Weight and height for children aged 2–18 – chart and growth curves

A weight and height chart can provide an overview, but it is not a personalised growth chart and does not determine a child's health. For children aged 2–18, weight needs to be understood alongside height, age and development over time. Here we explain the chart's limitations, median and percentiles, and how BVC and school health services monitor Swedish children's growth.

Reference values for height and weight by age (2–18 years)

The chart shows statistical median values for height and weight at different ages. Children grow in spurts and at different paces, meaning a child's measurements can naturally sit both above and below these figures without indicating anything abnormal. The chart should not be seen as a template or target weight – to assess health and growth, Swedish healthcare always follows the child's own curve over time at BVC or within school health services.

For published growth references, see growth charts from Svenska Barnläkarföreningen. Ask BVC or the school health service to explain which reference is used for your child.

How should a weight and height chart be used?

A sourced chart summarises a reference group, not how an individual child must grow. Two children of the same age can have different heights and be in different stages of puberty. It is not possible to state a general percentage deviation from the chart that automatically signifies good or poor health.

Repeated measurements and the child's overall well-being provide more information than a one-off comparison. Read more about how children's weight is assessed in Swedish healthcare.

What do median, percentiles and SD lines mean?

The median is the 50th percentile. Roughly half of the reference group falls below this value and half above. The mean is calculated differently: the sum of the values divided by the number of individuals. The terms should not be used as though they always mean the same thing.

A percentile describes a position within the reference group's distribution at a specific age and for a specific sex. It does not show a percentage of an "ideal weight". Swedish growth charts often use standard deviation lines, SD. They describe the spread around the reference and should not simply be referred to as percentile lines, especially as weight and BMI do not have the same distribution as height.

What is the difference between growth charts and iso-BMI?

Growth charts at BVC and school health services show the child's height, weight and sometimes BMI at recurring measurements against age- and sex-specific references. Healthcare providers look at both the level and the trajectory over time, taking into account factors such as puberty and genetics.

Iso-BMI is used to assess overweight and obesity based on BMI, age and sex. The IOTF cut-offs link the child's BMI to corresponding cut-offs for adults at 18 years of age. The measure complements the growth chart but does not replace a clinical assessment. Read about iso-BMI and how the measure is used.

An age table is merely a simplified overview. It does not show the child's own growth over time and cannot be used as a diagnostic tool.

When should you contact BVC, school health services or the health centre?

Seek advice if you are worried about your child's growth or well-being. This could, for example, involve rapid weight changes, slowing height growth or symptoms that need to be assessed. You do not need to wait for the next routine check-up.

Ask to go through the chart together with your healthcare provider. Read about what it can mean when BVC says that the weight curve deviates and when and how you can seek care for your child.

Frequently asked questions about children's weight, height and growth charts