CDC Child Growth Charts with Percentile Curves for U.S. Children

Since 1977, pediatric growth charts from the CDC illustrate the distribution of body measurements in U.S. children. These percentile curves are used by pediatricians, nurses, and parents to track growth from infancy through adolescence. The charts are tools for clinical assessment, not sole diagnostic instruments.

Use Cases

• Calculate percentile and Z-scores for a child's Weight, Stature, or Head Circumference based on Age and gender.
• Analyze Body Mass Index (BMI) distribution across pediatric Age groups using the provided percentile curves.
• Compare individual child measurements against population-based Percentile curves for Weight, Length, and Stature.
• Utilize LMS Parameters to generate smoothed growth curves for specific body measurements.

Strengths

• Curves are based on U.S. child population statistics, providing a national reference.
• Covers multiple key measurements including Weight, Stature, Length, Head Circumference, and BMI.
• Includes derived metrics like Percentiles and Z-scores for standardized growth assessment.
• Maintained and updated by the authoritative U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.

Limitations

• Data is presented as aggregated percentile curves, not as individual row-level records.
• The underlying source data and sample sizes for constructing the curves are not provided.
• Geographic coverage is limited to the United States, limiting applicability to other populations.

Provenance

Source

U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Collection Method

Aggregated and statistically smoothed from U.S. child population surveys to create reference percentile curves.

Time Range

Reference data collection began in 1977; charts are periodically revised.

Freshness

Last updated on July 29, 2025.

Geography

United States.