Tables for assessing the head circumference of children
The following are centile tables (WHO) of head circumference for:
The interval between centiles –2 and +2 is recognized as the norm, 96% of obviously healthy children fall on this range (the interval between –1 and +1 is 70%). If the value goes beyond the second centiles, the pediatrician or neonatologist should pay attention to this.
For the correct use of these tables, head circumference should be measured at an age strictly multiple of weeks and months, with a maximum deviation of 1-2 days. If the age of the child differs from that indicated in the rows of the tables, then to obtain the correct (intermediate) values, you should use the calculator, which displays the norms for any intermediate age up to a day.
 | Head circumference, cm | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age | –3 | –2 | –1 | 0 | +1 | +2 | +3 |
| 0 wk. | 30.3 | 31.5 | 32.7 | 33.9 | 35.1 | 36.2 | 37.4 |
| 1 wk. | 31.1 | 32.2 | 33.4 | 34.6 | 35.7 | 36.9 | 38.1 |
| 2 wk. | 31.8 | 32.9 | 34.1 | 35.2 | 36.4 | 37.5 | 38.7 |
| 3 wk. | 32.4 | 33.5 | 34.7 | 35.8 | 37.0 | 38.2 | 39.3 |
| 4 wk. | 32.9 | 34.0 | 35.2 | 36.4 | 37.5 | 38.7 | 39.9 |
| 5 wk. | 33.3 | 34.5 | 35.7 | 36.8 | 38.0 | 39.2 | 40.4 |
| 6 wk. | 33.7 | 34.9 | 36.1 | 37.3 | 38.5 | 39.6 | 40.8 |
| 7 wk. | 34.1 | 35.3 | 36.5 | 37.7 | 38.9 | 40.1 | 41.3 |
| 8 wk. | 34.4 | 35.6 | 36.8 | 38.0 | 39.2 | 40.4 | 41.6 |
| 9 wk. | 34.7 | 35.9 | 37.1 | 38.4 | 39.6 | 40.8 | 42.0 |
| 10 wk. | 35.0 | 36.2 | 37.4 | 38.7 | 39.9 | 41.1 | 42.3 |
| 11 wk. | 35.3 | 36.5 | 37.7 | 39.0 | 40.2 | 41.4 | 42.7 |
| 12 wk. | 35.5 | 36.8 | 38.0 | 39.3 | 40.5 | 41.7 | 43.0 |
| 13 wk. | 35.8 | 37.0 | 38.3 | 39.5 | 40.8 | 42.0 | 43.2 |
| Age | – 3 | – 2 | – 1 | 0 | +1 | +2 | +3 |
 | Head circumference, cm | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age | – 3 | – 2 | – 1 | 0 | +1 | +2 | +3 |
| 0 wk. | 30.7 | 31.9 | 33.2 | 34.5 | 35.7 | 37.0 | 38.3 |
| 1 wk. | 31.5 | 32.7 | 33.9 | 35.2 | 36.4 | 37.6 | 38.8 |
