Estimating male and female height inequality

•Male and female height inequality are positively correlated with an R2 of 0.39 (0.45 with time fixed effects).•The coefficient of variation of females tends to be lower than that of males.•Two formulas are provided to estimate male (female) CV on the basis of female (male) CV.

This study investigates the coefficient of variation (CV) of height of males and females as a measure of inequality. We have collected a data set on corresponding male and female height CVs from 124 populations, spanning the period between the 1840s and 1980s. The results suggest that the R2 between the two CVs is 0.39, with the male CV being greater, indicating higher plasticity.