Northern European diets are rich in milk and meat, heavy in calcium and protein. Both are crucial building blocks for muscle and bone.
At the same time, scientists estimate that about 80% of an individual’s height is determined by genetics—though it’s less clear exactly how they work.
Nevertheless, parts of Eastern Europe, especially in the Dinaric Alps (which includes Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Croatia), have been identified as having genetic traits that favor taller statures.
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Some studies have shown that when immigrant families move to higher income countries, better access to nutrition and healthcare can have substantial influence on the height of the next generation.
In fact, cross-referencing this dataset with countries with the highest food insecurity reveals several correlations, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa: Madagascar, Rwanda, and Burundi to name a few.
Finally, a pregnant mother’s exposure to hazardous substances—like tobacco smoke—can also affect height. Looking through the countries with the highest smoking rates also results in several correlations—though it’s worth noting any one measure can’t be analyzed alone.
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