By the WHO growth reference, boys who have just turned 13 have a median height of 156 cm (5′1″). Most children (94%) are between 142.1 cm (4′8″) and 170 cm (5′7″).
156 cm (5′1″)
median height (P50)
142.1–170 cm
P3–P97 range
| Age | P3 | P15 | P50 | P85 | P97 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 years | 142.1 | 148.3 | 156 | 163.7 | 170 |
| 13 years 3 months | 143.8 | 150.1 | 157.9 | 165.7 | 172 |
| 13 years 6 months | 145.4 | 151.8 | 159.7 | 167.5 | 173.9 |
| 13 years 9 months | 147.1 | 153.6 | 161.5 | 169.4 | 175.8 |
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 |
|---|---|
| 135 cm (4′5″) | 0.2% |
| 140 cm (4′7″) | 2% |
| 145 cm (4′9″) | 7% |
| 150 cm (4′11″) | 21% |
| 155 cm (5′1″) | 44% |
| 160 cm (5′3″) | 70% |
| 165 cm (5′5″) | 89% |
| 170 cm (5′7″) | 97% |
| 175 cm (5′9″) | 99.5% |
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.