PURPOSES: to describe the anthropometric orofacial measurements according to age and gender; to compare the average of the left side of the face to the average of the right side of the face, according to age and gender. METHODS: 27 afro-descending children bearers of malnutrition with ages ranging from 4 to 6 years. RESULTS: there was no statistical difference for the anthropometric orofacial measurements according to age and gender. For inferior lip, philtrum and the left side of the face, the measurements presented themselves in a bigger proportion in males. There was no significant difference between the right and the left side, regarding the distance between the external corner of the eye and the cheilion, according to age and gender. CONCLUSION: the age did not represent signification in the results, but there were differences to gender. There were no statistical differences in the comparison of the measurements between the sides of the face for age or gender.