| 2 wk. | 32.4 | 33.5 | 34.7 | 35.9 | 37.0 | 38.2 | 39.4 |
| 3 wk. | 33.0 | 34.2 | 35.4 | 36.5 | 37.7 | 38.9 | 40.0 |
| 4 wk. | 33.6 | 34.8 | 35.9 | 37.1 | 38.3 | 39.4 | 40.6 |
| 5 wk. | 34.1 | 35.3 | 36.4 | 37.6 | 38.8 | 39.9 | 41.1 |
| 6 wk. | 34.6 | 35.7 | 36.9 | 38.1 | 39.2 | 40.4 | 41.6 |
| 7 wk. | 35.0 | 36.1 | 37.3 | 38.5 | 39.7 | 40.8 | 42.0 |
| 8 wk. | 35.4 | 36.5 | 37.7 | 38.9 | 40.0 | 41.2 | 42.4 |
| 9 wk. | 35.7 | 36.9 | 38.1 | 39.2 | 40.4 | 41.6 | 42.8 |
| 10 wk. | 36.1 | 37.2 | 38.4 | 39.6 | 40.8 | 41.9 | 43.1 |
| 11 wk. | 36.4 | 37.5 | 38.7 | 39.9 | 41.1 | 42.3 | 43.4 |
| 12 wk. | 36.7 | 37.9 | 39.0 | 40.2 | 41.4 | 42.6 | 43.7 |
| 13 wk. | 37.0 | 38.1 | 39.3 | 40.5 | 41.7 | 42.9 | 44.0 |
| Age | – 3 | – 2 | – 1 | 0 | +1 | +2 | +3 |
| Age | Head circumference, cm | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| y:m | m | – 3 | – 2 | – 1 | 0 | +1 | +2 | +3 |
| 0: 0 | 0 | 30.3 | 31.5 | 32.7 | 33.9 | 35.1 | 36.2 | 37.4 |
| 0: 1 | 1 | 33.0 | 34.2 | 35.4 | 36.5 | 37.7 | 38.9 | 40.1 |
| 0: 2 | 2 | 34.6 | 35.8 | 37.0 | 38.3 | 39.5 | 40.7 | 41.9 |
| 0: 3 | 3 | 35.8 | 37.1 | 38.3 | 39.5 | 40.8 | 42.0 | 43.3 |
| 0: 4 | 4 | 36.8 | 38.1 | 39.3 | 40.6 | 41.8 | 43.1 | 44.4 |
| 0: 5 | 5 | 37.6 | 38.9 | 40.2 | 41.5 | 42.7 | 44.0 | 45.3 |
| 0: 6 | 6 | 38.3 | 39.6 | 40.9 | 42.2 | 43.5 | 44.8 | 46.1 |
| 0: 7 | 7 | 38.9 | 40.2 | 41.5 | 42.8 | 44.1 | 45.5 | 46.8 |
| 0: 8 | 8 | 39.4 | 40.7 | 42.0 | 43.4 | 44.7 | 46.0 | 47.4 |
| 0: 9 | 9 | 39.8 | 41.2 | 42.5 | 43.8 | 45.2 | 46.5 | 47.8 |
| 0:10 | 10 | 40.2 | 41.5 | 42.9 | 44.2 | 45.6 | 46.9 | 48.3 |
| 0:11 | 11 | 40.5 | 41.9 | 43.2 | 44.6 | 45.9 | 47.3 | 48.6 |
| y:m | m | – 3 | – 2 | – 1 | 0 | +1 | +2 | +3 |
| 1: 0 | 12 | 40.8 | 42.2 | 43.5 | 44.9 | 46.3 | 47.6 | 49.0 |
| 1: 1 | 13 | 41.1 | 42.4 | 43.8 | 45.2 | 46.5 | 47.9 | 49.3 |
| 1: 2 | 14 | 41.3 | 42.7 | 44.1 | 45.4 | 46.8 | 48.2 | 49.5 |
| 1: 3 | 15 | 41.5 | 42.9 | 44.3 | 45.7 | 47.0 | 48.4 | 49.8 |
| 1: 4 | 16 | 41.7 | 43.1 | 44.5 | 45.9 | 47.2 | 48.6 | 50.0 |
