Standing just 1 foot, 9.5 inches tall, Chandra Bahadur Dangi was the shortest man to ever live. After he was honored by Guinness World Records in 2012, the Nepalese farmer fulfilled his lifelong dream of traveling the globe.
See Li/Alamy Stock PhotoChandra Bahadur Dangi in London in 2014.
Measuring just 21.5 inches tall, Chandra Bahadur Dangi was the shortest man to ever live — but the world might have never heard about him if it weren’t for a chance encounter in the early 2010s.
A primordial dwarf, Dangi lived in the remote Nepalese village of Reemkholi in the country’s Dang district. This is where he lived from the time of his birth in 1939 until 2012, when Guinness World Records recognized him as the shortest man ever verified. Shortly beforehand, a forest contractor had noticed Dangi in the village and began to spread word of the small man.
After Guinness World Records confirmed his height, Dangi became famous as the shortest adult person in the world. At 72 years old, he finally got to live out his dream of traveling around the globe, and even though he died just three years later at 75, the people of Nepal continue to celebrate his life.
Chandra Bahadur Dangi’s Life In Nepal
Chandra Bahadur Dangi was born on Nov. 30, 1939, in the remote village of Reemkholi in Nepal. His home village in Dang district was a small, agricultural community, with very few modern amenities. Even in 2012, when Dangi was introduced to the larger world, the village had just 200 homes, a few solar panels for electricity, and no television sets.
He grew up alongside five brothers and two sisters. Though none of his siblings were as small as him, three of his five brothers were less than four feet tall, while the other two brothers and both sisters were of average height. Due to the remote nature of the village, Dangi also said he had never taken medication or seen a professional doctor. But he was apparently in good health, purportedly only ever experiencing fevers, coughs, and colds.
“At such times, I drink hot water and have turmeric powder dissolved in water,” Dangi told CNN before he was officially confirmed as the shortest adult person in world history. “The fever lasts for two to three days… I haven’t been ill probably because my body is good.”
After Dangi reached adulthood, he moved in with one of his brothers and some other family members. He never married anyone.
Wikimedia CommonsChandra Bahadur Dangi stood just 1 foot, 9.5 inches tall and weighed 31 pounds, 15 ounces.
For a long time, his height remained a curiosity only to the small community of Reemkholi. Life in this part of rural Nepal revolved around farming, and physical differences were rarely publicized or scientifically examined.
Chandra Bahadur Dangi, like everyone else, had to work so he could support his family, spending much of his life as a weaver and farmer. “He would also look after the buffalos and cows,” his nephew Dolak Dangi said. “Although he could not chase them or tie them, he would call us if they strayed.”
Things changed, however, when a forest contractor traveling through the area noticed Dangi. He spread word of the small man to local media outlets, which caught the attention of Guinness World Records — and they quickly set out to verify the claim that he was the shortest person in the world.
Guinness World Records Verified Chandra Bahadur Dangi’s Height
Guinness World RecordsChandra Bahadur Dangi was just slightly taller than a typical newborn baby.
After hearing about Chandra Bahadur Dangi, Guinness World Records sent editor-in-chief Craig Glenday and a medical professional to Kathmandu for an official measurement. Dangi also traveled to Kathmandu — for the first time — where he was measured three times over 24 hours. These measurements included his full height while standing and also lying flat.
The process confirmed his height to be 54.6 centimeters, or 21.5 inches. He weighed just 31 pounds, 15 ounces. Shortly afterward, on Feb. 26, 2012, Guinness World Records declared him the shortest man ever verified.
“I’m very happy that I’m being recognized by Guinness World Records and that my name will be written in [the] book,” Dangi said, per CNN. “It’s a big thing for my family, my village, and my country. I am very happy.”
Guinness World RecordsChandra Bahadur Dangi was diagnosed with a condition called primordial dwarfism.
Chandra Bahadur Dangi said that he wanted to use the exciting moment to make his country “proud,” and that he and his family members would start a charity to support him and his small home village.
“I’m continually amazed that this record keeps getting broken,” Glenday remarked. “Just when you think it’s impossible for the record to get any smaller, Mr. Chandra comes along and astonishes us all by being the shortest person ever measured. What I find equally remarkable is his age — if he really is 72, he is by far the oldest person to be awarded the shortest-man record in Guinness World Records’ 57-year history.”
