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Percentiles

Percentiles

The data used to generate the percentiles in this app were collected from the original sources. Rather than just doing an inaccurate linear interpolation from the tabulated data, we use the same LMS distribution equations that were used to generate the original tables in order to provide accurate percentiles for any measurement at any percentile. The app contains the curves and age ranges listed below.

Standard Charts

The WHO curves are a combination of the 2006 international growth standard for breastfed babies (0-5 years) and the 2007 standard for older children (5-19 years). The WHO curves are usually the best choice for babies.



Weight 0 - 10 years
Height 0 - 19 years
Head Circumference 0 - 5 years
Weight vs. Height 45 - 120 cm
BMI 0 - 19 years

A Note on Weight: The WHO weight vs. age data set only goes to 10 years of age (see complete explanation here). The stated reason for this is quoted below. Above the age of 10, using BMI is recommended instead of just weight as a more accurate measure of health.
Weight-for-age reference data are not available beyond age 10 because this indicator does not distinguish between height and body mass in an age period where many children are experiencing the pubertal growth spurt and may appear as having excess weight (by weight-for-age) when in fact they are just tall.

The CDC curves are a 2000 growth reference based on a mix of breastfed and formula-fed babies in the US. Doctors in the US usually switch to this curve at age 2. The WHO-CDC combo chart uses the WHO charts up to age 2 and the CDC charts above that.



Weight 0 - 20 years
Height 0 - 20 years
Head Circumference 0 - 3 years
Weight vs. Height 45 - 121.5 cm
BMI 2 - 20 years

The Fenton curves are a 2013 growth reference for premature infants. These charts are measured in gestational age and go from 24 to 48 weeks. The Preterm-WHO combo chart uses the Fenton curves up to a gestational age of 48 weeks, and the WHO curves above that.



Weight 24 - 48 gestational weeks
Height 24 - 48 gestational weeks
Head Circumference 24 - 48 gestational weeks

Country-Specific Charts

The WHO-Argentine curves are the curves by Lejarraga et al. which use the WHO data for the first two years blended with data for Argentine children for older years for weight and height. The head circumference curve is the WHO curve.



Weight 0 - 19 years
Height 0 - 19 years
Head Circumference 0 - 5 years

The Belgian growth curves are the 2004 Flemish curves by M. Roelants (M. Roelants et al. Annals of Human Biology, 36 (6):680-694, 2009) and cover from birth to 21 years old for most measurements.



Weight 0 - 21 years
Height 0 - 21 years
Head Circumference 0 - 20 years
Weight vs. Height 48 - 200 cm (boys), 48 - 185 cm (girls)
BMI 3 weeks - 20 years

The Chinese curves are a 2013 growth reference by Xong and Li based on children from several different regions in China.



Weight 0 - 18 years
Height 0 - 18 years
Head Circumference 0 - 6 years
Weight vs. Height 45 - 125 cm
BMI 0 - 18 years

The Danish curves are the 2013 curves by Tinnegard et al. and go from birth to up to 20 years old.



Weight 0 - 20 years
Height 0 - 20 years
Head Circumference 0 - 5 years
Weight vs. Height 45 - 180 cm
BMI 0 - 20 years

The German curves are the 2001 Kromeyer-Hauschild curves for weight, height, and BMI and the newer 2017 KiGGS curve for head circumference. All the German curves cover from birth through 18 years old.



Weight 0 - 19 years
Height 0 - 19 years
Head Circumference 0 - 18 years
BMI 0 - 18 years

The IAP curves are a 2015 growth reference by Khadilkar et al. for Indian children. The Indian Academy of Pediatrics recommends switching from WHO to this curve at 5 years old. The WHO-IAP combo chart uses the WHO charts up to age 5 and the IAP charts above that.



Weight 5 - 18 years
Height 5 - 18 years
BMI 5 - 18 years

The Italian curves are the 2006 curves by E. Cacciari et al. (SIEDP-2006) and go from age 2 to 20 years old.



Weight 2 - 20 years
Height 2 - 20 years
BMI 2 - 20 years

The Japanese curves are a combination of the 2014 curve by Kato up to 75 months old (6.25 years) and the 2016 curves by Isojima up to 17.5 years old and include weight, height, and head circumference measurements.