| 1: 5 | 17 | 41.9 | 43.3 | 44.7 | 46.1 | 47.4 | 48.8 | 50.2 |
| 1: 6 | 18 | 42.1 | 43.5 | 44.9 | 46.2 | 47.6 | 49.0 | 50.4 |
| 1: 7 | 19 | 42.3 | 43.6 | 45.0 | 46.4 | 47.8 | 49.2 | 50.6 |
| 1: 8 | 20 | 42.4 | 43.8 | 45.2 | 46.6 | 48.0 | 49.4 | 50.7 |
| 1: 9 | 21 | 42.6 | 44.0 | 45.3 | 46.7 | 48.1 | 49.5 | 50.9 |
| 1:10 | 22 | 42.7 | 44.1 | 45.5 | 46.9 | 48.3 | 49.7 | 51.1 |
| 1:11 | 23 | 42.9 | 44.3 | 45.6 | 47.0 | 48.4 | 49.8 | 51.2 |
| 2: 0 | 24 | 43.0 | 44.4 | 45.8 | 47.2 | 48.6 | 50.0 | 51.4 |
| y:m | m | – 3 | – 2 | – 1 | 0 | +1 | +2 | +3 |
| Age | Head circumference, cm | |||||||
| y:m | m | – 3 | – 2 | – 1 | 0 | +1 | +2 | +3 |
| 2: 0 | 24 | 43.0 | 44.4 | 45.8 | 47.2 | 48.6 | 50.0 | 51.4 |
| 2: 1 | 25 | 43.1 | 44.5 | 45.9 | 47.3 | 48.7 | 50.1 | 51.5 |
| 2: 2 | 26 | 43.3 | 44.7 | 46.1 | 47.5 | 48.9 | 50.3 | 51.7 |
| 2: 3 | 27 | 43.4 | 44.8 | 46.2 | 47.6 | 49.0 | 50.4 | 51.8 |
| 2: 4 | 28 | 43.5 | 44.9 | 46.3 | 47.7 | 49.1 | 50.5 | 51.9 |
| 2: 5 | 29 | 43.6 | 45.0 | 46.4 | 47.8 | 49.2 | 50.6 | 52.0 |
| 2: 6 | 30 | 43.7 | 45.1 | 46.5 | 47.9 | 49.3 | 50.7 | 52.2 |
| 2: 7 | 31 | 43.8 | 45.2 | 46.6 | 48.0 | 49.4 | 50.9 | 52.3 |
| 2: 8 | 32 | 43.9 | 45.3 | 46.7 | 48.1 | 49.6 | 51.0 | 52.4 |
| 2: 9 | 33 | 44.0 | 45.4 | 46.8 | 48.2 | 49.7 | 51.1 | 52.5 |
| 2:10 | 34 | 44.1 | 45.5 | 46.9 | 48.3 | 49.7 | 51.2 | 52.6 |
| 2:11 | 35 | 44.2 | 45.6 | 47.0 | 48.4 | 49.8 | 51.2 | 52.7 |
| y:m | m | – 3 | – 2 | – 1 | 0 | +1 | +2 | +3 |
| 3: 0 | 36 | 44.3 | 45.7 | 47.1 | 48.5 | 49.9 | 51.3 | 52.7 |
| 3: 1 | 37 | 44.4 | 45.8 | 47.2 | 48.6 | 50.0 | 51.4 | 52.8 |
| 3: 2 | 38 | 44.4 | 45.8 | 47.3 | 48.7 | 50.1 | 51.5 | 52.9 |
| 3: 3 | 39 | 44.5 | 45.9 | 47.3 | 48.7 | 50.2 | 51.6 | 53.0 |
| 3: 4 | 40 | 44.6 | 46.0 | 47.4 | 48.8 | 50.2 | 51.7 | 53.1 |
| 3: 5 | 41 | 44.6 | 46.1 | 47.5 | 48.9 | 50.3 | 51.7 | 53.1 |
| 3: 6 | 42 | 44.7 | 46.1 | 47.5 | 49.0 | 50.4 | 51.8 | 53.2 |
| 3: 7 | 43 | 44.8 | 46.2 | 47.6 | 49.0 | 50.4 | 51.9 | 53.3 |
