FEV1 (Lung Function)
FEV1 (also written FEV₁) is the volume of air a person can forcefully exhale in one second during a spirometry test, the standard measure of airway obstruction and a key marker in diagnosing and monitoring COPD and asthma. Higher values indicate greater lung function. Norms here are for Caucasian adults and children at median heights for each age group, derived from GLI-2012 equations applied to NHANES reference heights. Results vary by height and ethnicity; see the FAQ below. The derivation method is documented on the FEV1 methodology page.
Data source: Quanjer et al. (GLI-2012) About this study
FEV1 (Lung Function) Norms Chart by Age and Sex (L)
| Age | Sex | Percentile | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5th | 25th | 50th | 75th | 95th | ||
| 5-9 | Male | 1.09 | 1.25 | 1.36 | 1.48 | 1.64 |
| Female | 1.03 | 1.18 | 1.29 | 1.39 | 1.54 | |
| 10-14 | Male | 2.00 | 2.28 | 2.48 | 2.67 | 2.95 |
| Female | 2.05 | 2.34 | 2.54 | 2.74 | 3.02 | |
| 15-19 | Male | 3.53 | 4.03 | 4.38 | 4.72 | 5.21 |
| Female | 2.67 | 3.05 | 3.31 | 3.57 | 3.94 | |
| 20-29 | Male | 3.66 | 4.19 | 4.55 | 4.90 | 5.40 |
| Female | 2.62 | 3.00 | 3.26 | 3.52 | 3.88 | |
| 30-39 | Male | 3.39 | 3.91 | 4.26 | 4.61 | 5.11 |
| Female | 2.49 | 2.85 | 3.11 | 3.35 | 3.71 | |
| 40-49 | Male | 3.13 | 3.63 | 3.97 | 4.31 | 4.78 |
| Female | 2.26 | 2.62 | 2.86 | 3.11 | 3.45 | |
| 50-59 | Male | 2.78 | 3.28 | 3.62 | 3.95 | 4.41 |
| Female | 1.99 | 2.34 | 2.58 | 2.82 | 3.16 | |
| 60-69 | Male | 2.35 | 2.85 | 3.18 | 3.50 | 3.96 |
| Female | 1.68 | 2.03 | 2.26 | 2.49 | 2.82 | |
| 70-79 | Male | 1.95 | 2.43 | 2.75 | 3.06 | 3.50 |
| Female | 1.38 | 1.71 | 1.93 | 2.15 | 2.46 | |
| 80+ | Male | 1.64 | 2.10 | 2.41 | 2.71 | 3.12 |
| Female | 1.12 | 1.43 | 1.64 | 1.84 | 2.13 | |
What to expect by age group
| Age | Males | Females |
|---|---|---|
| 5-9 | 1.25 to 1.48 | 1.18 to 1.39 |
| 10-14 | 2.28 to 2.67 | 2.34 to 2.74 |
| 15-19 | 4.03 to 4.72 | 3.05 to 3.57 |
| 20-29 | 4.19 to 4.90 | 3.00 to 3.52 |
| 30-39 | 3.91 to 4.61 | 2.85 to 3.35 |
| 40-49 | 3.63 to 4.31 | 2.62 to 3.11 |
| 50-59 | 3.28 to 3.95 | 2.34 to 2.82 |
| 60-69 | 2.85 to 3.50 | 2.03 to 2.49 |
| 70-79 | 2.43 to 3.06 | 1.71 to 2.15 |
| 80+ | 2.10 to 2.71 | 1.43 to 1.84 |
Detailed Breakdowns
Select an age group and sex below for detailed percentile charts, tables, and ratings.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a normal FEV1?
Normal FEV1 varies substantially by age, sex, and height. For a typical adult man in his 30s (height ~176 cm), a median value is around 4.3 L. For a woman in her 30s (height ~162 cm), the median is around 3.1 L. Clinically, a value above 80% of the predicted value for your age, sex, and height is generally considered within the normal range.
Does ethnicity affect FEV1?
Yes. The GLI-2012 reference equations include ethnicity-specific adjustments. Compared to Caucasian values, African American individuals have FEV1 values approximately 10-15% lower; North East Asian individuals approximately 4% lower; South East Asian individuals approximately 9-12% lower (GLI-2012, Table 3). The percentiles on this site use Caucasian coefficients, which represent the majority of the GLI dataset (81% of males, 86% of females). For ethnicity-adjusted predictions, use the GLI calculator at gli-calculator.ersnet.org.
Why does height affect FEV1?
Taller people have larger lungs and airways, so they can exhale more air in one second. FEV1 scales approximately with the square of height. The percentiles shown here are computed at the median height for each age and sex bracket from NHANES data. If you are notably taller or shorter than average, your expected FEV1 will be higher or lower accordingly.
What is the difference between FEV1 and FVC?
FVC (forced vital capacity) is the total volume of air exhaled during a maximal forced breath. FEV1 is the portion exhaled in the first second. The ratio FEV1/FVC is used clinically to distinguish obstructive (low ratio) from restrictive (normal ratio, reduced FVC) lung disease. See the FEV1/FVC ratio page for percentiles of the ratio across age and sex. FVC as a standalone metric is not currently published on this site.