It’s also remarkable considering that Dangi’s condition, primordial dwarfism, usually makes it difficult for people to live past age 30.
The thrilling Guinness World Records announcement was just the beginning of Dangi’s time on the world stage, though.
Meeting The World’s Shortest Living Woman And The Tallest Living Man
Media outlets worldwide were quick to report on Chandra Bahadur Dangi’s story, often sharing photos of him in traditional Nepalese attire. People were captivated by him — but he wasn’t the only subject of fascination.
In August of that same year, Dangi was introduced to someone else of remarkably small size: 18-year-old Jyoti Amge, of Nagpur, India, who stood just 24.7 inches tall and was named the world’s shortest living woman back in 2011. Amge’s height was attributed to a rare form of dwarfism called Achondroplasia, meaning she had reached her maximum height.
Guinness World RecordsChandra Bahadur Dangi and Jyoti Amge.
Like Dangi, she became something of a celebrity after Guinness World Records officially recognized her. She even appeared in a number of television shows, including the series American Horror Story.
“Since being recognized by Guinness World Records I have been able to visit lots of different countries,” Amge said. “I have visited Japan and parts of Europe and now I can’t wait to visit the U.K.”
She and Dangi were photographed together with a standard copy of a Guinness World Records book, to show their height to scale.
Amge was not the only other person of unique height that Dangi met. As The Telegraph reported in 2014, Dangi was also introduced to Sultan Kösen in London, a Turkish man who stands 8 feet, 3 inches tall, making him the tallest living man. Though Kösen was initially afraid that he would accidentally step or fall on Dangi, he was happy that he met him.
Euan Cherry/Alamy Stock PhotoChandra Bahadur Dangi and Sultan Kösen, whose staggering height is due to pituitary gigantism.
“I love London and to be able to finally meet Chandra after all this time is amazing,” Kösen said of the experience. “Even though he is short and I am tall, we have had similar struggles throughout our lives, and when I look into Chandra’s eyes, I can see he’s a good man.”
Chandra Bahadur Dangi said it had been a “lifelong dream” to travel, and extended appreciation to Guinness World Records for the opportunity.
“I’m honored to be in London,” he said. “I’ve always wanted to visit and the fact I get to meet Sultan is special. It makes me extremely proud to represent Nepal all around the world, I’m extremely humbled by the support I receive.” Aside from the United Kingdom, Dangi also had the chance to visit other countries, like Australia, Italy, and the United States.
Sadly, Dangi did not get to travel the world for long.
The Death Of The World’s Shortest Man
While traveling the world in his final years, Chandra Bahadur Dangi had become an ambassador of sorts for Nepal. He brought the country pride, all while officials highlighted him as a national icon. His story put his village and the surrounding region — previously unknown to most outsiders — on the map, and also opened up frank discussions about dwarfism in Nepal, where many people with rare medical conditions remain undiagnosed or receive delayed diagnoses and live without the care they need.
Many people found it remarkable that Dangi had lived so long with primordial dwarfism and no special medical treatment, and his own admission that he had not been to a professional doctor until he was measured for Guinness World Records was shocking. Sadly, whether it was from traveling to so many places or simply fate, he did eventually fall ill.
Guinness World RecordsChandra Bahadur Dangi died after a battle with pneumonia at 75 years old.
Chandra Bahadur Dangi was touring in American Samoa when he developed pneumonia and died in Pago Pago on Sept. 3, 2015. He was 75 years old.
“Mr. Dangi was the perfect ambassador for his country, always gracious and dignified, and happy to pose for photographs and share anecdotes about living his life at half a meter tall,” Craig Glenday said in a tribute to Dangi on the Guinness World Records website. “Everyone at GWR is terribly sad to hear of his passing and sent our heartfelt condolences to Mr. Dangi’s family.”
Sultan Kösen was also sad to hear about Dangi’s death.
“The news of Chandra’s death saddens me deeply,” Kösen said. “May my fellow world record holder rest in peace.”
After reading about Chandra Bahadur Dangi, the world’s shortest person, learn about Anna Haining Swan and Martin Van Buren Bates, the tallest couple ever. Then, read about history’s heaviest man, Jon Brower Minnoch.
