ivoire 170,4 5’7.1″ 18,373,060 Egypt 170,3 5’7″ 76,117,421 Tunisia 170,3 5’7″ 9,974,722 Algeria 170,2 5’7″ 32,129,324 South Africa 170,0 5’6.9″ 42,718,530 Cameroon 170,0 5’6.9″ 16,063,678 Gambia 170,0 5’6.9″ 1,735,464 Ghana 169,8 5’6.9″ 23,382,848 Brazil 169,5 5’6.7″ 184,101,109 Colombia 169,5 5’6.7″ 42,310,775 Taiwan 169,3 5’6.7″ 22,920,946 Chile 169,2 5’6.6″ 15,823,957 Venezuela 169,0 5’6.5″ 23,542,649 Paraguay 169,0 5’6.5″ 6,191,368 Japan 168,6 5’6.4″ 127,333,002 Hong Kong 168,5 5’6.3″ 7,210,505 China 168,3 5’6.3″ 1,298,847,624 Mexico 167,5 5’5.9″ 104,959,594 Pakistan 167,0 5’5.7″ 159,196,336 Singapore 166,6 5’5.6″ 4,353,893 Thailand 166,4 5’5.5″ 64,865,523 Mongolia 166,4 5’5.5″ 2,751,314 Malaysia 166,0 5’5.4″ 23,522,482 Sri Lanka 166,0 5’5.4″ 20,064,776 Malawi 166,0 5’5.4″ 13,931,831 Bahrain 165,6 5’5.2″ 718,306 Iraq 165,4 5’5.1″ 25,374,691 Nigeria 165,0 5’5″ 138,283,240 Peru 164,3 5’4.7″ 27,544,305 North Korea 163,8 5’4.5″ 22,697,553 India 162,3 5’3.9″ 1,065,070,607 Vietnam 162,1 5’3.8″ 82,689,518 Philippines 162,0 5’3.8″ 86,241,697 Indonesia 161,5 5’3.6″ 238,452,952 Cambodia 160,3 5’3.1″ 13,363,421 http://forums.interbasket.net/showthread.php?9287-Average-Male-Height-By-Country-Updated-(official-data)Scientific-research http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Average_height_around_the_world |
| Re: The Average Nigerian Is Short by badmeat(m): 10:43pm On Oct 02, 2013 |
I don't gerrit!  1 Like |
| Re: The Average Nigerian Is Short by Emmyk(m): 5:17pm On Oct 03, 2013 |
5'5?? Haba! |
| Re: The Average Nigerian Is Short by drberry(m): 5:22pm On Oct 03, 2013 |
Hahaha... Judging by my height, i'll agree but judging by my grand-father's height, HELL NO.  |
| Re: The Average Nigerian Is Short by Fulaman198(m): 5:27pm On Oct 03, 2013 |
No, not at all true, I do not know where they took these statistics. Did they go to every 170 million Nigerian and measure them? highly doubt it. I'm 188cm and there are taller around me around us Fulani Mbororos. |
| Re: The Average Nigerian Is Short by onila(f): 6:46pm On Oct 03, 2013 |
hmm |
| Re: The Average Nigerian Is Short by Nobody: 6:50pm On Oct 03, 2013 |
Most igbo men r SHORT!!!... |
| Re: The Average Nigerian Is Short by Fulaman198(m): 7:22pm On Oct 03, 2013 |
nadia_SA: Most igbo men r SHORT!!!... One would think that Igbos would be one of the tallest because of their high education rate and fact that they are doing quite well in Nigeria financially speaking (meaning they have access to high quality food). I guess that is not the case. |
| Re: The Average Nigerian Is Short by Fulaman198(m): 8:18pm On Oct 03, 2013 |
That said the tallest people in the world are the Dinkas in Southern Sudan, I believe that the Nuer are also very tall. Nilotic people seem to be tall. In fact I would like to say all Nomadic groups in the Sahel/Sahara region of Africa are tall. |
| Re: The Average Nigerian Is Short by Nobody: 8:49pm On Oct 03, 2013 |
Most Nigerians with the exception of Fulanis average the same height. Has something to do with Fulani cow culture and milk/calcium intake, and getting more sleep. It's the same reasons why dinka are very tall, and why Somalis are taller than Ethiopians. Milk is also a staple in the dutch diet, hence their height. There are some tall Igbos though...including yours truly. I suspect that that the taller Igbos tend to live in situations (from childhood) where milk is just consumed a lot more. You will find taller southern Nigerians in less homogenous cities and places such as Lagos, Abuja, and in foreign milk guzzling spots in the US and Northern Europe. Mind you this is about those BORN AND RAISED there. Fulaman198: 1 Like |
| Re: The Average Nigerian Is Short by Fulaman198(m): 8:55pm On Oct 03, 2013 |
nnenna.1: That makes sense, I suspected the same, thanks for the explanation. |
| Re: The Average Nigerian Is Short by Nobody: 8:58pm On Oct 03, 2013 |
I would say to drink more milk, but I understand that many Nigerians are lactose intolerant. |
| Re: The Average Nigerian Is Short by Fulaman198(m): 9:19pm On Oct 03, 2013 |
nnenna.1: Yah, not me, but like you said Milk is a high part of Fulani diet (as well as nuts and other things with high protein). Not all Fulani eat a lot of meat, though I do because I am into weight lifting and body building (been doing so since age 16). So I do eat a lot of goat, beef and chicken. But at the same time, still drink Kossam (milk in Fulani language, more importantly biradam (fresh milk). |
| Re: The Average Nigerian Is Short by onila(f): 9:30pm On Oct 03, 2013 |
nnenna.1: interesting  |
| Re: The Average Nigerian Is Short by Afam4eva(m): 9:35pm On Oct 03, 2013 |
nadia_SA: Most igbo men r SHORT!!!...I disagree. I see more tall or average Igbo man than i see short ones. Is your husband short? |
| Re: The Average Nigerian Is Short by Nobody: 10:14pm On Oct 03, 2013 |
