This list includes the shortest ever verified people in their lifetime or profession. The entries below are broken down into different categories which range from sex, to age group and occupations. Most of the sourcing is done by Guinness World Records which in the last decade has added new categories for "mobile" and "non-mobile" men and women. The world's shortest verified man is Chandra Bahadur Dangi, while for women Pauline Musters holds the record.
Men
Nationality Height Name Notes Lifespan Chandra Bahadur Dangi Chandra was declared the shortest human adult ever documented and verified, measuring . Height confirmed by Guinness World Records. 1939–2015 Gul Mohammed Guinness World Records verified Mohammed's height at . He was the shortest man ever verified up to 2012, when he lost the title to Chandra Bahadur Dangi. 1957–1997 Junrey Balawing Former shortest living man in the world, measuring , verified by Guinness World Records in 2012.Guinness World Records 2012 Balawing became the world's shortest non mobile person following Chandra's death in September, 2015 until his own death in 2020. 1993–2020 István Tóth Shortest man claimant, was said to be . Verification by Guinness World Records needs to be checked. István died in May 2011 at the age of 48. 1963–2011 Afshin Esmaeil Ghaderzadeh Ghaderzadeh beat Edward's record and was listed as World's Shortest Man Living (Mobile) by Guinness World Records in December 2022. 2002– Khagendra Thapa Magar Khagendra was the shortest man in the world until 2011, when he became the world's shortest mobile man. Guinness World Records has since made multiple categories for World's shortest.... Khagendra died in 2020. 1992–2020 Lin Yü-chih Yü-chih is listed as the World's shortest non-mobile man living, a title he has held non-consecutively since 2009. 1972– Edward Niño Hernández Named the shortest man after Pingping died in March 2010, at , but lost the title in October 2010 to Magar. Edward re-gained the title of World's shortest mobile man living following Magar's death in 2020. He was beaten by Ghaderzadeh in December 2022. 1986– Dor Bahadur Khapangi Confirmed shortest living teenager (Male) by Guinness World Records. 2004– He Pingping Once officially verified as shortest living man (mobile) at , until death in March 2010. 1988–2010
Women
Nationality Height Name Note Lifespan Pauline Musters Recognised by the Guinness World Records as the shortest woman ever recorded. 1878–1895 Jyoti Amge Recognized by the Guinness World Records as the World's Shortest Living Woman. 1993– Madge Bester Former smallest living woman.CNN – World's shortest man, woman campaign for disabled – 3 November 1998. Edition.cnn.com. Retrieved 20 February 2011. 1963–2018 Lucía Zárate Zárate claimed in her lifetime that she was only , and was exhibited for her small stature. This measurement has since been updated by Guinness World Records, who place her height at . 1864–1890 Bridgette Jordan Former smallest living woman and one of the shortest living siblings according to Guinness World Records.Metro. metro.co.uk Retrieved on 22 October 2011. 1989–2019 Elif Kocaman Former smallest living woman according to Guinness World Records.World's smallest woman's joy at Guinness award. Telegraph (16 November 2010). Retrieved 20 February 2011. 1989–2021
Shortest pairs
Nationality Height Name Category Notes Lifespan Mike & Ike Matina Non identical twins Mike & Ike (born: Bela, and Matyus) Matina are the world's shortest non-identical twins at 30 inches each. They later became American citizens, and had a role in The Wizard of Oz as munchkins. Mike Matina died in 1954. Ike Matina died in 1965. 1901–1954 1901–1965 Rice brothers Identical twins World's shortest identical twins (Greg Rice, John Rice) until 2005 with the death of John Rice.Woo, Elaine. (25 November 2005) John Rice; at 2 ft. 10 in., he created large legacy – The Boston Globe. Boston.com. Retrieved 20 February 2011. 1951–2005 1951 – (Greg Rice) Paulo Gabriel Barros & Katyucia Hoshino Married couple In 2016, Guinness World Records awarded the title of Shortest Married Couple to Paulo, and Katyucia from Brazil. 1985– 1988–
Shortest by age group
Nationality Height Name Category Notes Lifespan Nisa Juarez Baby Was born 108 days premature and weighed only .GWR 2006, p. 17. 2002– Francis Joseph Flynn Teenager Better known as General Mite, Flynn was an American dwarf who performed as a showman at various competitions around the world. In 1884, Flynn married English little person, Millie Edwards, in England. The wedding was widely publicized and attended. From then on, the couple were exhibited as the "Royal American Midgets" and "General and Mrs. Mite" in many advertisements. 1864–1898 Stacey Herald Mother Stacey gave birth to her first child on 21 October 2006, and later birthed two more children, all of which were delivered by caesarean sections. She died on 11 September 2018. 1974–2018 Susanna Bokoyni Longevity Bokoyni died at the age of 105, making her the oldest verified centenarian dwarf. During her lifetime she travelled with various circuses, where she was a performer. 1879–1984
Shortest by occupation Actors
