OECD members vs South Africa: Low-birthweight babies

OECD members
8.7%
in 2020
South Africa
16.6%
in 2020
OECD members rank
18th
South Africa rank
21st

Low-birthweight babies over time

  • OECD members
  • South Africa
051015200020102020

How they compare

South Africa currently reports 16.6% against 8.7% in OECD members, a difference of 7.9%.

That makes South Africa's figure about 1.9 times OECD members's.

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

OECD members ranks 18th 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 OECD members South Africa Difference Ahead
2000s 8.7% 17.0% 8.3% South Africa
2010s 8.7% 16.6% 7.9% South Africa
2020s 8.7% 16.6% 7.9% South Africa

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher low-birthweight babies, OECD members or South Africa?
South Africa, at 16.6% against 8.7% in OECD members as of 2020.
What is the difference in low-birthweight babies between OECD members and South Africa?
7.9%, with South Africa ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for OECD members and South Africa?
21 years are reported by both, from 2000 to 2020.
How do OECD members and South Africa rank globally for low-birthweight babies?
OECD members ranks 18th 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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OECD members vs South Africa: Low-birthweight babies. Statizoid, drawing on UNICEF-WHO Low birthweight estimates, UN Children's Fund (UNICEF). Retrieved 14 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/compare/low-birthweight-babies-percent-of-births/oecd-members/south-africa/

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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.