The line graph illustrates changes in the average height of women born between 1946 and 1996 in four European countries: the Netherlands, Latvia, Sweden, and France.
Overall, women’s average height increased in all four countries over the period shown, although the trends varied slightly. The Netherlands consistently recorded the tallest women, while France remained the country with the lowest average height throughout the timeframe.
In the Netherlands, the average height rose steadily from about 166 cm for women born in 1946 to a peak of roughly 169 cm among those born in the mid-1970s, after which it levelled off and showed a slight decline by 1996. Latvia, by contrast, experienced a continuous and notable rise, increasing from approximately 164 cm to nearly 170 cm by the end of the period, eventually surpassing the Netherlands.
Sweden showed a more modest trend. The average height increased gradually from around 165 cm to just under 167 cm by the late 1960s, before declining slightly to about 166 cm in 1996. Similarly, France saw a steady but smaller growth, with women’s average height rising from about 161 cm to around 165 cm over the 50-year period.