Last Updated on February 15, 2025
Bolivians are generally quite short in both rural and urban areas. This is due to several factors, including inadequate healthcare and nutrition, as well as the genetic heritage of Amerindian ethnic groups that make up a significant portion of the current Bolivian population. In fact, Bolivians are among the shortest people in the world.
Bolivians are indeed very short. The average height for a Bolivian male is about 5’6″ (166.8 cm), and for a Bolivian female, it’s about 5’1″ (153.9 cm). Some ethnic groups have different average heights: white Bolivians are approximately 4 inches (10 cm) taller, while Amerindian Bolivians are about 2.6 inches (6 cm) shorter than the national average.
Here, we’ll examine the actual heights of Bolivians, including average heights for the general population and various ethnic subgroups. We’ll also compare Bolivia’s position to other countries in terms of height and provide additional details.
How Tall Are Bolivians?
Bolivians are not as tall as you might imagine; in fact, they are among the shortest people globally.
According to a study published by eLife Sciences, Bolivia ranks 154th out of 187 countries in terms of citizen height, despite the fact that the average height of Bolivians has increased by around 4 inches (10 cm) in the last 100 years.

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This is due to several factors, as we mentioned, including:
- Inadequate nutrition during childhood.
- General poverty leading to poor health and healthcare.
- Genetic heritage from Amerindian populations.
Of these three reasons, the first two are addressable, and their impact has lessened over the last century, *resulting in an increase in Bolivian height over the decades*. However, Bolivians remain relatively short compared to global standards and averages.
Average Bolivian Male Height
Men around 5’3″ (160 cm) are common in Bolivia. At this height, you wouldn’t be considered unusually short. Individuals of this stature can participate in sports like basketball and volleyball without difficulty, even competing at a semi-professional level.
What is considered short stature for men in Bolivia typically falls at 5’1″ (155 cm) or less. Furthermore, *men taller than 5’5″ (165 cm) are considered tall*, and men taller than 5’9″ (175 cm) are quite uncommon, with a prevalence of about 1 in 10 or less. Individuals taller than 6’1″ (185 cm) are very rare (1 in 40) but are more frequently found among both white and black Bolivian ethnic groups.
Average Bolivian male height: 5’5.6″ (166.8 cm).
Average Bolivian Female Height
In Bolivia, women around 4’11” (150 cm) are very common and not considered unusually short. Older women are even more frequently of this stature. *What is considered short stature for women in Bolivia* is generally 4’9″ (145 cm) or shorter.
Furthermore, women who are 5’9″ (175 cm) or taller are very uncommon, with *only about 1 in 10 or 1 in 15 women reaching this height*. Additionally, women taller than 5’11” (180 cm) are quite rare (1 in 40) but are more commonly found among smaller ethnic groups like white and black Bolivians.

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Average Bolivian female height: 5’0.6″ (153.9 cm).
Bolivian Height by Ethnicity
Amerindian People
These are the indigenous people of Bolivia prior to Spanish colonization. The “Indigenas” or “Indios” (this term has a negative connotation in the country), or officially, Amerindians, are the shortest ethnic group in the country.
This segment of the Bolivian population is so short for several reasons:
- Most of this ethnic group resides in rural areas and experiences poverty.
- They are genetically shorter than average human beings.
- Due to poor living conditions and poverty, they lack adequate nutrition.
Nevertheless, they represent a significant portion of the Bolivian population, accounting for about 22% of the people in the country, and they have less genetic heritage from other racial and ethnic groups around the world.
Avg. male height: 5’3″ (160 cm).
Avg. female height: 4’11” (150 cm).
Percentage of the population: 22%
Mestizo People
This is the largest ethnic group in the country, comprising 68% of the population. These individuals are a mix of indigenous Amerindians, European colonizers, and, in some cases, black slaves from the colonial era. *They also have almost the same height as the national average*, as they are the largest group.
These individuals are slightly taller than Bolivian Amerindians, as they generally have greater wealth, better nutrition, live in more urban areas, and also *have more genetic heritage from other, taller racial and ethnic groups worldwide*, primarily from Europeans who came to the New World from Spain and neighboring countries.
Avg. male height: 5’5″ (165 cm).
Avg. female height: 5’1″ (155 cm).
Percentage of the population: 68%
White People
White people are a minority in Bolivia, representing only 5% of the population, *and they are also shorter than white people in developed countries*. It’s common to see white Bolivians who are around 5’9″ (175 cm), but even within this ethnic group, it’s quite unusual to find individuals who are 6’1″ (185 cm) or taller.
This is due to poverty in Bolivia, which also affects a portion of this ethnic group, resulting in poorer nutrition. Additionally, *this ethnic group is not entirely white*; *it always carries some mixed Amerindian genes* from the colonial era.
Despite this, white Bolivians are still the wealthiest ethnic group in the country, with access to better nutrition and healthcare, ultimately contributing to their greater height, in addition to their genetic predispositions.

