Low birth weight number in Kenya

Kenya: Low birth weight number was 145.2 in 2020. ▬ Flat

Latest (2020)
145.2
Change on year
down 0.8%
World rank
17th
of 157 countries
All-time high
161.9
in 2008
All-time low
144.3
in 2000
Years of data
21
2000–2020

Low birth weight number in Kenya, 2000–2020

0501001502000201020202000: 144.32001: 147.82002: 149.82003: 1512004: 152.92005: 155.32006: 157.82007: 160.62008: 161.92009: 161.42010: 159.92011: 1582012: 156.22013: 154.22014: 152.82015: 153.42016: 152.42017: 150.72018: 148.92019: 146.32020: 145.2

Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.

Analysis

The most recent figure for low birth weight number in Kenya is 145.2, measured in 2020.

The figure is down 0.8% on the previous year and down 9.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, low birth weight number in Kenya peaked at 161.9 in 2008 and was at its lowest, 144.3, in 2000.

That places Kenya 17th out of 157 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the top quarter.

Low birth weight number in Kenya, year by year

Annual values for Low birth weight number (in thousands) in Kenya, 2000 to 2020.
Year Value Change
2000 144.3 —
2001 147.8 +2.4%
2002 149.8 +1.4%
2003 151 +0.8%
2004 152.9 +1.3%
2005 155.3 +1.6%
2006 157.8 +1.6%
2007 160.6 +1.8%
2008 161.9 +0.8%
2009 161.4 -0.3%
2010 159.9 -0.9%
2011 158 -1.2%
2012 156.2 -1.1%
2013 154.2 -1.3%
2014 152.8 -0.9%
2015 153.4 +0.4%
2016 152.4 -0.7%
2017 150.7 -1.1%
2018 148.9 -1.2%
2019 146.3 -1.7%
2020 145.2 -0.8%

Kenya compared with similar countries

  • Kenya's 145.2 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 32.8, 4.4× the median. (40 countries reporting)
  • Kenya's 145.2 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 39, 3.7× the median. (35 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 154.28 144.3 161.9 10
2010s 153.28 146.3 159.9 10
2020s 145.2 145.2 145.2 1

Countries ranked near Kenya

  1. 14 Cote d'Ivoire 167.8 compare
  2. 15 Madagascar 165.6 compare
  3. 16 Turkey 163.2 compare
  4. 18 Burkina Faso 143.5 compare
  5. 19 Ghana 130.1 compare
  6. 20 Iraq 128.1 compare

See the full ranking of 178 places →

More health data for Kenya

All data for Kenya →

Frequently asked questions

What is low birth weight number in Kenya?
Low birth weight number in Kenya was 145.2 in 2020, according to World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
What is the highest low birth weight number recorded in Kenya?
The highest recorded value was 161.9 in 2008.
What is the lowest low birth weight number recorded in Kenya?
The lowest recorded value was 144.3 in 2000.
How does Kenya rank for low birth weight number?
Kenya ranks 17th out of 157 countries with data for 2020.
Is low birth weight number rising or falling in Kenya?
Over the last ten years it is down 9.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
Where does this Kenya data come from?
The figures come from World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory, published as part of Low birth weight number (in thousands). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Low birth weight number in Kenya. Statizoid, drawing on World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory. Retrieved 26 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/low-birth-weight-number-in-thousands/kenya/

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About this data

Indicator
Low birth weight number (in thousands)
Source
World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory
Licence
CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO (WHO)
Coverage
178 places, 3,738 data points, 2000–2020
Last refreshed