How tall was Fidel Castro

Fidel Castro's Height

6ft 1 (185.4 cm)

Cuban revolutionary who served as Prime Minister and President of Cuba.

How tall is
Castro in 1959
He was about my height: that is, six feet, two inches; he had grace, agility of movement, and a simplicity of manner which I hadn’t quite expected.
-- Errol Flynn

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Add a Comment97 comments

Average Guess (79 Votes)
6ft 1.75in (187.3cm)
Rampage(-_-_-)Clover said on 9/May/23
Very strong 6ft1 guy at the bare minimum. Throw on some boots which he was rarely out of and boom he's 6ft3 range
Almost 180cm guy said on 15/May/22
Some photos of Fidel Castro with Jimmy Carter from 2002 look interesting: Click Here Click Here Click Here Click Here Click Here Click Here Click Here Click Here Click Here Click Here Click Here Click Here Click Here Click Here Click Here
Rob, how tall do you think Castro and Carter looked 20 years ago?
Editor Rob
In a few of those photos I was feeling it's like 4 inches.
Helol said on 20/Jan/22
6 1 ½ for Castro. What's you view on CheGuevara, Rob? Would you give him a full 5' 9"? Or at least a full 5' 8"?
Jug said on 26/Dec/21
I think I've seen him described as tall as 6'4. I believe he was a lift-wearer, like most cult-of-personality-embracing communist dictators, always wanting to appear like a larger-than-life savior figure. 6'1 sounds right, possibly slightly over. About as tall as his son (haha).
Almost 180cm guy said on 19/Sep/21
I think the Castro looked around 6ft 1 and although you could argue about 1/8 inch I have no problem with the current list. Finally in 1987 he made Diego Maradona look around 5ft 5: Click Here
Two more photos of Castro with Saddam Hussein from 1979 under a strange shot: Click Here Click Here
It's a shame that his 1959 photos with Richard Nixon don't show their shoes, the Nixon might have looked more like a 5ft 11 back then.
Christopher Chammas said on 12/May/21
@Rob How tall is Che Guevara?
Editor Rob
He had 176cm on his passport, though I'm not sure quite that tall.
Ethan Larsen said on 18/Mar/21
6ft 2. He looks 6" taller than Guevara (5ft 8) in most photos. Anything less than 6ft 1 1/2 peak is kind of a joke! Fidel Castro needs an upgrade in my opinion; look up the "Fidel Castro (far l.) marches with Che Guevara (c.) at a 1959 parade in Havana" photo. There is no way he is less than 6ft 2 in that photo.
Almost 180cm guy said on 10/Feb/21
It's hard to say if Castro was over 6ft 1 but I'd say when he was 74 he still looked over 5ft 11. Here's a video of Castro and Putin from 2000: Click Here
Here are some photos: Click Here Click Here Click Here Click Here Click Here Click Here Click Here Click Here Click Here Click Here Click Here Click Here
Putin was only 48 at the time so there is no question of any height loss for him. Rob, if Putin really was 5ft 6.5, how tall Castro looked at the time in your opinion?
Editor Rob
I don't think Fidel looked over 6ft with Putin, maybe even a bit under that in some shots
Jz said on 14/Nov/20
6’2 is as low as I’d go for him
Tunman said on 3/Nov/20
For those thinking he's over 6'1 look at him with 6' Nasser
Click Here
2cm perhaps 2,5cm max difference and I'm sure he has boots that are thicker than Nasser's shoes,185 is definitely the max I would argue and 184 isn't exactly impossible imo,the reason why so many think he's 6'3+ is that 6'1 in a country where people were only 5'6-7 on average is indeed very tall,much like a 6'4 would look today in UK
Johnny 181-182 cm said on 14/Oct/20
@Rob Fidel's bodyguard described him as 6ft 2.5. The book's name is "The double life of Fidel Castro: my 17 years as personal bodyguard to El Líder Máximo" by Juan Reinaldo Sánchez. I am quoting that part where he mentions Fidel's height. "When they caught sight of Fidel, they stood up as a single man; with his six feet and two and a half inches, he towered over the Nicas, generally of modest height".
Rampage(-_-_-)Clover said on 8/Jul/20
Castro was classified as very tall by Cuban standardscinsidiering the average male height is 5ft6!

