A Nepalese man who stands no taller than a newborn has been declared the world 's shortest man in history . Chandra Bahadur Dangi , who says he 's 72 , earned the title with a height of 54.6 centimeters ( 21.5 inches ) , Guinness World Records announced Sunday . Guinness editor-in-chief Craig Glenday traveled to the Nepalese capital of Kathmandu , where he oversaw the official measurements of Chandra at medical clinic . The Guinness World Record guidelines required three measurements of Chandra 's height taken over 24 hours , which included his length standing and lying flat . Chandra is more than an inch shorter than the current holder of the `` shortest man living '' title , Filipino Jurney Balawing , who is 59.9 centimeters , or just under 2 feet . Balawing was awarded the title in June when he turned 18 . Guiness has also awarded Chandra the title of `` shortest man ever . '' The previous record holder was Gul Mohammed of India , who measured 57 centimeters . He died at age 40 in 1997 . In contrast , Sultan Kosen from Turkey , who was awarded the 'tallest living man ' in February 2011 , is 2.5 meters , or 8-foot-3 . According to Guinness , Chandra lives in Rhimkholi , an isolated mountain village some 400 kilometers west of Kathmandu . A forest contractor who was cutting timber in Rhimkholi brought Chandra 's height to the attention of local media , Guinness said on its website . Chandra has five brothers and two sisters , according to Guinness . He is a weaver by trade , but also cares for his family and helps look after the village 's buffaloes and cows . `` I 'm very happy that I 'm being recognized by Guinness World Records and that my name will be written in book , '' Chandra said after he was awarded the two Guinness certificates . `` It 's a big thing for my family , my village and my country . I am very happy . '' According to Guinness , Chandra claims weigh 14.5 kilogram , or 32 pounds . Despite his age , he claims to have never taken any kind of medication or to have ever been examined by a doctor , according to Guinness . `` I 'm continually amazed that this record keeps getting broken , '' Glenday said . `` 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 Record 's 57-year history . '' According to Guinness , Chandra said he will use the experience to make his country `` proud . '' Chandra and his family plan to start a charity that will support him and his village . The world 's shortest living woman is currently 18-year-old Jyoti Amge from India at 62.8 centimeters , or just a little over 2 feet .
Chandra Bahadur Dangi is no taller than a typical infant . `` It 's a big thing for my family , my village , my country , '' he says . Chandra claims to be 72 years old and weigh 14.5 kilograms .