How rare is 5'7" height in India

5'7" (170 cm) is not particularly rare in India—it's actually slightly above the average male height, placing someone in approximately the 60th-70th percentile of the population. With India's average male height around 5'5" to 5'6" (165-167 cm), being 5'7" means you're taller than roughly half to two-thirds of Indian men, making it common enough to encounter regularly in any crowd, yet noticeably taller than the median.

The perception and frequency of this height vary by region within India. In northern states like Punjab, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh, where populations tend to be taller on average, 5'7" might be closer to average or even slightly below in some communities. Conversely, in eastern and some southern regions, 5'7" could place you more comfortably in the taller range. Urban areas with better nutrition and healthcare access over recent generations tend to have slightly taller average heights than rural areas. Among younger generations born after the 1990s, when nutrition and healthcare improved significantly, 5'7" is increasingly common. In practical terms, if you're 5'7" in India, you'll regularly meet people both shorter and taller than you, making it an unremarkable, advantageous height rather than a rare one.