While I think 6ft3 barefoot is hard to believe, I’m not sure he was only 6ft1 flat either
Jam Cherry said on 17/Jun/20
I think he was about 186-186.5 cm an interesting fact is that during his stay in the Cuban office there were 638 assassination attempts on him !
tenet20 said on 19/Feb/20
Probably 187 cm in 1959, 185 cm by the 80s. That would make Thomas Sankara a ~180 cm guy in this picture: Click Here, right?
Nearly 180cm guy said on 10/Feb/20
Fidel Castro met Saddam Hussein in 1979: Click Here Click Here Click Here Click Here
In the first photo you can see that their footwear was probably similar. It is strange that in some pictures they looked like similar height and in others Castro seemed taller than Hussein. Rob, would you say that there is a greater chance that Hussein was 6'0.75" or that Castro was 6'1" and 1/8 inch?
Eric W. Tam said on 8/Feb/20
Hmmm, 1.91 or 6'3 on Google, in that case, I think he was 1.89 meters peak, and 1.86-1.87 meters during his final days.
K.A 188 ! said on 22/Sep/19
This man really looked solid tall all the time especially when he was younger ,probably 187 barefoot
Animus said on 8/Sep/19
Why was the Che Guevara page removed?
Editor Rob
There was a proportion removed 10 years ago for various reason, some have returned.
Rampage(-_-_-)Clover said on 15/Jul/19
186cm is closer. Can’t see him less than 6ft1...
5'9guy said on 22/May/19
Che Guevara was 172 cm
Thepunisher said on 4/May/19
How tall is che guevara?
Editor Rob
Somewhere in5 ft 8 range I felt, over 10 years ago he did have a page on here, but it was removed.
Editor Rob said on 10/Apr/19
Look at him with Alec Guinness:
Click Here
Now I give Alec 5ft 9.25, but he might be 9.5 peak.
If he is, I still wouldn't give Castro much over 6ft 1.
Angus said on 25/Feb/19
he was 6'3" maybe a bit over
Jake the Snake said on 8/Feb/19
@Tunman thats very interesting that would put me and Che at pretty much the exact same height as I am in the 172/173 range myself. Che always looked to be a good weight for his height never being overweight I'd put him at around the 70kg mark. In boots I am pretty much always 5ft9 its easy to see how Che got that listing as boots would have been what he wore everyday
Jake the Snake said on 12/Nov/18
Hey Rob could you do a page for Che Guevara ? I've seen listings of 5'8 to 5'9. I'd put him at a solid 174cm at times he could look 5'9 I doubt he was under 174cm
Editor Rob
He briefly had a page at that height, but at the time I thought political figures were treading a line. I never got round to reactivating it yet.
ReallyShortRussianDude said on 8/Sep/18
Click Here

