The numbers behind how tall we grow
Average heights by age and sex, growth chart percentiles, and height records, drawn from CDC, WHO, and NHANES data and explained in plain language.
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About this section
Height data you can trust, explained simply
Height Facts collects the numbers people search for most: how tall the average child, teen, or adult is, what a growth percentile means, and who holds the records for the tallest people ever measured.
- CDC growth charts
- WHO growth standards
- NHANES survey data
- Guinness World Records
Every figure is cited to its original source. Averages describe a population, not a target, so use them as context rather than a diagnosis, and check with your pediatrician if something about your child's growth worries you.
FAQs
Frequently asked questions
What does a height percentile mean?
A percentile compares a child with others of the same age and sex. A child at the 60th percentile is taller than about 60 out of 100 peers and shorter than about 40. Any percentile along a steady curve can be healthy.
My child is below average height. Should I worry?
Not by itself. The average is a midpoint, so about half of healthy children are below it. Pediatricians pay more attention to the pattern over time: a child who keeps growing along the same curve is usually fine, while one who crosses down percentile lines or stops growing should be checked.
Why do different sources report different average heights?
Averages depend on who was measured, when, and how. Surveys that measure people directly tend to report lower numbers than self-reported data, since people often round their height up. Survey year, age range, and the population sampled also shift the result.
Which growth charts are used for children in the US?
The CDC recommends the WHO growth standards for children under 2 and the CDC growth charts from age 2 onward.
How does your child compare?
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