Vietnamese Are Fourth Shortest People Worldwide: Report

Vietnamese are the fourth shortest people in the world, with an average height of 162.1 centimeters among men and 152.2cm among women, according to a report by the U.S. independent organization World Population Review. They are taller only than Indonesians (158 cm), Filipinos (161.9 cm), and Bolivians (160 cm), the report said. According to the UNICEF report, Vietnam also has the highest rate of stunting in Southeast Asia with a rate of 23.8% among children under five. This is attributed to various reasons, including lack of nutrition in early childhood. The Vietnamese government launched a program in 2013 to improve the nutrition and physical health of its citizens, which could increase the average height of the population. The $285-million project targets that by 2030 the average heights of women and men will increase to 157.5cm and 168.5cm, respectively. (VnExpressEnglish)