European men were significantly taller in 1980 than they were in the 19th century, new research has shown.

According to the findings, between the mid-19th century and 1980, the average height of European men increased by 11cm. Furthermore, height appeared to accelerate during the two World Wars and the Great Depression.

Prof Timothy Hatton of the University of Essex analysed data on the height of men aged around 21 who were born between the 1870s and 1980 in 15 European countries, including Ireland, the UK, Germany and Holland. He looked at men because data on the height of women was limited.

Prof Hatton explained that increases in height ‘are a key indicator of improvements in the average health of populations'.

"The evidence suggests that the improving disease environment, as reflected in the fall in infant mortality, is the single most important factor driving the increase in height. The link between infant mortality and height has already been demonstrated by a number of studies," he noted.

Infant mortality rates fell from a high of 178 per 1,000 in 1871-75 to just 14 per 1,000 in 1976-80.

The research found that in some countries, including Ireland and the UK, there was a ‘distinct quickening' in the increase in height during the two Word Wars and Great Depression. This is noteworthy because these periods come before the implementation of many major breakthroughs in medicine and the development of national health services.

Prof Hatton suggested that along with the fall in infant mortality, this may be due to the fact that people started having smaller families. This has previously been linked with an increase in height.

Other reasons for the overall increase in height include more sanitary living conditions, a higher income, better education about health and better health services.

Details of these findings are published in the journal, Oxford Economic Papers.