Nationality Height Name Note Lifespan Nelson de la Rosa Once recognized as the "world's shortest actor" and had a minor role in the 1996 film, The Island of Dr. Moreau.Nelson de la Rosa, Dominican actor and Boston Red Sox fan, dies. Usatoday.Com (23 October 2006). Retrieved 20 February 2011. 1968–2006 Ajay Kumar alias Pakru Malayalam comedy actor, in the Guinness Book of Records for being the shortest actor () to play a main character in a full-length film. He played the lead role in Athbhutha Dweepu, a Malayalam film directed by Vinayan, later dubbed in Tamil. 1974– Tamara De Treaux Shortest actress, noted for E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial and as an influence for the novel Maybe the Moon.Tamara De Treaux, IMDB.com 1959–1990 Weng Weng Filipino actor and martial artist who was the shortest actor to have lead roles.Manila Standard Today, retrieved 20 February 2011. 1957–1992 Kiran Shah Shah is the world's shortest active stuntman. 1956–
Artists and writers
Nationality Height Name Note Lifespan Alexander Pope English poet and satirist, never grew beyond 4 ft 6 in (137 cm).Books: A Gulliver Among Lilliputians. TIME (17 January 1969). Retrieved 20 February 2011. 1688–1744 Édith Piaf French singer and actress, never grew beyond 4 ft 8 in (142 cm). Known for her small stature, born Édith Gassion, nicknamed Piaf, Parisian slang for "Little Sparrow" 1915–1963
Athletes
Nationality Height Name Sport Note Lifespan Aditya "Romeo" Dev Bodybuilding "World's Smallest Bodybuilder" at 2 ft. 9 in.Chivers, Tom (12 February 2008). "Romeo Dev, the world's smallest bodybuilder". Telegraph. Archived from the original on 13 February 2008. 1988–2012 Eddie Gaedel Baseball Shortest to play in Major League Baseball.ESPN.com: MLB – Short on size, long on history. Static.espn.go.com (19 August 1951). Retrieved 20 February 2011. This however was a publicity stunt and Gaedel only stood once at the plate. 1925–1961 Lionel Giroux Wrestling Also known as "Little Beaver". Shortest professional wrestler in the WWF at around 4'4".Online World of Wrestling. Online World of Wrestling (4 December 1996). Retrieved 20 February 2011. 1935–1995 Dylan Postl Wrestling Worlds shortest living professional wrestler.World's Shortest in Sports. Topendsports.com. Retrieved 20 February 2011. 1986– Julie Krone Horse racing Shortest American jockey, stand 4 ft 10.5 in (149 cm). 1963– Tich Cornford Cricket Shortest ever international cricketer.Top 10 Shortest Cricketers in History . sporteology.com. Retrieved 22 July 2013. 1900–1964 Jim Bradford Australian rules football Shortest to play Australian rules football at the highest level. 1926–2005 Jack Shapiro American football Shortest professional player of American football, but only for one game. 1907–2001 Frederick Walden Association football Shortest player in England national football team history (). 1888–1949 Shannon Bobbitt Basketball Shortest to play in the Women's National Basketball Association. 1985– Muggsy Bogues Basketball Shortest at 5 ft 3 in to play in the National Basketball Association.tyrone bogues personal appearances, representation, basketball, Tyrone Bogues. Sportsstarsusa.com. Retrieved 20 February 2011. 1965– Roy Worters Ice hockey Shortest to play in the National Hockey League and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1969. 1900–1957 Trindon Holliday American football Holliday was formerly the shortest active player at 5 ft 5 in in the National Football League until 2015.Texans sign Trindon Holliday | ProFootballTalk. Profootballtalk.nbcsports.com. Retrieved 20 February 2011. 1986– Jose Altuve Baseball Shortest active player at 5 ft 5 in in Major League Baseball. 1990–
Politicians
Nationality Height Name Note Lifespan Charley Lockhart Shortest public official in America (at the time), when he was sworn in as Texas State Treasurer in 1931. 1876–1954 Benito Juárez Reportedly the shortest world leader to have height recorded. He was reportedly 4 ft 6 in or 1.37 meters.Who is the shortest world leader? | World news. The Guardian. Retrieved 20 February 2011. 1806–1872 Victor Emmanuel III of Italy Shortest king of Italy. 1869–1947 Renato Brunetta Italian politician and former Minister 1950– James Madison Shortest US president at 5 ft 4 in or 1.63 m.Presidential Trivia —. Infoplease.com. Retrieved 20 February 2011.Presidents . Fi.edu. Retrieved 20 February 2011. 1751–1836 Gloria Macapagal Arroyo Shortest Philippine President at 4 ft 11 in or 1.50 m.. Inquirer.net. Retrieved 12 July 2018. 1947– Northern Ireland Robin Swann Minister of Health (2020–) 1971– Tokugawa Tsunayoshi His spirit tablet in Daiju-ji is shortest of all Tokugawa shōguns whose spirit tablets are made the height as their own body. 1646–1709 Tokugawa Ieyoshi Shortest shōgun whose remains are excavated. His spirit tablet is 1.535 meters tall. 1793–1853
Others
Nationality Height Name Occupation Note Lifespan Richebourg Spy Richebourg was a secret agent during the French Revolution, who disguised himself as an infant to pass information along. 1768–1858 Nancy J. Currie-Gregg Astronaut Currie became the shortest person in space when she flew in July 1993 as a Mission specialist on STS-57. 1958–
See also Dwarfism Pygmy peoples Caroline Crachami, a person about tall Little people (mythology) List of dwarfism organisations Dwarfs and pygmies in ancient Egypt List of tallest people
Notes
References
External links