Rob, how many inches would say Castro has on Che Guevara here?
Editor Rob
It's possible over 3 nearly 4
Rourke said on 14/Jul/18
This guy was a giant in his youth, not just because of his shorter Latino counterparts, but because he literally was nearly 6ft3
robson said on 30/Apr/18
He looked strong 6'1 or weak 6'2 if you wish. The reason is Cubans and Latins are rather short and height like 6'1-6'2 is quite tall so compared to his companions which were about 5'6-'5-9 at average he looked very tall. So I would consider about 6'2 at his prime and about 6'1 in older age maybe 6'0.5 in closing days.
Rampage(-_-_-)Clover said on 20/Mar/18
Looked 186-187cm more than 185cm
Rampage(-_-_-)Clover said on 25/Jan/18
I think 185cm looks a bit low
MAD SAM said on 15/Dec/17
He looked like Liam Neeson and definitely looked 189 cm at least
Tunman said on 12/Dec/17
He seemed barely taller than 6' Gamal Abdel Nasser so yeah 185 was certainly fair for him.He also never looked more than 5"taller than 172-3 Che Guevara.
randomuser said on 5/Nov/17
He is shorter than 5'7 Francois Hollande Click Here
Oanh said on 26/Oct/17
No, he wasn't 6'3. He looked 6'1.
Powerhouse said on 16/Oct/17
6’1 is a good listing. Nikita Khrushchev was 5’3 and I don’t see more than 10 Inches in height between him and Castro in pictures and film footage. Also compare him with Ernesto “Che” Guevara who as measured at approx 173 meters according to his autopsy. It says 40 years old, white race, approx 173 meters, thin lips, curly brown hair and beard, thick eyebrows, etc. Fidel looks around 4 or 5 inches taller than Che. Fidel was at most 6’1 and I think this listing is solid.
Vexacus said on 13/Oct/17
He was at least 6'2 IMO
Rampage(-_-_-)Clover said on 6/Oct/17
Not sure only 6ft1 flat...pulled off 6ft2 at times
TJE said on 6/Oct/17
Oks he was 6'1 at 80 years old. Coulda lost a lot of height since his youth.
Johnny said on 6/Oct/17
@Rob in Fidel's own autobiography he is described as 1.85 meters tall(a little over six feet). Click Here . Here is the screenshot of the book cover. Click Here
Editor Rob
6ft 1 is a good height for him.
Guessing guy said on 22/Jun/17
Looks no more than 185-186, with 60 years old Hemingway who was probably pushing 181-182 at the time.
Don't know what to claim(5'11) said on 22/Mar/17
The difference between Castro and Nikita is very similar to the difference between Kennedy and Nikita. 186-187 range is right.
Adijos said on 21/Mar/17
What? I think Fidel Castro's height 6'3.5" (192 cm).
Rampage(-_-_-)Clover said on 1/Mar/17
No way 6ft3 barefoot...
jay said on 24/Feb/17
He was a lot taller than that 6'3" to be exact.
Rampage(-_-_-)Clover said on 23/Feb/17
Rob, once you get to 1,000 votes will you make a decision to upgrade/downgrade a celebrity?
Editor Rob
Rampage, the ability to vote and see a running average is an interesting feature and it will help (over time) to identify some listings I can look at again, especially if an average was noticeably different from my own guess.
Ultimate said on 23/Feb/17
@Rob

Was he a strong 6'1.25 or 6'1.5?
Editor Rob
Ultimate, Fidel really could have been anywhere in 6ft 1 range.
Rampage(-_-_-)Clover said on 28/Jan/17
6ft2 isn't impossible and may have been 6ft3 in shoes. He was a tall man just not quite as tall as advertised.
DetroitMichigan said on 22/Dec/16
He is listed at 6'3 in most websites, it seems impossible. 6'2 is the best if we consider Che as 5'9 (I think he was more 5'8)
Arch Stanton said on 17/Dec/16
I didn't google King's height, I see 5'6.5, that's not impossible either!! The more I look at him the more I 'd rule out anythiny over 5'7.5, anything in 5'6.5-5'7.5 range might be possible. He'd be worth adding of course, maybe a Big G height listing is possible!
Arch Stanton said on 16/Dec/16
In fact the more I look at King he looks 5 ft 7 flat to me, looks about 8 inches shorter than 6 ft 3 er Lyndon there Click Here Maybe 5'7.5 would be the best shout overall?
Arch Stanton said on 16/Dec/16
Click Here Looks in 5 ft 7 range to me, some photos can look 5 ft 8, others more 5 ft 7 range. You know 5'7.5-75 I think is probably more likely than 5'9.5!
Arch Stanton said on 16/Dec/16
@Rob, When you look at MLK with Kennedy and Ali, and then look at him proportionally I reckon he looks around 172, nowhere near 5'9.5! Perhaps it was a typo and 5'7.5 meant? To me he looked around 5 ft 8, but only looked for a minute or two.
Editor Rob
Arch, it could have been a typo, especially if typing a report out on typewriter, these things probably happened.
MJKoP said on 16/Dec/16
Dr. King 177cm? I guess Robert F. Kennedy was over six feet tall, then?
Arch Stanton said on 15/Dec/16
Yes, Rob found a great quote on Malcolm X from an autopsy report, 6'3 ish. See I'd never have known he was that tall until I saw him with Ali, so I think it adds much more depth to this site having entries for those sorts of leading figures.
Editor Rob
the thing is Arch, sometimes Autopsy figures are believable, other times you scratch your head.

