How tall is the tallest person in the world?

Guinness lists Sultan Kösen as the tallest living person at 8 ft 2.8 in (251 cm); Robert Wadlow holds the all-time record at 8 ft 11.1 in (272 cm).

Updated 2026-09-20

What the source actually establishes

These are different record categories. Kösen’s listed measurement dates to February 2011. Wadlow’s last measurement was on 27 June 1940. An all-time record does not identify the tallest person living today.

The figures come from the record-keeping body, rather than a ranking made from our selected height library. They are measured records; unusually tall values were checked against the named Guinness entries.

The difference between these two record heights is 8.3 in (21 cm), calculated from the published metric figures. Records can change, so this page gives the source update date alongside the category.

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