By the WHO growth reference, boys who have just turned 16 have a median height of 172.9 cm (5′8″). Most children (94%) are between 158.3 cm (5′2″) and 187.5 cm (6′2″).
172.9 cm (5′8″)
median height (P50)
158.3–187.5 cm
P3–P97 range
| Age | P3 | P15 | P50 | P85 | P97 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 years | 158.3 | 164.8 | 172.9 | 181 | 187.5 |
| 16 years 3 months | 159 | 165.6 | 173.6 | 181.6 | 188.2 |
| 16 years 6 months | 159.7 | 166.2 | 174.2 | 182.2 | 188.7 |
| 16 years 9 months | 160.3 | 166.8 | 174.7 | 182.7 | 189.2 |
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 |
|---|---|
| 150 cm (4′11″) | 0.2% |
| 155 cm (5′1″) | 1% |
| 160 cm (5′3″) | 5% |
| 165 cm (5′5″) | 15% |
| 170 cm (5′7″) | 35% |
| 175 cm (5′9″) | 61% |
| 180 cm (5′11″) | 82% |
| 185 cm (6′1″) | 94% |
| 190 cm (6′3″) | 99% |
| 195 cm (6′5″) | 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.