Malcolm at 6ft 3 is believable...but Martin Luther King, Jr at 5ft 9.5? It's unbelievable!
Mathew Robinson (190 cm) said on 9/Dec/16
JeffC said on 8/Dec/16
I am a Cuban American, so I am a little knowledgeable on this subject. Keep in mind he always wore boots with his uniform. By the way with all due respect, he was never president. 57 years of dictatorship under his watch has to be a record. I cant think of anyone else, not even a roman emperor. Also, as for crimes against humanity this guy will make Pinochet look like a boy scout. As for his height 6'05.

---

I assume you mean 6'0.5" rather than 6'5"? I would say 6'0.5" looks like a very good estimate, and I'd trust that figure.
MJKoP said on 9/Dec/16
I always read 6'4" for Malcolm X. This was also brought to attention when Denzel Washington was cast in the Spike Lee movie.
Rampage(-_-_-)Clover said on 9/Dec/16
He actually does uncannily resemble Liam Neeson in that photo. Similar how he looked in Excaliber
JeffC said on 8/Dec/16
I am a Cuban American, so I am a little knowledgeable on this subject. Keep in mind he always wore boots with his uniform. By the way with all due respect, he was never president. 57 years of dictatorship under his watch has to be a record. I cant think of anyone else, not even a roman emperor. Also, as for crimes against humanity this guy will make Pinochet look like a boy scout. As for his height 6'05.
Rampage(-_-_-)Clover said on 7/Dec/16
Malcolm X stood out in large gatherings as tall and imposing, I think he was around 6ft3 give or take
berta said on 7/Dec/16
i am the only one who think he looks a little like liam neeson in the picture :P
Tunman said on 6/Dec/16
Funny how all infamous people got their height boosted.Did Castro need a 6'4 description?Well he was probably around 6'1.
The same goes for Che Guevara who got 5'11.5".In a TV program they showed his detention report by Mexican police and it read Estatura:172cm.Seems low for some reason but clearly no way was he near 6'.I recall somewhere on the net someone who said the americans described him as 174 which could be very fair with a Castro at 6'1.
BTW Kadhafi was listed 6' probably no more than 5'10 peak
Mao Zedong 5'11 no more than 5'8-8.5" peak
Stalin 174 probably 5'7 peak
And recently Kim Jong Un 5'9 when 5'7.5 is the max arguable.Seems like these guys created a sort of 1984 climate so that people not only agree with an eventual height claim but see it materialize right before their eyes.
Rampage(-_-_-)Clover said on 6/Dec/16
Odd that there isn't a single photo of Castro and JFK together


Click Here

...but there's this!
Arch Stanton said on 6/Dec/16
In the photos, no it doesnt look three, but actually if you see them in the video clips when Castor is standing better he looks near 6 ft 2.
AJ said on 5/Dec/16
Since you have Che at 5'9", I think 6'2" would be ok for castro.
Arch Stanton said on 5/Dec/16
Rob, any chance of adding Malcolm X? He was taller than Muhammed Ali, but not by much, might have been 191 range, but doubt taller.
Editor Rob
I don't know what exact figure he claimed, I did briefly read 6ft 3, 3.5 and 4 mentions in books.
Mathew Robinson (190 cm) said on 5/Dec/16
Arch Stanton said on 4/Dec/16
With Nixon when Castro was standing better he could look near 3 inches taller. I think 6'1.5 is OK.