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Avg. male height: 5’9″ (175 cm).
Avg. female height: 5’6″ (168 cm).
Percentage of the population: 5%
Black People
Black people also live in Bolivia. They tend to be slightly shorter than in developed countries, again due to the lack of proper nutrition and the poverty that exists here. However, generally, *they are slightly taller than the general Bolivian population*.
They tend to be about 2 to 3 inches (5 to 8 cm) taller than the general population, but this is just a generalization, as some individuals from this ethnic group are even shorter than average natives. They are very common in the northern part of the La Paz department (Yungas) and uncommon in other parts of Bolivia.
Avg. male height: 5’7″ (170 cm).
Avg. female height: 5’3″ (160 cm).
Percentage of the population: less than < 5%
Mulatto and Zambo People
Individuals with mixed genes between black and white ancestors (mulatto) and between black and Amerindian ancestors (Zambo) also exist in Bolivia, but they represent a very small ethnic group, comprising perhaps about 2% of the total population.
Individuals from this ethnic group *tend to be slightly taller*, primarily due to the genetic influence of both black and white ancestry. However, in general, they are not commonly seen on the streets of Bolivia, and they have roughly the same height as other citizens in the country.
Avg. male height: 5’7″ (170 cm).
Avg. female height: 5’3″ (160 cm).
Percentage of the population: less than < 5%
Bolivian Height Compared to Other Countries
As we mentioned earlier, Bolivia ranks 158th among countries with the tallest people in the world. Therefore, very short individuals are common in this country.
When you walk the streets of Bolivia, you’ll notice that people from other countries stand out very easily due to their height. *Regardless of whether they are black, white, or even from Asian countries*, they almost always appear taller than most Bolivians.
The height differences become more pronounced when comparing natives with Europeans or North Americans, as the latter tend to be significantly taller than the average Bolivian.
Conclusions:
In this article about the height of Bolivians, you’ve seen that Bolivians are, in fact, quite short. If they were in other places, they might be considered unusually short, but not here, where an individual around 4’11” (150 cm) in stature can be considered normal. You now know that the average height for a Bolivian male is 5’6″ (167 cm) and for a Bolivian female is 5’1″ (154 cm).

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You’ve also learned that Amerindian people (called Indigenas or Indios) are significantly shorter than the national average, while white Bolivians are considerably taller. Furthermore, mestizos are of average height, and black people, mulattos, and Zambos are slightly above average.
You’ve realized that the reasons for Bolivians being significantly shorter than the global average (ranking 154th out of 187 countries) include inadequate nutrition and healthcare, the poverty of the population, and the genetic heritage of native Amerindians.
We hope this information has been helpful. If you’d like to learn more about what Bolivians look like, across different ethnic groups and various locations and regions in the country, please see our dedicated guide here: [Link].
CasasenBolivia.com, information on living, working, investing, and traveling in Bolivia.