Napoleon's height was recorded in pre-metric French units as "5 pieds 2 pouces," which converts to about 1.67–1.69 meters. This measurement places him at or just above the average height for French men in the early 19th century, as anthropometric studies from PubMed and sources like Encyclopædia Britannica confirm.
For context, the average French adult male during Napoleon's era measured approximately 1.64–1.65 meters tall. This means that, contrary to popular belief, Napoleon was not short when compared to his contemporaries in France.
The myth of his shortness originated from confusion over French and English measurement units and was reinforced by British propaganda. Multiple authoritative sources, including History.com and academic research, consistently debunk the notion that Napoleon was below average height for his time and place.