---

That ain't 3 inches, even if he stood up with military posture. Maybe 2, but not 3.
Arch Stanton said on 4/Dec/16
Rob see him here with Jimmy Carter who you have at 5 ft 9, Click Here ... LOL could pass for 6'3 there. Carter must have lost more height.
Editor Rob
Carter could have shrunk down to 5ft 6 by now!
Arch Stanton said on 4/Dec/16
With Nixon when Castro was standing better he could look near 3 inches taller. I think 6'1.5 is OK.
Arch Stanton said on 4/Dec/16
VeryShortRussianDude said on 1/Dec/16
@ some guy it various by picture sometimes Fidel is towering Che other times not so much.

What's your estimate for Che Guevara Rob? do you think the 5'8 giving on his autopsy report is accurate?
Editor Rob: actually if that is accurate then Fidel is probably more nearer 6ft, which he has been described at. In a 1970 Biography yearbook he was called a six footer.

Watched a Castor documentary earlier and got a good look at him with various people. I would be surprised if he was under 6 ft 1 Rob.
Mathew Robinson (190 cm) said on 4/Dec/16
Editor Rob: actually if that is accurate then Fidel is probably more nearer 6ft, which he has been described at. In a 1970 Biography yearbook he was called a six footer.

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Next to Nixon this looks to be about right. If Nixon was 5'10.5" - 5'11" range in that photo, Castro is only looking - maybe - an inch ad a half taller.
Johnson said on 3/Dec/16
@Gonzalo you are a freak of heights I am martitaturas in twitter. Did Juan Carlos say he was 186 in the army? I think he could be in any case exactly 186.5, he even has listings of 188 cm
James B said on 2/Dec/16
Looks the spit of Liam neeson
TJE said on 1/Dec/16
JFK with Dwight Eisenhower:

Click Here

RIchard Nixon with Dwight EIsenhower:

Click Here

Nixon wasn't over 5'11 at his peak. Period.
VeryShortRussianDude said on 1/Dec/16
@ some guy it various by picture sometimes Fidel is towering Che other times not so much.

What's your estimate for Che Guevara Rob? do you think the 5'8 giving on his autopsy report is accurate?
Editor Rob
actually if that is accurate then Fidel is probably more nearer 6ft, which he has been described at. In a 1970 Biography yearbook he was called a six footer.
Mathew Robinson (190 cm) said on 1/Dec/16
TJE said on 30/Nov/16
@Matthew Robinson

Kennedy died is '63, long before Nixon would've lost any height, and he always looked more than an inch shorter than him in the fairest shots.

Click Here

5'10.5 peak for Nixon and that's if Kennedy's the full 6'0.


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All that's doing is making Castro even shorter, which strengthens my point that 6'3" is a total fantasy for Castro. If Nixon is 5'10.5" - 5'11", Castro appears to be more like 6'0" - 6'0.5". If he's 5'10", Castro is possibly looking sub 6'0".
Peter175 said on 1/Dec/16
JFK was measured 6ft, Nixon would be maybe 5ft11 in his prime, definitely not higher than a 181 type of guy.

Fidel looks around 6ft2~ so Rob's listing could work
Gonzalo said on 1/Dec/16
In all the pictures I have seen of him next to King Juan Carlos I de España, Fidel doesn´t look taller than our former king who was measured 1´86 in the Army. In fact he looks shorter. Probably Castro was more around 1`85
Some Guy said on 1/Dec/16
He towers Che Guevara over a head in the pictures of 1959 Havana parade. I'd say 6' 3'' is spot-on.
heelshealheight said on 30/Nov/16
Interesting.. They've got him as high as 6ft4 in certain websites.. Castro was a tall man, nonetheless. Perhaps, he stood as tall as 6ft2/6ft3 in his 'heyday' (meant with heavy sarcasm as I have an intense aversion to anti-democratic leaders and murderers).
Rampage(-_-_-)Clover said on 30/Nov/16
Nixon was a bit shorter than JFK who himself was 6ft (a bit over and under has been argued). 5ft11 zone I think generally...


