The average height for 16 year olds is probably the question most parents are concerned about. Will children grow taller at this age and beyond? This article will tell you that.
When a kid starts puberty, their body will experience a lot of changes. Therefore, it is really crucial for parents to keep an eye on their development and growth. As several people might know, both boys and girls tend to begin sexual maturity or puberty at a certain period of time. This can be from 8 to 14 years old for both genders. Sometimes, they can start it earlier or later, depending on different factors.
One of the most striking variations you can see during your teen’s puberty is a height difference. It is commonly seen that kids’ heights will increase a lot during this time. However, by the time they turn 16, the age at which puberty is almost over, their height will usually increase very little each year. So, what is the average height for 16 year olds? Let’s find it out in this article.
Is Late Adolescence a Time of Significant Growth?
According to several studies, when young boys turn 16 years old, it appears that they are unable to grow much more. Boys can develop at an incredible rate during adolescence (typically in height). When they reach the age of 16, however, the height gain is minimal, averaging about 1 to 2 inches per year.
When girls reach puberty, they grow in height in the same way that boys do. Because most girls start this stage earlier than boys, they finish it sooner as well. As a result, young girls are less likely to be taller than young boys when they enter their 16 years old.
How Is Teen’s Growth Changed When They Enter Puberty?
As previously said, when a teen girl or boy enters puberty, they all go through a growth spurt. During this period of time, a variety of factors influence their pace of growth.
However, because various teenagers reach puberty at different periods, the rate of development varies. During puberty, girls often gain less height than boys. Teen girls’ yearly height increases are only 1-2 inches (2.54-5.08 cm), whereas teen boys’ yearly height increases are up to 3 inches (7.62 cm).
Nonetheless, the age at which teenagers reach puberty (usually 8-10 years old for girls and 11-13 for boys) has no bearing on their future height. Rather, it will leave an imprint on them when they reach adulthood and quit growing.
If your children achieve puberty between the ages of 11 and 12, they are considered early matures. Late matures, conversely, are individuals that begin puberty between the ages of 13 and 14. This age range is used for teen boys.
For teen girls, the age range is even much earlier, which often begins at the age of 8 and 10 years old. And they will go through a huge growth spurt when they are about 10 to 14 years old.
Of course, there are also exceptions in every situation. So, you can refer to the following charts of the average height for 16 year olds boys and girls for a better overview.
Average Height For 16 Years Old Boys
The average height for 16-year old boys is 68.3″ (173.4 cm) when using the metric system. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, most girls and boys stop growing between 18 and 20 years of age. General growth charts show this pattern: at age two, a girl may be 36 inches (91 centimeters) tall; by 12 years old, she will most likely be 4 feet 10 inches (147 cm). By 19 or older, she will probably grow to roughly 5 feet 3 inches (160 cm). One exception is that some females continue growing until they are 22 years old because they retain more estrogens than males do.
You can see more average height of teenage boys with different ages in this article.
| Age ( by years) | height for boys (cm) |
| 8 year old boys | 50.4 inches (128 cm) |
| 9 year old boys | 52.6 inches (133.5 cm) |
| 10 year old boys | 54.5 inches (138.5 cm) |
| 11 year old boys | 56. 4 inches (143.5 cm) |
| 12 year old boys | 58.7 inches (149 cm) |
| 13 year old boys | 61.4 inches (156 cm) |
| 14 year old boys | 64.6 inches (164 cm) |
| 15 year old boys | 66.9 inches (170 cm) |
| 16 year old boys | 68.3 inches (173.5 cm) |
| 17 year old boys | 69.1 inches (175.5 cm) |
| 18 year old boys | 69.3 inches (176 cm) |
Average Height For 16 Years Old Girls
An average height for a sixteen-year-old girl is around 5’2″. The average height for 16-year-old girls can have an impact on a number of aspects in their lives. For example, it can affect their self-esteem, social life, and dating life. Girls who are taller than average may feel more confident and enjoy better relationships. Girls who are shorter than average may feel self-conscious and have a harder time finding dates.
| Age (by years) | 50th percentile height for girls (cm) |
| 8 year old girls | 50.2 in. (127.5 cm) |
| 9 year old girls | 52.4 in. (133 cm) |
| 10 year old girls | 54.3 in. (138 cm) |
| 11 year old girls | 56.7 in. (144 cm) |
| 12 year old girls | 59.4 in. (151 cm) |
| 13 year old girls | 61.8 in. (157 cm) |
| 14 year old girls | 63.2 in. (160.5 cm) |
| 15 year old girls | 63.8 in. (162 cm) |
| 16 year old girls | 64 in. (162.5 cm) |
| 17 year old girls | 64 in. (163 cm) |
| 18 year old girls | 64 in. (163 cm) |
As I mentioned before, most little girls start puberty earlier than little boys. Therefore, they tend to be taller and heavier than boys at the early stage of puberty. Having said that, when girls turn 16 years old, the end process of puberty, height does not increase. If yes, the increase per year is also very small. In contrast, boys usually grow very quickly at this stage because they begin puberty later than young females. The subsequent increase in height is considered to make up for the lost time.
You should not, however, only take these average heights into account since it says nothing about your adolescent’s health. Of course, it is “standard” for you to be able to tell whether or not your youngsters are shorter than the suggested height. Some of the factors that may alter their rate of growth are listed below.
What Are the Factors Affecting the Rate of Height-Gain in Youth?
There are a few additional elements to consider in addition to puberty, which is one of the most important aspects determining your youngsters’ height growth. Growth hormones, sex hormones, genetic issues, thyroid problems, Down syndrome, insulin levels, and other factors are among them.
Moreover, if the little kid has been malnourished since childhood, it is highly likely that their height growth is also influenced, more or less. In some instances, issues with a child’s weight (overweight or obesity) can also have an impact on their rate of growth later in life.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, the slower the growth rate becomes as the youngsters get older. This becomes more apparent as a child nears the end of puberty, usually 15 years old or older. Overall, the average height for 16 year olds girls is 64.0 inches or 162.5 centimeters. Teen boys at the age of 16, on the flip side, have a much higher average height, which is 68.3 inches or 173.4 centimeters.
Again, don’t conclude that this is the average height of all teenagers. As I previously stated, certain circumstances will cause your children to grow at a quicker or slower speed than the recommended pace. If you suspect your child’s development rate is odd, seek counsel from their pediatrician.
