By the WHO growth reference, boys who have just turned 8 have a median height of 127.3 cm (4′2″). Most children (94%) are between 116.6 cm (3′10″) and 137.9 cm (4′6″).
127.3 cm (4′2″)
median height (P50)
116.6–137.9 cm
P3–P97 range
| Age | P3 | P15 | P50 | P85 | P97 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 years | 116.6 | 121.4 | 127.3 | 133.1 | 137.9 |
| 8 years 3 months | 117.8 | 122.7 | 128.6 | 134.6 | 139.4 |
| 8 years 6 months | 119 | 123.9 | 129.9 | 136 | 140.9 |
| 8 years 9 months | 120.1 | 125.1 | 131.2 | 137.4 | 142.4 |
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 |
|---|---|
| 110 cm (3′7″) | 0.1% |
| 115 cm (3′9″) | 1% |
| 120 cm (3′11″) | 10% |
| 125 cm (4′1″) | 34% |
| 130 cm (4′3″) | 69% |
| 135 cm (4′5″) | 91% |
| 140 cm (4′7″) | 99% |
| 145 cm (4′9″) | 99.9% |
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.