Being a shorter guy in the dating world can feel like a disadvantage — but most of the time, the real problem isn’t your height. It’s how you carry yourself. If you act like it’s a weakness, women will pick up on that instantly. But if you own it, stand firm, and lead with confidence, height becomes a lot less important.
Still, if you’ve handled your mindset and find the Western dating scene stacked against you (I did), there are better places to be. In countries where people are generally shorter — like parts of Southeast Asia and Latin America — height just doesn’t carry the same weight in dating.
In this article, I’ll break down practical advice for shorter men: how to shift your mindset, where to go, and how to turn your supposed “drawback” into something that doesn’t hold you back at all.
Focus On What You Can Control
You can’t change your height — but there’s a long list of things you can control that make a bigger impact than you think. Your diet, fitness, clothing, hygiene, and how you carry yourself all matter. Most women care far more about how a man presents himself than how tall he is.
Think about it: would you rather be the guy who stands tall because he lifts, dresses sharp, and walks with purpose — or the guy who blames genetics while doing nothing to improve?
Improve what’s in your control. Hit the gym. Learn real skills. Read books that sharpen your mindset. Clean yourself up. Every one of those moves raises your value — and makes height less of an issue.
Things You Can Control vs. Things You Can’t
| Things You Can Control | Things You Can’t Control |
|---|---|
| Diet | Height |
| Exercise regimen | Genetics |
| How you dress | Family background |
| Hygiene | Past experiences |
| How you think | Natural facial features |
| How you spend your time |
Before blaming height, take a hard look in the mirror:
Are you actually trying your hardest with the things you can control? Or are you using height as an excuse for not improving the parts of you that are in your control?
Go to Countries Where Height Isn’t a Factor
After traveling to over 20 countries, one thing became clear: in places where average height is lower, height becomes a non-issue in dating. You’re not standing out for being short — you’re just another man in the mix. That shift alone can take a huge mental weight off your shoulders.
In many countries, other qualities matter more — like how you carry yourself, your lifestyle, and your ability to provide stability. In fact, being a well-traveled foreigner often makes you stand out for the right reasons.
Some of the best regions for this? Countries with strong Indigenous, Southeast Asian, or mixed-heritage populations. The average male height in places like the Philippines is around 5’4″ — and it’s not seen as a problem. It’s normal.
Still skeptical? Look it up yourself: the Wikipedia page on Average Human Height by Country lays it out clearly. The data doesn’t lie.
Southeast Asia
In countries like the Philippines, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Thailand, the average height is much lower than in Western countries like the U.S., Canada, or the UK. Many women in these regions are around 5 feet tall (152 cm), and shorter men tend to blend in much more naturally.
👉 AsianDating is one of my go-to sites when I’m traveling to multiple countries in Asia — especially because you can filter profiles by height. That alone saves a ton of time. If you’re a shorter guy, this feature matters more than you’d think.
At 5’11” (181 cm), I honestly felt like a giant walking around some cities in the Philippines. I used to joke with friends that maybe it was time to take up basketball — at least in Asia, I had the height for it.
Latin America
Latin American countries like Mexico, Colombia, Costa Rica, and Panama also have populations that skew shorter — and for shorter guys, that matters. You’re likely to be closer to the average and not stand out in a negative way because of your height.
👉 LatinAmericanCupid is hands-down my favorite app for this region. It’s one of the few platforms that lets you filter by height, which is a big win for shorter guys who want to avoid the guessing game and connect with someone who matches their preferences.
Colombia, in particular, stands out. It’s a popular dating destination for good reason — not just for looks, but for the strong culture, social energy, and more balanced expectations around height and status.
Countries to Avoid
If height really gets in your head, there are a few places you might want to think twice about. Countries like Poland, Hungary, Germany, and the Nordic region tend to have taller male populations, often well over 6 feet on average. Brazil and the Dominican Republic also lean taller — both in terms of men and women.
Also read: How To Elevate Your Social Status In The Dating Market
None of this means you can’t date in these countries. But if you’re already frustrated about height, starting somewhere more neutral could give you a better shot at building confidence and momentum.
Your Height Is A Problem? Own It
If your height feels like a problem, it’s probably more mental than anything else. Most people don’t notice — or care — nearly as much as you think. What they do notice is how you carry yourself. Confidence, posture, tone — these things matter far more than a few inches.
The truth is, we’ve all seen the short or overweight guy who’s confident, social, and well-liked. And we’ve seen tall guys who are awkward, quiet, or struggle with women. Height helps, but it’s not the whole story — how you carry yourself matters more.
Humor helps too. Owning your height with a sharp one-liner can flip the script. Something like, “Yeah, I’m short — but I’m built for speed,” shows confidence without trying too hard. It signals that you’re comfortable in your own skin — and that’s attractive.
After traveling the world, I can tell you this: confidence beats looks. Women respond to men who own who they are — not guys who apologize for it.
So stop making height the excuse. Focus on what you can control. Go where you’re valued. And carry yourself like a man who knows he brings something to the table — because you do.
👉 If you’re heading to Thailand, ThaiFriendly is worth checking out. It’s packed with active users, and like other sites I recommend, it lets you filter by height — which makes things way more efficient if you’re a shorter guy looking for a real connection.