Rob, maybe he got measured near his claim earlier in the day?
Editor Rob
Rampage, Nixon was never a guy in his 50's who looked like he had great posture, but in his youth who knows...maybe he did manage to scrape close to that mark.
TJE said on 30/Nov/16
@Matthew Robinson

Kennedy died is '63, long before Nixon would've lost any height, and he always looked more than an inch shorter than him in the fairest shots.

Click Here

5'10.5 peak for Nixon and that's if Kennedy's the full 6'0.
Mathew Robinson (190 cm) said on 30/Nov/16
TJE said on 29/Nov/16
Nixon at 6'0? He wasn't even 5'11. Look at him with Kennedy.

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I've read 5'11.5" for Nixon before. Rob said probably more like 5'11" in office, if he was even less than 5'11", Castro is struggling to look a full 6'0".
TJE said on 29/Nov/16
Nixon at 6'0? He wasn't even 5'11. Look at him with Kennedy.
Rampage(-_-_-)Clover said on 29/Nov/16
Rob, was Nixon really 182cm range peak though?


I always got more of a 179/180cm impression from him
Editor Rob
I don't know in his 20's, but it is what he claimed...in office he could look at the very most a 5ft 11 guy though.
HonestSlovene said on 29/Nov/16
He looked like a decent kinda tall height, but not huge. Would have guessed anything 5'11-6'2 for him imho.
Arch Stanton said on 29/Nov/16
Wow, always took for granted he was 6 ft 3 or 4. Always thought it seemed high.
Rampage(-_-_-)Clover said on 29/Nov/16
Rob, how arguable is 6ft2?
Editor Rob
well, I wouldn't say it was impossible.
Mathew Robinson (190 cm) said on 29/Nov/16
MJKoP said on 29/Nov/16
Wha...? Where did you get this figure Rob? I've always heard 6'3".

---

Here's Castro next to Nixon (who stood a little under 6'0"): Click Here

Clearly 6'3" for Castro was propaganda, as he's not even close to it there. He was maybe about 6'1" at his peak.
Editor Rob
Nixon did claim to be 5ft 11.5 in his 20's, by the time he was in office he probably could look 5ft 11 at most.
MJKoP said on 29/Nov/16
Wha...? Where did you get this figure Rob? I've always heard 6'3".
Editor Rob
Adam, this is what I believe he looked at his peak from what I researched on him, I have read estimates over 6ft, usually close to 6ft 2
Dingus said on 29/Nov/16
He passed away very small. Xi Xingping of China, who is only 5'11.00" towered over him in Castro's final days. In his youth Castro was roughly 6'02.00.
AJ said on 28/Nov/16
Seems really low. He's at least 6'2" you should start him at that.
Puma said on 28/Nov/16
Wtf?I am surprised that.Raul Castro is short compared to Obama most.165, maximum 170.I think Fidel is similar height with him.But he is very taller than his brother.
Rampage(-_-_-)Clover said on 28/Nov/16
I was just about to request him, Rob!



Yeah I agree with this. Could pull off 6ft2 range but the commonly reported 6ft3 was a bit of a stretch.
MrTBlack said on 28/Nov/16
@the average short

Cubans on average are taller than most Latino people since on average they are more Spaniard(sometimes even full) who are generally taller than Mestizos (e.g. People from Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador etc.)
MDV said on 28/Nov/16
I thought he was 6'2 in his prime
joe### said on 28/Nov/16
I thought he was 6'2.25 but he would look 185-6 with Richard Nixon
the average short said on 28/Nov/16
Always thought he was short for some reason. Honestly surprised at this listing.

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