WHO Growth Standards (0-5 Years)
Weight-for-Age (0-5)
z = (W − μ) / σ
Weight percentile against WHO 0-5 year reference.
Calculate Percentile →Head Circ-for-Age (0-5)
z = (HC − μ) / σ
Head circumference percentile through age 5.
Calculate Percentile →Stature-for-Age (2-5)
z = (H − μ) / σ
Standing-height percentile for children 2-5.
Calculate Percentile →Weight-for-Height (2-5)
z(W | H)
Size-adjusted weight screen for ages 2-5.
Calculate Percentile →The WHO 0-5 standards extend the 0-24 month references through preschool age, covering the period when children move from supine length measurement to standing stature (around 24 months).
Each calculator returns a WHO-referenced percentile and z-score plus a visualization on the percentile curves. Use these for routine well-child visits through age 5.
When to use these calculators
These standards are the WHO-recommended reference globally for ages 0-5. Transition to CDC charts at age 24-36 months in U.S. clinical practice; WHO continues to be the global standard.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What changes at age 2?
- Length is measured supine (lying down) until 24 months; stature is measured standing from 24 months upward. The 2 measurements differ by ~0.7 cm on average — the WHO standards account for this transition implicitly.
- Why is weight-for-height different from BMI-for-age?
- Weight-for-height standardizes by current size (length or stature), making it age-independent. BMI-for-age standardizes by age. Both are valid screens; weight-for-height is preferred in low-resource settings where age may be uncertain.
- Is the 0-5 chart compatible with the 0-24 month chart?
- Yes — values from the 0-24 month chart match the 0-5 chart at overlapping ages. The 0-5 chart simply extends the same reference forward.