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.
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Chandra Bahadur Dangi is no taller than a typical infant
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"It's a big thing for my family, my village, my country," he says
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Chandra claims to be 72 years old and weigh 14.5 kilograms
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 @placeholder's 57-year history."