So how DOES ‘pint-sized’ Rishi Sunak measure up to other world leaders after Angela Rayner mocked his height?

Rishi Sunak’s height came under fire today during Prime Minister’s questions as Labour’s deputy leader called him a ‘pint-size loser’ but how does the PM actually measure up against other world leaders? 

Although Mr Sunak at just 5ft 6in tall, is significantly smaller than the average height of a British man, which data suggests is about 5ft 10in, when compared with other world leaders, he seems to fit in perfectly, as a peculiarly high number of them are quite short.  

Mr Sunak’s height is matched by French President Emmanuel Macron and Ukrainian war leader Volodymyr Zelensky, who are both just 5ft 6in. 

While Sir Winston Churchill, Valdimir Putin, Napoleon Bonaparte, Sir Keir Starmer, Kim Jong Un and Boris Johnson are all under 5ft 8in tall. 

Mr Sunak’s height is matched by French President Emmanuel Macron and Ukrainian war leader Volodymyr Zelensky , who are both just 5ft 6in 

Earlier today the Labour deputy leader lashed out as she faced jibes from Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden and other Tory MPs in the Commons, as they stood in, while Mr Sunak is in Berlin to discuss security, trade and illegal migration with Chancellor Olaf.

Referencing Mr Sunak’s resignation in 2022 which is seen as having precipitated the end of Boris Johnson’s premiership, she said the Tories had swapped ‘their biggest election winner for a pint-sized loser’.

But Mr Sunak’s predecessor as PM, Liz Truss is only around 5ft 5in, whilst his former boss Boris Johnson is just under 5ft 8. 

Even WWII hero Sir Winston Churchill was shorter than Mr Sunak at just 5ft 5in, the same height as Margaret Thatcher. 

The current smallest European leader is Germany’s chancellor Olaf Scholz who is believed to be around 5ft 5in. 

Russia’s despot ruler Vladimir Putin is an estimated 5ft 7in, while North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un is just 5ft 2in.

However not all world leaders are cursed with short genes, the Prime Minister of Albania Edi Rama is a whoppy 6ft 7in. 

Followed closely by Mark Rutte, the PM of the Netherlands at 6ft 3in and Justin Trudeau who is 6ft 1in. And US President Biden also just scraps in the 6ft club. 

German chancellor Olaf Scholz is just 5ft 5in, making him even shorter than Mr Sunak

US President Joe Biden is 6ft, whilst Canada’s Justin Trudeau is 6ft 1in

However Mr Sunak has devised clever visual tricks to make him look taller in photographs. For example, when pictured with his ministerial team at the top of the staircase in Downing Street with his taller Ministers below him, making them appear smaller

In 2021 it was alleged by a senior MP that then PM Boris Johnson was purposefully appointing tall Ministers to annoy image-conscious Mr Sunak. 

The MP said Mr Johnson – who is only 5ft 8in – was deliberately playing on Rishi Sunak’s ‘insecurity’ over his height and making the then Chancellor look shorter in photographs. 

However Mr Sunak has devised clever visual tricks to make him look taller in photographs.

For example, when pictured with his ministerial team in 2021 at the top of the staircase in Downing Street with his taller Ministers below him, making them appear smaller. 

Or by wearing shortened trouser hems in his £1,300 tailored suits, which can make him appear taller.