| 3: 8 | 44 | 44.8 | 46.3 | 47.7 | 49.1 | 50.5 | 51.9 | 53.3 |
| 3: 9 | 45 | 44.9 | 46.3 | 47.7 | 49.2 | 50.6 | 52.0 | 53.4 |
| 3:10 | 46 | 45.0 | 46.4 | 47.8 | 49.2 | 50.6 | 52.1 | 53.5 |
| 3:11 | 47 | 45.0 | 46.4 | 47.9 | 49.3 | 50.7 | 52.1 | 53.5 |
| y:m | m | – 3 | – 2 | – 1 | 0 | +1 | +2 | +3 |
| 4: 0 | 48 | 45.1 | 46.5 | 47.9 | 49.3 | 50.8 | 52.2 | 53.6 |
| 4: 1 | 49 | 45.1 | 46.5 | 48.0 | 49.4 | 50.8 | 52.2 | 53.6 |
| 4: 2 | 50 | 45.2 | 46.6 | 48.0 | 49.4 | 50.9 | 52.3 | 53.7 |
| 4: 3 | 51 | 45.2 | 46.7 | 48.1 | 49.5 | 50.9 | 52.3 | 53.8 |
| 4: 4 | 52 | 45.3 | 46.7 | 48.1 | 49.5 | 51.0 | 52.4 | 53.8 |
| 4: 5 | 53 | 45.3 | 46.8 | 48.2 | 49.6 | 51.0 | 52.4 | 53.9 |
| 4: 6 | 54 | 45.4 | 46.8 | 48.2 | 49.6 | 51.1 | 52.5 | 53.9 |
| 4: 7 | 55 | 45.4 | 46.9 | 48.3 | 49.7 | 51.1 | 52.5 | 54.0 |
| 4: 8 | 56 | 45.5 | 46.9 | 48.3 | 49.7 | 51.2 | 52.6 | 54.0 |
| 4: 9 | 57 | 45.5 | 46.9 | 48.4 | 49.8 | 51.2 | 52.6 | 54.1 |
| 4:10 | 58 | 45.6 | 47.0 | 48.4 | 49.8 | 51.3 | 52.7 | 54.1 |
| 4:11 | 59 | 45.6 | 47.0 | 48.5 | 49.9 | 51.3 | 52.7 | 54.1 |
| 5: 0 | 60 | 45.7 | 47.1 | 48.5 | 49.9 | 51.3 | 52.8 | 54.2 |
| y:m | m | – 3 | – 2 | – 1 | 0 | +1 | +2 | +3 |
| Age | Head circumference, cm | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| y:m | m | – 3 | – 2 | – 1 | 0 | +1 | +2 | +3 |
| 0: 0 | 0 | 30.7 | 31.9 | 33.2 | 34.5 | 35.7 | 37.0 | 38.3 |
| 0: 1 | 1 | 33.8 | 34.9 | 36.1 | 37.3 | 38.4 | 39.6 | 40.8 |
| 0: 2 | 2 | 35.6 | 36.8 | 38.0 | 39.1 | 40.3 | 41.5 | 42.6 |
| 0: 3 | 3 | 37.0 | 38.1 | 39.3 | 40.5 | 41.7 | 42.9 | 44.1 |
| 0: 4 | 4 | 38.0 | 39.2 | 40.4 | 41.6 | 42.8 | 44.0 | 45.2 |
| 0: 5 | 5 | 38.9 | 40.1 | 41.4 | 42.6 | 43.8 | 45.0 | 46.2 |
| 0: 6 | 6 | 39.7 | 40.9 | 42.1 | 43.3 | 44.6 | 45.8 | 47.0 |
| 0: 7 | 7 | 40.3 | 41.5 | 42.7 | 44.0 | 45.2 | 46.4 | 47.7 |
| 0: 8 | 8 | 40.8 | 42.0 | 43.3 | 44.5 | 45.8 | 47.0 | 48.3 |
| 0: 9 | 9 | 41.2 | 42.5 | 43.7 | 45.0 | 46.3 | 47.5 | 48.8 |
| 0:10 | 10 | 41.6 | 42.9 | 44.1 | 45.4 | 46.7 | 47.9 | 49.2 |