Afam4eva:nope hs tall tall..but when I went for some igbo gathering its like all the men were short nd chubby like.. |
| Re: The Average Nigerian Is Short by Nobody: 10:17pm On Oct 03, 2013 |
I swear someone posted this last year and I kind of waved it aside. However, after studying the average height of Nigerians in the last 6 months, it might be true. Anyway, height has more to do with genetics than food. Poor diet, or poverty can result into an individual not maximising his/her growth potentials, but eating all the foods and balanced diet in the world definitely won't make you taller than you should genetically be. The exception is abnormality, hence why most excessively tall people have one form of defect, or the other. The environment also plays a role in how people grow, hence why people from the Sahel part of Africa are taller than, those further down the continent. Regardless, I'd say fresh fruits, veg, beef and proportionate grains/carbohydrate do help as well. As for calcium, it only makes the bones thicker and stronger, and not longer. That said, don't fret if you're below 5'10 - over 90% of the humanoids on the planet are in the same boat as you. We the tall people are in a different league! |
| Re: The Average Nigerian Is Short by Afam4eva(m): 10:18pm On Oct 03, 2013 |
nadia_SA: nope hs tall tall..but when I went for some igbo gathering its like all the men were short nd chubby like..Is your husband from Abia or Imo? From my observation, i've encountered shorter men from Abia and to a lesser extent Imo. Enugu and especially Anambra men tend to be on the tall and huge side. |
| Re: The Average Nigerian Is Short by Nobody: 10:47pm On Oct 03, 2013 |
Every human trait can be linked to genetics but height is a VERY malleable characteristic. Much more so than it being about genetics. The average Male height in the Netherlands is 6ft but about 100 years ago it was much lower. A quick read from online sources show that the average Dutch height from 100 years ago was 5'5, and this was taken from a major city where people tend to be taller than the national average. So conservatively we have 7 inches of average growth in the span of several generations. Impressive, but why was this so? Research has shown a positive relationship between human height and animal-derived calcium (milk) in human populations, especially young children or toddlers. In fact, you can change your pre-determined height using a milk-rich diet provided you are young enough that your growth plates have not closed (i.e. more bone tissue can be manufactured). Also rest, relaxation and sleep are paramount. |
| Re: The Average Nigerian Is Short by Nobody: 11:27pm On Oct 03, 2013 |
How can height be malleable when you can basically do a guesstimate of how tall a child would be right from birth by using the parent's height? I doubt there's any normal person, without deformity, that's more than 5 inches above the taller of his/her parent. You can only maximise your height - but definitely can't grow more than you ought to be. Average height increment happens in every generation. I'm sure the average height of Nigeria was lesser than it's now 100 years ago. Increment happens in every generation, just as most kids are often taller than their parents. The average height of the UK is also about 4-5 inches taller than what it was 100 years ago. Milk intake might help kids and toddlers grow fast, however, it definitely can't make them grow taller than what ought to be. The tallest people on the planet are the Tutsi's and they're not a pastoral tribe - and I doubt they eat that much calcium. However, averagely, they're still taller than all the pastoral tribes in Africa - who consume large amount of milk. Also, most of the tallest Nigerians (above 6'4) that I've met, were born and raised in Nigeria - and I doubt they had that much diary foods growing up. However, that didn't affect their growth - and they're still taller than everyone who was raised on daily fresh milk and cereal diet out here. |
| Re: The Average Nigerian Is Short by Nobody: 11:51pm On Oct 03, 2013 |
Afam4eva:imo stAte..Oh I see |
| Re: The Average Nigerian Is Short by Nobody: 12:21am On Oct 04, 2013 |
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| Re: The Average Nigerian Is Short by Fulaman198(m): 1:54am On Oct 04, 2013 |
shymexx: How can height be malleable when you can basically do a guesstimate of how tall a child would be right from birth by using the parent's height? I doubt there's any normal person, without deformity, that's more than 5 inches above the taller of his/her parent. You can only maximise your height - but definitely can't grow more than you ought to be. Tutsi's are no longer the tallest, but 2nd. The tallest are the Dinka |
