Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income) vs South Africa: Low-birthweight babies

Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income)
8.2%
in 2020
South Africa
16.6%
in 2020
Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income) rank
22nd
South Africa rank
21st

Low-birthweight babies over time

  • Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income)
  • South Africa
051015200020102020

How they compare

South Africa currently reports 16.6% against 8.2% in Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income), a difference of 8.4%.

That makes South Africa's figure about 2.0 times Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income)'s.

Across all 21 years both countries report, South Africa has been ahead every year.

Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income) ranks 22nd and South Africa ranks 21st of 31 groups.

South Africa has averaged higher in every one of the 3 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income) South Africa Difference Ahead
2000s 9.7% 17.0% 7.3% South Africa
2010s 8.8% 16.6% 7.9% South Africa
2020s 8.2% 16.6% 8.4% South Africa

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher low-birthweight babies, Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income) or South Africa?
South Africa, at 16.6% against 8.2% in Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income) as of 2020.
What is the difference in low-birthweight babies between Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income) and South Africa?
8.4%, with South Africa ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income) and South Africa?
21 years are reported by both, from 2000 to 2020.
How do Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income) and South Africa rank globally for low-birthweight babies?
Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income) ranks 22nd and South Africa ranks 21st of 31 groups.
Where does this data come from?
UNICEF-WHO Low birthweight estimates, UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), published as Low-birthweight babies (% of births). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income) vs South Africa: Low-birthweight babies. Statizoid, drawing on UNICEF-WHO Low birthweight estimates, UN Children's Fund (UNICEF). Retrieved 18 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/compare/low-birthweight-babies-percent-of-births/europe-and-central-asia-excluding-high-income/south-africa/

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<a href="https://health.statizoid.com/compare/low-birthweight-babies-percent-of-births/europe-and-central-asia-excluding-high-income/south-africa/">Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income) vs South Africa: Low-birthweight babies</a> — Statizoid

About this data

Indicator
Low-birthweight babies (% of births)
Unit
% of births
Source
UNICEF-WHO Low birthweight estimates, UN Children's Fund (UNICEF)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
188 places, 3,948 data points, 2000–2020
Last refreshed

Low-birthweight babies are newborns weighing less than 2,500 grams, with the measurement taken within the first hour of life, before significant postnatal weight loss has occurred.