Napoleon Bonaparte Height: How Tall is Napoleon Bonaparte?
Napoleon Bonaparte
Napoleon Bonaparte was a French military and political leader who became Emperor of the French in 1804. His rule ended after the 1815 Battle of Waterloo, after which he was exiled to Saint Helena.
Height source: Napoleon Foundation historical note · Verified 2026-09-28
Reporting note: The Napoleon Foundation gives the commonly accepted historical conversion as about 1.68 m (5'6"). It is a reconstruction from period measurements, not a modern medical record.
Napoleon Bonaparte Height: Quick Facts
Napoleon Bonaparte's Height in Context
The 168 cm figure is a historical conversion, not a contemporary metric measurement. It is often used to correct the “Napoleon was unusually short” myth: the Napoleon Foundation notes that he was around average height for French men of his era.
Napoleon Bonaparte Height vs Average
How does Napoleon Bonaparte's height of 5'6" compare to real-world averages?
| Comparison | Height | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| Napoleon Bonaparte | 5'6" (168 cm) | — |
| Global average (men) | 5'7" (171 cm) | -3 cm |
| USA average (men) | 5'9" (175 cm) | -7 cm |
Place Napoleon Bonaparte side-by-side with any person, celebrity, building, or animal, drawn to scale.
Celebrities with Similar Height to Napoleon Bonaparte
These celebrities are within a few centimetres of Napoleon Bonaparte's height of 5'6".
5'6" / 168 cm
Margot Robbie5'6" / 168 cm
Beyonce5'6" / 168 cm
Selena Gomez5'6" / 168 cm
Megan Rapinoe5'6" / 168 cm
Martin Luther King Jr.5'7" / 169 cm
Frequently Asked Questions about Napoleon Bonaparte's Height
How tall is Napoleon Bonaparte?
Napoleon Bonaparte is 5'6" tall, which equals 168 centimetres, 1.68 metres, or approximately 66 inches. This measurement is sourced from Napoleon Foundation historical note and was last verified on 2026-09-28.
Was Napoleon actually short?
No, this is a persistent myth. At around 5'6" (168 cm), he was close to the average height for a Frenchman of his time. The confusion stems from a mix-up between French and British inch measurements, and from British cartoonists who exaggerated his shortness for satirical effect.
When did Napoleon become Emperor of the French?
He crowned himself Emperor of the French in 1804.
Is Napoleon Bonaparte tall?
Napoleon Bonaparte is considered average height. They stand Within 5 cm of the global average for men (5'7"), which means they are close to the typical height for their gender worldwide.
How does Napoleon Bonaparte's height compare to the average?
The global average height for men is approximately 5'7" (171 cm). Napoleon Bonaparte at 5'6" (168 cm) is 3 cm shorter than the worldwide average. Compared to the US average of 5'9" (175 cm), Napoleon Bonaparte is 7 cm shorter.
How can I compare Napoleon Bonaparte's height visually?
Use the free height comparison tool on HeightComparative's homepage. Go to the Celebs tab, search for Napoleon Bonaparte, and click to add them to the canvas. Then add any other person, celebrity, building, or object to see an accurate side-by-side visual comparison drawn to scale.