| Re: The Average Nigerian Is Short by Abagworo(m): 4:19am On Oct 04, 2013 |
Afam4eva: The tallest Igbos are from Northeastern Abia area. Ie Ohafia and Isuikwuato axis. IMHO Senegal and Mali should be higher than this so-called average. I've never met any one from both countries less than 6foot. The average height of Southern Nigeria is lower than the North. |
| Re: The Average Nigerian Is Short by ketoprofen(m): 8:39am On Oct 04, 2013 |
nadia_SA: Most igbo men r SHORT!!!... most? Nah. Infact, my village men are typically known to be tall n huge |
| Re: The Average Nigerian Is Short by ketoprofen(m): 8:46am On Oct 04, 2013 |
Afam4eva: u know it. All my Abian classmates do not pass the average height level |
| Re: The Average Nigerian Is Short by Nobody: 9:12am On Oct 04, 2013 |
Fulaman198: The Dinka's are also extremely tall, but I doubt they're taller than the Tutsi's on average. Most of these researches are done by just picking random people and the average height of the Dinka's according to the people carrying out the research keeps fluctuating every year. The Tutsi's are called, the fallen angels a la Nephilim - that's how tall they're. Moreover, I doubt their height has anything to milk intake. I believe it has more to do with genetics and probably their environment and food. Dinka's are a pastoral group and they do eat a lot of beef and grains. Same with all the tall groups in the Sahel region. Also, countries like Greece, Switzerland, Lithuania, Romania and Albania where the people consume a lot of milk on the average - the people aren't that up on the list posted on this thread. To your earlier posts: I think Yoruba's don't drink that much milk but they might be the group with the highest proportion of extremely tall people in Nigeria per ratio on the average being that most of all the tallest Nigerian basketball players are Yoruba's - from Hakeem Olajuwon, to Yinka Dare, to Olumide Oyedeji, to Solomon Alabi, to Michael Olowokandi, to Yiannis Antetokounmpo (Adetokunbo). And the two tallest boxers of Nigerian origin - Henry Akinwande and James Oyebola. And also all the extremely tall Nigerians (above 6'4) that I've met are all Yoruba's.Most of these people were born and raised in Nigeria, except Yiannis Antetokounmpo and Henry Akinwande who was born in London but raised in Nigeria. However, the average height of Yoruba males shouldn't be more than 5'7/5'8. I've lived here all my life and the UK has a large Yoruba/Nigeria community, but I've never met any Yoruba/Nigerian born and raised here that's above 6'7 - NEVER. Despite all the milk intake. Even the only extremely tall Nigerian that I went to uni with, was born and raised in Nigeria. I can't really say much about Fulani's and Hausa's because I've only met a few Fulani's, and I doubt I've met anyone that's Hausa. However, most of the Fulani's that I've met are 6'0/6'1. So it might be that everyone from your tribe are averagely 6'0 and above. 1 Like |
| Re: The Average Nigerian Is Short by Afam4eva(m): 9:23am On Oct 04, 2013 |
^^^ Using Basketballers to judge tallness in a specific group is not ideal cos even in a community where majority are short, they could still manage to present a handfull of people over 6 feet. |
| Re: The Average Nigerian Is Short by Afam4eva(m): 9:24am On Oct 04, 2013 |
Abagworo:I doubt this very much. People from that axis and Ngwa people seem to be one of the shortest or average height people that i've encountered. |
| Re: The Average Nigerian Is Short by Nobody: 9:25am On Oct 04, 2013 |
ketoprofen:guess its the ones I've come across in my village joburg |
| Re: The Average Nigerian Is Short by Nobody: 9:28am On Oct 04, 2013 |
Abagworo: I think the research might be flawed. Personally, I believe East Europeans from Lithuania, Montenegro, Serbia etc. and Iceland have the tallest people on the average. And I agree with you about Senegal and Mali. I still don't know how Ghana, Japan, Chile, Paraguay, Taiwan, Hong Kong, China, Mexico, Iraq, South Korea got above Nigeria - with Nigeria competing with North Korea, India, Vietnam etc.. All these countries have extremely short people on the average. And Ghanaians aren't even tall. I've never met any Ghanaian that's taller than me and I'm 6'2. Also, I don't know how Jamaica got so high on that list since the average Jamaican isn't taller than the average Nigerian. So it might be Nigerian women because most of them are from 5'5 down - or they just did a research on a few random people and posted it. And since most third world countries don't have a database - I doubt the list is a real representation of people. Anyway, if the list is for real, then I should be towering above everyone when I touch-down in naija soon.  |
| Re: The Average Nigerian Is Short by Emmyk(m): 9:56am On Oct 04, 2013 |
shymexx: |
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