| Group | Average Height |
| Neanderthal Males | 5 ft 5 in – 5 ft 6 in (164-168 cm) |
| Neanderthal Females | 5 ft – 5 ft 1 in (152-156 cm) |
| Pre-Industrial European Males | 5 ft 5 in (165 cm) |
| Pre-Industrial European Females | 5 ft (153 cm) |
| Possible Maximum Neanderthal Height | 5 ft 9 in (175 cm) |
Neanderthals, a species closely related to modern humans, had average heights that were somewhat shorter than the average height of post-World War II Europeans but comparable to or slightly taller than Europeans from 20,000 or 100 years ago.
The average height for Neanderthal males was between 5 ft 5 in (164 cm) and 5 ft 6 in (168 cm). For females, it was between 5 ft (152 cm) and 5 ft 1 in (156 cm).
These measurements indicate that the common portrayal of Neanderthals as “very short” or “just over 5 feet” is inaccurate.
In comparison, the average height of pre-industrial modern Europeans was similar, with men standing around 5 ft 5 in (165 cm) and women around 5 ft (153 cm).
This similarity in stature suggests that Neanderthals were well adapted to their environments, with their robust builds being an effective adaptation for living in the cold climates of Europe.
Moreover, the discovery of numerous Neanderthal footprints at a site in Le Rozel, France, suggested that Neanderthals might have been taller than previously thought, with some footprints indicating individuals who could have been as tall as 5 ft 9 in (175 cm), which is the average height of a man in the USA today.
Despite their robust build and slightly shorter stature compared to modern humans, Neanderthals were highly capable and intelligent, with adaptations allowing them to thrive in the diverse and often harsh environments of Europe and parts of Asia for hundreds of thousands of years before disappearing around 40,000 years ago.