| 0:11 | 11 | 41.9 | 43.2 | 44.5 | 45.8 | 47.0 | 48.3 | 49.6 |
| y:m | m | – 3 | – 2 | – 1 | 0 | +1 | +2 | +3 |
| 1: 0 | 12 | 42.2 | 43.5 | 44.8 | 46.1 | 47.4 | 48.6 | 49.9 |
| 1: 1 | 13 | 42.5 | 43.8 | 45.0 | 46.3 | 47.6 | 48.9 | 50.2 |
| 1: 2 | 14 | 42.7 | 44.0 | 45.3 | 46.6 | 47.9 | 49.2 | 50.5 |
| 1: 3 | 15 | 42.9 | 44.2 | 45.5 | 46.8 | 48.1 | 49.4 | 50.7 |
| 1: 4 | 16 | 43.1 | 44.4 | 45.7 | 47.0 | 48.3 | 49.6 | 51.0 |
| 1: 5 | 17 | 43.2 | 44.6 | 45.9 | 47.2 | 48.5 | 49.8 | 51.2 |
| 1: 6 | 18 | 43.4 | 44.7 | 46.0 | 47.4 | 48.7 | 50.0 | 51.4 |
| 1: 7 | 19 | 43.5 | 44.9 | 46.2 | 47.5 | 48.9 | 50.2 | 51.5 |
| 1: 8 | 20 | 43.7 | 45.0 | 46.4 | 47.7 | 49.0 | 50.4 | 51.7 |
| 1: 9 | 21 | 43.8 | 45.2 | 46.5 | 47.8 | 49.2 | 50.5 | 51.9 |
| 1:10 | 22 | 43.9 | 45.3 | 46.6 | 48.0 | 49.3 | 50.7 | 52.0 |
| 1:11 | 23 | 44.1 | 45.4 | 46.8 | 48.1 | 49.5 | 50.8 | 52.2 |
| 2: 0 | 24 | 44.2 | 45.5 | 46.9 | 48.3 | 49.6 | 51.0 | 52.3 |
| y:m | m | – 3 | – 2 | – 1 | 0 | +1 | +2 | +3 |
| Age | Head circumference, cm | |||||||
| y:m | m | – 3 | – 2 | – 1 | 0 | +1 | +2 | +3 |
| 2: 0 | 24 | 44.2 | 45.5 | 46.9 | 48.3 | 49.6 | 51.0 | 52.3 |
| 2: 1 | 25 | 44.3 | 45.6 | 47.0 | 48.4 | 49.7 | 51.1 | 52.5 |
| 2: 2 | 26 | 44.4 | 45.8 | 47.1 | 48.5 | 49.9 | 51.2 | 52.6 |
| 2: 3 | 27 | 44.5 | 45.9 | 47.2 | 48.6 | 50.0 | 51.4 | 52.7 |
| 2: 4 | 28 | 44.6 | 46.0 | 47.3 | 48.7 | 50.1 | 51.5 | 52.9 |
| 2: 5 | 29 | 44.7 | 46.1 | 47.4 | 48.8 | 50.2 | 51.6 | 53.0 |
| 2: 6 | 30 | 44.8 | 46.1 | 47.5 | 48.9 | 50.3 | 51.7 | 53.1 |
| 2: 7 | 31 | 44.8 | 46.2 | 47.6 | 49.0 | 50.4 | 51.8 | 53.2 |
| 2: 8 | 32 | 44.9 | 46.3 | 47.7 | 49.1 | 50.5 | 51.9 | 53.3 |
| 2: 9 | 33 | 45.0 | 46.4 | 47.8 | 49.2 | 50.6 | 52.0 | 53.4 |
| 2:10 | 34 | 45.1 | 46.5 | 47.9 | 49.3 | 50.7 | 52.1 | 53.5 |
| 2:11 | 35 | 45.1 | 46.6 | 48.0 | 49.4 | 50.8 | 52.2 | 53.6 |
| y:m | m | – 3 | – 2 | – 1 | 0 | +1 | +2 | +3 |
| 3: 0 | 36 | 45.2 | 46.6 | 48.0 | 49.5 | 50.9 | 52.3 | 53.7 |
| 3: 1 | 37 | 45.3 | 46.7 | 48.1 | 49.5 | 51.0 | 52.4 | 53.8 |
