What is Normal GFR by Age and Gender?

What is Normal GFR by Age and Gender?

Medically Reviewed by Dr. Andrew Stein MD, Consultant Nephrologist (Hospital Kidney Specialist). Last updated: June 2026

Or, more specifically, what is an average GFR in a European Population, according to recent research studies?

Short answer = about 100 (80-110) ml/min.

We will now describe the longer answer (as GFR depends on which equation is used, age, gender and other factors).

[“How did we know you were going to say that?” Ed]

In a 2025 study over 1.5m healthy Europeans were studied by Astley, 2025 in this meta-analysis: ‘Age- and sex-specific reference values of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) for European adults’.

The study showed that eGFR decreased with age in healthy individuals; and these eGFR reference values (below) can help determine abnormal and normal kidney function across the age range.

Of 2,572,020 individuals, 1,535,253 (60%) were considered healthy (and included in the data), of which 45% were men.

GFR in European studies using different equations

• Most Conservative: The Revised Lund-Malmö formula consistently produces the lowest (most conservative) eGFR values across all studies.

• Highest Estimates: The CKD-EPI (2021) formula consistently yields the highest kidney function scores.

• The Age Gap: Note the BIS Study (the oldest group, avg. 78): while their scores are the lowest across all formulas, the gap between Lund-Malmö and CKD-EPI 2021 is quite wide, showing how different formulas can significantly change a clinical diagnosis in elderly patients.

• Middle Ground: The EKFC formula typically sits in the middle, often mirroring the trends seen in the CKD-EPI formulas but with slightly lower results.

Normal (average) GFR Values

So, according to this data, in an adult European popualtion, normal (average) GFR, adjusted for body surface area, is approximately:

~100 ml/min/1.73 m²

This is an average, not a fixed value. And the average (in this meta-analysis) varies – according to age and gender – from 80 to 110 ml/min (see below). And each of those averages has a normal range of 10-20 ml/min above and below the average.

GFR is mathematically corrected to body surface area because:

• Larger bodies generally have larger kidneys
• Larger kidneys filter more fluid

Note. GFR also varies depending on which equation is used to calculate it – confusingly, there are several.

GFR by Decade

This data also from the Astley paper.

This table shows 5th percentile (lower end) GFR, 50th percentile (the median/typical value), and 95th percentile (high end) for both men and women across the lifespan.

Observations from the Data

• For each decade there is an average GFR; but that is an average within a normal range – e.g. for a 70y old, the average is a GFR of 79 ml/min. But 56 and 92 can also be normal.

• The “Peak” Years: For both men and women, kidney function remains remarkably stable and hits its peak between the ages of 25 and 35.

• The Turning Point: A noticeable decline begins after age 40. Between ages 40 and 60, the median eGFR drops by roughly 1 point per year.

• Gender Differences: Women actually start with slightly higher values in their 20s and 30s, but as they age into their 80s and 90s, their median eGFR tends to drop slightly faster/lower than men’s.

• Normal vs. Low: By age 80, a “median” healthy person has an eGFR in the 70s, but the 5th percentile (the bottom of the “healthy” range) drops into the 40s.

Kidney Function Loss (GFR decrease): Age 20 to 80

This data is also from the Astley paper.

Decade-by-Decade Analysis

By looking at these markers, we can see exactly when the decline accelerates:

• Age 20 to 40 (The Plateau): There is virtually no decline. Kidney function remains stable at peak levels (around 108) for the first two decades of adulthood.

• Age 40 to 60 (The Start of Decline): This is the most significant period of change. Both men and women lose approximately 19–20 units of eGFR during these twenty years (roughly 1 unit per year).

• Age 60 to 80 (Steady Decline): The decline continues at a slightly slower pace, dropping another 15–17 units.

Other MyHSN Resources

What is GFR?

What is CKD?

What is uACR?