By the WHO growth reference, girls who have just turned 18 have a median height of 163.1 cm (5′4″). Most children (94%) are between 150.6 cm (4′11″) and 175.5 cm (5′9″).
163.1 cm (5′4″)
median height (P50)
150.6–175.5 cm
P3–P97 range
| Age | P3 | P15 | P50 | P85 | P97 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 years | 150.6 | 156.2 | 163.1 | 169.9 | 175.5 |
| 18 years 3 months | 150.7 | 156.3 | 163.1 | 169.9 | 175.5 |
| 18 years 6 months | 150.8 | 156.3 | 163.1 | 169.9 | 175.5 |
| 18 years 9 months | 150.8 | 156.4 | 163.1 | 169.9 | 175.5 |
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 |
|---|---|
| 145 cm (4′9″) | 0.3% |
| 150 cm (4′11″) | 2% |
| 155 cm (5′1″) | 11% |
| 160 cm (5′3″) | 32% |
| 165 cm (5′5″) | 62% |
| 170 cm (5′7″) | 85% |
| 175 cm (5′9″) | 96% |
| 180 cm (5′11″) | 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.