By the WHO growth reference, boys who have just turned 12 have a median height of 149.1 cm (4′11″). Most children (94%) are between 135.8 cm (4′5″) and 162.4 cm (5′4″).
149.1 cm (4′11″)
median height (P50)
135.8–162.4 cm
P3–P97 range
| Age | P3 | P15 | P50 | P85 | P97 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 years | 135.8 | 141.7 | 149.1 | 156.4 | 162.4 |
| 12 years 3 months | 137.2 | 143.3 | 150.7 | 158.2 | 164.2 |
| 12 years 6 months | 138.8 | 144.9 | 152.4 | 160 | 166.1 |
| 12 years 9 months | 140.4 | 146.6 | 154.2 | 161.8 | 168 |
P50 is the median: half of children the same age are shorter and half taller. P3 to P97 is the range WHO treats as normal.
| Height | Children shorter |
|---|---|
| 130 cm (4′3″) | 0.4% |
| 135 cm (4′5″) | 2% |
| 140 cm (4′7″) | 10% |
| 145 cm (4′9″) | 28% |
| 150 cm (4′11″) | 55% |
| 155 cm (5′1″) | 80% |
| 160 cm (5′3″) | 94% |
| 165 cm (5′5″) | 99% |
| 170 cm (5′7″) | 99.8% |
Values come straight from World Health Organization tables: the WHO Child Growth Standards (2006) for ages 0–5 and the WHO Growth Reference (2007) for ages 5–19. National references (CDC in the US, for example) can differ by a few centimetres. This is not a diagnostic tool: growth over time matters more than a single measurement, and questions about your child's growth belong with their doctor.