What is the recommended caloric intake for a teenager?

First off, a calorie is the energy needed to raise the temperature of 1 gram of water through 1 °C. It is a way of measuring how much energy we get from a given type of food.

The main factors for calculating your Caloric intake are your:
Gender
Age
Weight
Height
Metabolism rate
Lean body mass
Daily activities

Average Caloric intake

Here is a link to a quick, easy to use Caloric calculator. This will give you a very general number.
http://www.diet-blog.com/05/how_to_calculate_your_daily_calorie_needs.php


The BMR or the basal metabolic rate is the term used to describe the total energy used for bodily functions, such as your digestion rate, circulation, respiration, temperature regulation, and all other body processes. Your BMR takes up about 2/3 of your caloric intake. BMRs are inherited and vary from person to person.
Here is how to calculate a teenagers BMR
http://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/dnpabmi/Calculator.aspx

Calculate BMR (Adults only)
Women: 655 + (4.3 x weight in pounds) + (4.7 x height in inches) - (4.7 x age in years)
Men: 66 + (6.3 x weight in pounds) + (12.9 x height in inches) - (6.8 x age in years)

Physical activities are also very important for determining your daily caloric intake. If one person runs three miles a day, s/he will need more calories than a person who doesn’t.

Another factor is weight and height. A bigger person needs to eat more than a smaller person, and therefore requires more calorie intake.

Lean body mass (LBM) is a way of determining your caloric needs. A high BMR will mean there will be a high LBM. Separating out your body's fat gets your LBM.
Age and gender affect metabolic rate, which, affects daily caloric intake. Men usually have more muscle and need more calories then women. Senior citizens have a slower metabolic rate than younger people, which also affects caloric intake.

As you can see, calculating your necessary caloric intake is complex, and just one variable can change your results. Remember, consuming the correct amount of calories will give you the necessary energy and nutrients for a healthy figure.