Low birth weight number in South Africa

South Africa: Low birth weight number was 198.8 in 2020. ▲ Rising

Latest (2020)
198.8
Change on year
down 3.3%
World rank
13th
of 157 countries
All-time high
205.6
in 2019
All-time low
163.8
in 2002
Years of data
21
2000–2020

Low birth weight number in South Africa, 2000–2020

0501001502002000201020202000: 166.62001: 165.52002: 163.82003: 168.52004: 1762005: 182.42006: 187.92007: 190.62008: 204.42009: 194.12010: 192.52011: 194.62012: 197.52013: 198.32014: 199.92015: 196.42016: 191.32017: 194.52018: 201.62019: 205.62020: 198.8

Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.

Analysis

South Africa recorded 198.8 for low birth weight number in 2020.

The figure is down 3.3% on the previous year and up 3.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, low birth weight number in South Africa peaked at 205.6 in 2019 and was at its lowest, 163.8, in 2002.

That places South Africa 13th out of 157 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the top 10%.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 21 years of available data.

Low birth weight number in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Low birth weight number (in thousands) in South Africa, 2000 to 2020.
Year Value Change
2000 166.6
2001 165.5 -0.7%
2002 163.8 -1.0%
2003 168.5 +2.9%
2004 176 +4.5%
2005 182.4 +3.6%
2006 187.9 +3.0%
2007 190.6 +1.4%
2008 204.4 +7.2%
2009 194.1 -5.0%
2010 192.5 -0.8%
2011 194.6 +1.1%
2012 197.5 +1.5%
2013 198.3 +0.4%
2014 199.9 +0.8%
2015 196.4 -1.8%
2016 191.3 -2.6%
2017 194.5 +1.7%
2018 201.6 +3.7%
2019 205.6 +2.0%
2020 198.8 -3.3%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 179.98 163.8 204.4 10
2010s 197.22 191.3 205.6 10
2020s 198.8 198.8 198.8 1

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 10 Mozambique 204.7 compare
  2. 11 Angola 203.9 compare
  3. 12 Mexico 199.1 compare
  4. 14 Cote d'Ivoire 167.8 compare
  5. 15 Madagascar 165.6 compare
  6. 16 Turkey 163.2 compare

See the full ranking of 208 places →

More health data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is low birth weight number in South Africa?
Low birth weight number in South Africa was 198.8 in 2020, according to World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
What is the highest low birth weight number recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 205.6 in 2019.
What is the lowest low birth weight number recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 163.8 in 2002.
How does South Africa rank for low birth weight number?
South Africa ranks 13th out of 157 countries with data for 2020.
Is low birth weight number rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 3.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this South Africa 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 South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory. Retrieved 27 August 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/low-birth-weight-number-in-thousands/south-africa/

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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
208 places, 4,368 data points, 2000–2020
Last refreshed