Weight 0 - 17.5 years
Height 0 - 17.5 years
Head Circumference 0 - 6.25 years

The Norwegian curves are the 2009 and 2017 versions based on the Bergen Growth Study. They extend up to 19 years old for most measurements.



Weight 0 - 19 years
Height 0 - 19 years
Head Circumference 0 - 5 years
Weight vs. Height 50 - 115 cm
BMI 2 - 19 years

The Polish curves are the 2001 curves by Palczewska et al. based on 20 years of data for Polish children.



Weight 1 month - 18 years
Height 1 month - 18 years
Head Circumference 1 month - 18 years
Weight vs. Height 50 - 185 cm (girls), 50 - 195 cm (boys)
BMI 1 month - 18 years

The Spanish curves are the 2011 curves from the Faustino Orbegozo Foundation in Spain. All the Spanish curves cover from birth through 18 years old.



Weight 0 - 18 years
Height 0 - 18 years
Head Circumference 0 - 18 years
BMI 0 - 18 years

The Swedish curves are a combination of the newer 2008 growth curves by Niklasson et al. blending in around age 2 with the 2002 curves by Wilkland et al. and cover from 24 weeks gestational age through 18 years old. The "Swedish 2002" are the Wilkland curves without the newer data set included.



Weight 24 gestational weeks - 18 years
Height 24 gestational weeks - 18 years
Head Circumference 24 gestational weeks - 4 years

The Swiss curves are the 2019 set by Eiholzer et al. (Contemporary height, weight and body mass index references for children aged 0 to adulthood in Switzerland compared to the Prader reference, WHO and neighbouring countries, Annals of Human Biology, 2019, Vol 46, 437-447).



Weight 0 - 19 years (girls), 21 years (boys)
Height 0 - 19 years (girls), 21 years (boys)
BMI 2 - 19 years (girls), 21 years (boys)

The TNO curves are the Dutch 2010 curves and go up to 21 years old for some measurements. The TNO curves are unusual since they do not include weight above 15 months old, but instead prefer weight vs. height, which extends up through teenage heights.



Weight 0 - 15 months
Height 0 - 21 years
Head Circumference 0 - 21 years
Weight vs. Height 50 - 184 cm
BMI 4 weeks - 21 years

The UK90 curves are a 1990 growth reference based on a mix of breastfed and formula-fed babies in the UK. Doctors in the UK usually switch to this curve at age 4. The WHO-UK90 combo chart uses the WHO charts up to age 4 and the UK90 charts above that. The data used to generate these curves is copyright UKRI, used with permission. Due to licensing restrictions these curves are only available in the pro version of the app.



Weight 23 gestational weeks - 23 years
Height 33 gestational weeks - 23 years
Head Circumference 23 gestational weeks - 17 years
BMI 33 gestational weeks - 23 years

Specialty Charts

The Down Syndrome (CDC) curves are the CDC curves for children with Down Syndrome, based on the 2015 publication by Zemel et al.



Weight 0 - 20 years
Height 1 month - 20 years
Head Circumference 1 month - 20 years
Weight vs. Height 52 - 90 cm (girls), and 49 - 93 cm (boys)
BMI 2 - 20 years

The Down Syndrome (Brazil) curves are the Brazilian curves for children with Down Syndrome, based on the 2017 publication by Bertapelli et al.



Weight 0 - 20 years
Height 0 - 20 years
Head Circumference 0 - 2 years
BMI 2 - 18 years

The Adult chart option is not a traditional growth chart, but a convenient way for anyone to keep track of their weight over time. The weight table shows changes in weight from measurement to measurement, and the BMI chart and table shows how your BMI compares to the recommended ranges.



Weight 16+ years
BMI 16+ years

Notes

A Note on Height: You will see a small jump in many of the height-based curves (height, weight vs. height, and BMI) at around age 2. This is because the curves switch from using recumbent length (laying down) to using stature (standing height) and stature is on average slightly different from recumbent length. The difference is small (less than 1 cm) but it is real (CDC explanation here), not a glitch in the app or the data sets.