People are genuinely losing their minds over how fast kids grow up, especially when those kids are basically Hollywood royalty. If you’ve been scrolling through TikTok or Instagram lately, you’ve probably seen the videos. It’s usually a clip of Kim Kardashian walking next to her eldest daughter, and the comments section is always the same: "Wait, how tall is North West now?" or "She’s literally catching up to Kim!"
It's wild. One day she’s a toddler in a tutu at ballet class, and the next, she’s a pre-teen rocking oversized vintage tees and looking her mother right in the eye.
The fascination makes sense, honestly. We’ve watched North since her first "Vogue" appearance as a literal infant. Now that she's entering her teenage years, the physical transformation is staggering. But while the internet loves to speculate with "side-by-side" photo comparisons, the actual numbers tell a more interesting story about genetics, fashion choices, and the trickery of camera angles.
The Reality of How Tall North West Is Right Now
Let’s get the straight facts out of the way first. As of early 2026, North West is roughly 5 feet 2 inches (about 157 cm).
She’s twelve.
Think about that for a second. Her mother, Kim Kardashian, is famously petite, standing at approximately 5 feet 2 inches to 5 feet 3 inches. This means North has officially reached—or perhaps even slightly surpassed—her mother’s height. It’s a milestone that every "short" mom dreads and celebrates at the same time. When they stand together on a red carpet, the height parity is undeniable.
Genetics are a funny thing, though. You have to look at the other side of the DNA pool. Kanye West is roughly 5 feet 8 inches (173 cm). While he’s not a giant by industry standards, he provides a taller baseline than Kim. If North follows the standard growth trajectory for girls, who typically hit their peak height between ages 14 and 15, she’s likely going to end up taller than both her parents. Some pediatric growth charts suggest she could easily land around 5'6" or 5'7" by the time she's done.
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Why She Looks Taller Than She Actually Is
Perspective is everything in Calabasas.
If you see North in a paparazzi shot and think, "There’s no way she’s only 5'2"," you’re probably reacting to her styling. North West has a very specific, very intentional aesthetic. She favors the "heavy" look—massive, chunky-soled Balenciaga boots, platform Crocs, or oversized Rick Owens sneakers. Those shoes easily add two to three inches of height.
Then there’s the clothing. She’s a fan of the baggy, streetwear silhouette. Long coats, oversized jerseys, and floor-skimming trousers create a vertical line that elongates the frame. When she stands next to Kim, who often wears skin-tight leggings or sleek heels, North’s "bulkier" fashion presence makes her appear more imposing. It’s a visual trick.
Comparing the Kardashian-West Siblings
It’s not just North. The whole family tree is a study in varying heights. While everyone asks how tall is North West, they often forget she has three younger siblings who are also hitting growth spurts.
Saint West is already showing signs of being a tall kid. At ten years old, he’s lanky. He has that "basketball player" build that suggests he might actually become the tallest in the immediate family. Chicago and Psalm are still too young to really call it, but given the Jenner side of the family (think Kendall at 5'10"), there are definitely "tall genes" floating around that extended pool.
- North West: ~5'2" (and still growing).
- Kim Kardashian: ~5'2".
- Kanye West: ~5'8".
- Kendall Jenner: 5'10" (The height outlier of the bunch).
- Kourtney Kardashian: 5'0" (The shortest of the sisters).
The contrast is most jarring when North hangs out with her aunt Kourtney. North is already taller than her aunt. That’s a bizarre reality to wrap your head around—a twelve-year-old towering over a grown woman. But in this family, 5 feet is the baseline.
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The "Main Character" Energy and Physical Presence
Height isn't just about inches; it’s about how you carry yourself. North West has what people call "presence." Whether she’s performing at a Lion King anniversary concert or walking through an airport, she doesn't shrink. She takes up space.
This confidence often leads people to overestimate her physical size. She has the poise of someone much older. When she was younger, she was the "mini-me," but now she’s a peer. If you look at her recent public appearances, like at various Fashion Weeks, her eye level is consistently matching the adults around her.
Does Height Even Matter for Her Future?
In the world of the Kardashians, physical stats are often tied to career paths. If North wants to follow Kendall’s lead into high-fashion runway modeling, she’ll likely need to hit at least 5'9". Right now, she’s on a healthy path, but she might fall just short of the "standard" runway height.
But does North West seem like someone who cares about industry standards?
Probably not. She’s already leaning into creative direction, music, and "big picture" art. For her, being 5'2" or 5'10" is secondary to her brand. She’s already a mogul in training.
Genetics, Environment, and the Public Eye
We have to acknowledge the elephant in the room: public scrutiny. It’s a bit weird that we’re all tracking a child’s height with the intensity of a scout at the NFL combine. But that’s the reality of being a West.
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Every time Kim posts a "Get Ready With Me" video, the comments are a chaotic mix of people praising North’s makeup skills and people expressing shock at her height. This "digital growth chart" is something no previous generation has had to deal with. We aren't just seeing her once a year at Christmas; we're seeing her weekly. That makes the growth feel accelerated.
It also highlights the "average" nature of her growth. According to the CDC, the average height for a 12-year-old girl in the United States is about 59 to 60 inches (around 5 feet). North is slightly above that average, sitting at 62 inches. She’s in the 75th to 80th percentile. She’s tall, but she’s not "medical anomaly" tall. She’s just a healthy kid who had a very visible summer growth spurt.
What to Expect Next
Kids don't grow in a straight line. They grow in "fits and starts." You might see North West at the same height for the next six months, and then suddenly, by next Christmas, she’s 5'5".
If you're trying to keep track, keep an eye on her footwear. The day she switches from those massive platform boots to flat sneakers and still looks taller than Kim is the day she’s officially taken the crown. For now, they’re basically twins in terms of stature.
Actionable Insights for Following Celeb Growth Trends
- Check the Footwear: Always look at the soles of the shoes in paparazzi photos before judging height. A 3-inch lug sole changes everything.
- Look at the Eye Level: Photos can be distorted by wide-angle lenses. The most accurate way to judge height is to look at where the eyes line up when two people are standing on the same flat surface.
- Reference the Parents: Genetics usually win. Use the mid-parental height formula: (Mother's height + Father's height) / 2, then add 2.5 inches for a boy or subtract 2.5 inches for a girl. For North, that math suggests a final height of roughly 5'5".
- Ignore "Official" Bios: Celebrity height websites are notorious for being wrong. They often list North as her 2022 height (around 4'10"), which is clearly outdated. Trust recent video footage over static database entries.
North is clearly coming into her own, and whether she ends up 5'3" or 5'11", her physical presence is already overshadowing most adults in the room.