| 3: 2 | 38 | 45.3 | 46.8 | 48.2 | 49.6 | 51.0 | 52.5 | 53.9 |
| 3: 3 | 39 | 45.4 | 46.8 | 48.2 | 49.7 | 51.1 | 52.5 | 54.0 |
| 3: 4 | 40 | 45.4 | 46.9 | 48.3 | 49.7 | 51.2 | 52.6 | 54.1 |
| 3: 5 | 41 | 45.5 | 46.9 | 48.4 | 49.8 | 51.3 | 52.7 | 54.1 |
| 3: 6 | 42 | 45.5 | 47.0 | 48.4 | 49.9 | 51.3 | 52.8 | 54.2 |
| 3: 7 | 43 | 45.6 | 47.0 | 48.5 | 49.9 | 51.4 | 52.8 | 54.3 |
| 3: 8 | 44 | 45.6 | 47.1 | 48.5 | 50.0 | 51.4 | 52.9 | 54.3 |
| 3: 9 | 45 | 45.7 | 47.1 | 48.6 | 50.1 | 51.5 | 53.0 | 54.4 |
| 3:10 | 46 | 45.7 | 47.2 | 48.7 | 50.1 | 51.6 | 53.0 | 54.5 |
| 3:11 | 47 | 45.8 | 47.2 | 48.7 | 50.2 | 51.6 | 53.1 | 54.5 |
| y:m | m | – 3 | – 2 | – 1 | 0 | +1 | +2 | +3 |
| 4: 0 | 48 | 45.8 | 47.3 | 48.7 | 50.2 | 51.7 | 53.1 | 54.6 |
| 4: 1 | 49 | 45.9 | 47.3 | 48.8 | 50.3 | 51.7 | 53.2 | 54.7 |
| 4: 2 | 50 | 45.9 | 47.4 | 48.8 | 50.3 | 51.8 | 53.2 | 54.7 |
| 4: 3 | 51 | 45.9 | 47.4 | 48.9 | 50.4 | 51.8 | 53.3 | 54.8 |
| 4: 4 | 52 | 46.0 | 47.5 | 48.9 | 50.4 | 51.9 | 53.4 | 54.8 |
| 4: 5 | 53 | 46.0 | 47.5 | 49.0 | 50.4 | 51.9 | 53.4 | 54.9 |
| 4: 6 | 54 | 46.1 | 47.5 | 49.0 | 50.5 | 52.0 | 53.5 | 54.9 |
| 4: 7 | 55 | 46.1 | 47.6 | 49.1 | 50.5 | 52.0 | 53.5 | 55.0 |
| 4: 8 | 56 | 46.1 | 47.6 | 49.1 | 50.6 | 52.1 | 53.5 | 55.0 |
| 4: 9 | 57 | 46.2 | 47.6 | 49.1 | 50.6 | 52.1 | 53.6 | 55.1 |
| 4:10 | 58 | 46.2 | 47.7 | 49.2 | 50.7 | 52.1 | 53.6 | 55.1 |
| 4:11 | 59 | 46.2 | 47.7 | 49.2 | 50.7 | 52.2 | 53.7 | 55.2 |
| 5: 0 | 60 | 46.3 | 47.7 | 49.2 | 50.7 | 52.2 | 53.7 | 55.2 |
| y:m | m | – 3 | – 2 | – 1 | 0 | +1 | +2 | +3 |
The presented centile tables of the head circumference of children were developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) on the basis of a modern study of the development of healthy children and are intended for use by doctors who have been trained in the developed methodology.
Assessment of the development of children is also carried out according to tables of height, weight and body mass index, weight gain, but is not limited to them.