KATHMANDU: A 72-year-old man from a remote valley in southwestern Nepal was on Sunday declared the shortest man ever documented after being measured by Guinness World Records officials.

Chandra Bahadur Dangi stands just 54.6 centimetres (21.5 inches) tall, measurements confirmed, 5.3cm shorter than Filipino Junrey Balawing, the previous holder of the “world’s shortest man” title.

“It feels very good — I’m very happy,” Dangi told reporters. “I will work on promoting my country all over the world.” Dangi, who weighs 12 kilograms, was brought to the attention of the world only three weeks ago after Nepali researchers looking into the history of the Dangi people were introduced to him.

He has also been declared the shortest human adult ever recorded, taking the accolade from India’s Gul Mohammed, who was measured at 57cm before he died in 1997 aged 40.

“I’m continually amazed that this record keeps getting broken,” Guinness World Records editor-in-chief Craig Glenday said in a statement after the adjudication in the Nepali capital Kathmandu.

“Just when you think it’s impossible for the record to get any smaller, Mr Dangi comes along and astonishes us all.

“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 Guinness World Record’s 57-year history.” Dangi said in his first interview with western media earlier this month that recognition at the end of his life would be some compensation for years of hardship.

The pensioner, who was orphaned at 12, says relatives used to display him at freak shows to make money for themselves and that he has never experienced romance or found his soulmate.

“Until now, Chandra’s stature has been a burden; he is acutely aware of the difficulties of fitting into an average-sized world and is disappointed at having missed out on the chance to find a wife,” Guinness World Records said on Sunday.—AFP