A NEPALESE TEENAGER has been successful in his longstanding campaign to be recognised by the Guinness Book of Records as the smallest man in the world.

Khagendra Thapa Magar (just turned 18), who weighs just 0.86 of a stone, and stands just 25.8 inches tall – had travelled all over the world in pursuit of official recognition for his stature, and had become something of a tourist poster boy for his mountainous country.

Guinness had refused to consider him for the record until he turned 18 – he had not fulfilled the criteria of “smallest man” because he was, evidently, not considered a ‘man’ until his birthday – but, having been visited in his hometown of Pokhara this week, has been officially certified.

Magar, the son of a fruit stall proprietor, said his dream was to get married and to travel the world in his wife’s handbag.

His father told AFP he didn’t know why his son had stopped growing, but did say he had been particularly small as a child.

He was so tiny when he was born that he could fit in the palm of your hand, and it was very hard to bathe him because he was so small.

Sometimes it made us sad when he was growing up because we thought he would never be able to do normal things like ride a bike or drive a car, but now he is so popular, and that has made us happy.

Magar – who, despite his international campaign for recognition, is quite shy – said he was hoping to get a remote-controlled car for his birthday, and would get married in two years time.

Sadly, however, if he suffers (as local doctors believe) from primordial dwarfism, his average life expectancy is just 20.

Magar received an official certificate from Guinness, acknowledging his record diminutiveness, at a ceremony earlier today in his home town.

He succeeds 24-year-old Edward ‘Nino’ Hernandez from Colombia, who held the title for just five weeks.