3 Answers

Khagendra Thapa Magar born in born October 14, 1992, measures 0.67 m (2 ft 2 1⁄2 in) and considered the shortest living adult. 

(age 21) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khagendra_Thapa_Magar

Chandra Bahadur Dangi (born on November 30, 1939)^[1] (Nepali: ???????????? ????? Listen (help·info)) is the shortest man in the world, measuring 0.546 m (1 ft 9 in).^[2] Dangi is a primordial dwarf. He broke the record of Gul Mohammed (1957-1997), the shortest adult human whose height was 0.57 m (1 ft 10 in). Chandra came to news highlights of local media when a wood contractor saw him in his village. All of his family members are of usual size.

He was awarded the title of shortest adult human ever recorded after measuring his height three times in 24 hours. The chief editor of Guinness Book of World Records said that Chandra is the only person in Guinness' 57 years history to record the title of the shortest man at the age of 73.

Dangi lives with his nephews in a remote village of Nepal which is some 400 km away from the country's capital. He wishes to travel all parts of his country and the world. He stated that with him being the shortest man of the world and belonging to Nepal, he wants to popularize his village and his country through the medium of this title.

In 2012, he met the world’s shortest woman, Jyoti Amge of Nagpur, India. The pair posed together for the 57th edition of the Guinness World Records2013. It is currently unknown what medical condition has restricted Dangi’s height.^[3]

It could be Tiny Tim, who was in the Barnum and Bailey Circus sideshow.( now deceased )  and for a woman, Jenn Arnold ( on TV- - -the Little Couple ) could be the smallest / shortest female.

Didn't see your entry, Colleen, till after I put in mine   :- \  

Colleen

That's OK mcm. The question was not specific to gender and did not say alive or diseased. An open ended question can get many different answers.