Platelets
Platelet count reflects the number of circulating thrombocytes. Females have higher counts than males across all age groups, and counts decline gradually with age in both sexes.
Unit: 1000 cells/µL · 12 groups · age and sex · 1 source
Filed under panels: Complete Blood Count · topics: Hematology
Platelets by age and sex
| Age (years) | Males (1000 cells/µL) | Females (1000 cells/µL) |
|---|---|---|
| 20-29 | median 233 middle 90% 170 to 336 | median 261 middle 90% 181 to 382 |
| 30-39 | median 235 middle 90% 159 to 341 | median 261 middle 90% 172 to 384 |
| 40-49 | median 233 middle 90% 163 to 328 | median 263 middle 90% 174 to 396 |
| 50-59 | median 218 middle 90% 137 to 326 | median 256 middle 90% 163 to 370 |
| 60-69 | median 220 middle 90% 143 to 318 | median 244 middle 90% 165 to 360 |
| 70+ | median 202 middle 90% 127 to 314 | median 232 middle 90% 154 to 337 |
Download Platelets percentiles (CSV) Values at full stored precision; tables on this site may round for display. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
Population Distribution
Platelets (thrombocytes) are small cell fragments essential for hemostasis. Platelet count varies with age, sex, inflammation, and bone marrow function. Females consistently have higher counts than males, a difference that persists across the lifespan. Population distributions are broad because many conditions affect platelet production and consumption.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do females have higher platelet counts than males?
The mechanism is not fully understood, but differences in thrombopoietin regulation, hormonal effects on megakaryopoiesis, and iron status (iron deficiency can stimulate platelet production) all likely contribute.
Why do platelet counts decline with age?
Bone marrow cellularity decreases with age, and reduced stem cell reserve can lower platelet production. The decline is gradual and the population distribution remains broad at every age.
What does the unit "1000 cells/µL" mean?
Platelet counts are reported in thousands per microliter. A value of 250 on this site means 250,000 platelets per microliter of blood. Some lab reports write this as 250 x 10^3/µL or simply 250 K/µL.
Data Sources
Cite this data
LabNorms. Platelets population percentiles by age and sex. Data: NHANES 2017-March 2020 Pre-Pandemic. https://labnorms.com/analytes/platelets/. Licensed under CC BY 4.0. Accessed [date].
Download Platelets percentiles (CSV) Values at full stored precision; tables on this site may round for display. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.