(Eli5) Howcome we humans need decades to grow into full grown adults when most animals reach adulthood in few years?

Question

Why does it take so long for us?

In: 3

Answer 1

Larger creatures take longer to mature. Elefants take 10-14 years to sexual maturity, which is kinda same as humans: https://www.britannica.com/animal/elephant-mammal/Reproduction-and-life-cycle

Of course, elephants are a lot larger than humans, but humans have couple other factors slowing their growth, as u/acdgf explained in his answer.