What Is the Height of the World's Shortest Individual?

On average, men in the United States stand at 5 feet 9 inches (175.4 cm), while women are slightly shorter, averaging 5 feet 4 inches (162.6 cm). However, human height varies significantly, from the tallest to the shortest individuals. This raises an intriguing question: Who holds the title of the shortest person in the world?

Guinness World Records (GWR) specializes in tracking such extremes, and this topic is no exception. They classify this record under "shortest" rather than "smallest." Additionally, there are multiple categories for the "world's shortest person," including the shortest living man, the shortest living woman, and separate classifications for non-mobile individuals.

"Some of the shortest individuals are unable to walk or stand," explains Mark McKinley, head of Record Content Support at GWR, via email. "As a result, their measurements are taken while lying down, recording their length instead of height." He emphasizes that this distinction necessitates separate categories. "Since measuring someone lying down versus standing upright yields different results due to body pressure, these measurements cannot be directly compared."

Currently, Wildine Aumoithe from North Miami Beach, Florida, holds the title for the shortest living female (non-mobile category) at 28.3 inches (72 centimeters). The shortest non-mobile male is Junrey Balawing from the Philippines, measuring 2 inches (59.93 centimeters), according to GWR.

The Guinness World Record for "world's shortest person (mobile)" is held by Jyoti Amge, who measured just over 2 feet (24.7 inches or 62.8 centimeters) when she claimed the title in December 2011. She also holds the record for "shortest living woman (mobile)."

Born in Nagpur, India, in 1993, Amge is shorter than the average 2-year-old, as noted by GWR, and weighs only 11 pounds (5 kilograms). She has achondroplasia, a form of dwarfism meaning "without cartilage formation." This condition, the most common type of short-limbed dwarfism, occurs in approximately one in 15,000 to 40,000 newborns.

Despite her small size, Amge has led a remarkable life. During her school years, she only required a smaller desk and chair as accommodations. Her father shared with GWR that she faced ridicule before gaining fame. "She used to feel very disheartened," he said. However, her global celebrity status has allowed her to fulfill "all her dreams."

Amge has carved out her own stardom, boasting nearly a million followers on Instagram and making numerous TV appearances as herself. She gained widespread recognition for her role as Ma Petite in the hit series "American Horror Story," which also earned her the GWR title of "shortest actress." During the COVID-19 pandemic, she leveraged her fame to promote safety measures like mask-wearing and social distancing. Off-screen, Amge resides with her family, assisting with household chores, and exploring fashion, jewelry, and makeup, often sharing her creations on social media.

However, fame has its downsides. In 2017, an Indian American man spread fabricated wedding photos online, falsely claiming to have married Amge. Unfamiliar with the individual, she reported the incident to local authorities.

Despite her diminutive stature, Amge is not the shortest woman in history. That record remains with Pauline Musters from the Netherlands, also known as Princess Pauline, who stood at 21.5 inches (55 centimeters) and weighed just 3 pounds, 5 ounces (1.39 kilograms). She passed away in New York in 1895 at the age of 19 due to pneumonia and meningitis, according to McKinley.

The record for the shortest man ever belongs to Chandra Bahadur Dangi from Nepal, who stood at 21.5 inches (54.6 centimeters) tall in 2012 at the age of 72. He passed away in 2015 while touring the world to embrace his newfound celebrity status. The current titleholder for the world's shortest man is Edward Niño Hernandez from Colombia, measuring 28.38 inches (72.1 centimeters). His mother mentioned that he stopped growing at the age of 2. He leads a relatively normal life, working as a dancer and occasionally taking on acting roles.

GWR also features several unique categories centered around "world's shortest." For instance, the shortest person to travel to space is astronaut Nancy Currie. At 5 feet tall (1.5 meters), she isn't exceptionally short. Another example is Vince Brasco, the world's shortest firefighter from Pennsylvania, standing at 4 feet, 2 inches (127 centimeters). Born with a form of dwarfism, his height allows him to access spaces other firefighters cannot.