Low birth weight prevalence in Americas (WHO region)
Americas (WHO region): Low birth weight prevalence was 9.2% in 2020. ▬ Flat
Latest (2020)
9.2%
Change on year
unchanged
Rank
9th
of 13 groups
All-time high
9.2%
in 2018
All-time low
8.9%
in 2000
Years of data
21
2000–2020
Low birth weight prevalence in Americas (WHO region), 2000–2020
Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
Analysis
In 2020, low birth weight prevalence in Americas (WHO region) stood at 9.2%. That is the highest value across all 21 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, low birth weight prevalence in Americas (WHO region) peaked at 9.2% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 8.9%, in 2000.
Low birth weight prevalence in Americas (WHO region), year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 8.9% | — |
| 2001 | 8.9% | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 8.9% | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 8.9% | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 9.0% | +1.1% |
| 2005 | 9.0% | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 9.0% | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 9.0% | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 9.0% | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 9.0% | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 9.0% | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 9.0% | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 9.1% | +1.1% |
| 2013 | 9.1% | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 9.1% | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 9.1% | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 9.1% | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 9.1% | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 9.2% | +1.1% |
| 2019 | 9.2% | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 9.2% | +0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 9.0% | 8.9% | 9.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 9.1% | 9.0% | 9.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.2% | 9.2% | 9.2% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Americas (WHO region)
- 6 Nepal 19.7% compare
- 7 Guinea-Bissau 19.5% compare
- 8 Papua New Guinea 19.4% compare
- 9 Jordan 18.9% compare
- 10 Madagascar 18.7% compare
- 10 Mauritius 18.7% compare
- 12 Burkina Faso 18.5% compare
More health data for Americas (WHO region)
- Pertussis - number of reported cases, gaps filled 24,640 (2025)
- Diphtheria - number of reported cases, gaps filled 72 (2025)
- Total tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 385 (2025)
- Measles - number of reported cases, gaps filled 12,380 (2025)
- Measles - number of reported cases, annual growth rate 22.22 % change on previous year (2024)
- Pertussis - number of reported cases, annual growth rate -20.67 % change on previous year (2025)
- Total tetanus - number of reported cases, annual growth rate -12.7 % change on previous year (2025)
- Measles - number of reported cases 12,380 (2025)
- Diphtheria - number of reported cases 72 (2025)
- Total tetanus - number of reported cases 385 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is low birth weight prevalence in Americas (WHO region)?
- Low birth weight prevalence in Americas (WHO region) was 9.2% in 2020, according to World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
- What is the highest low birth weight prevalence recorded in Americas (WHO region)?
- The highest recorded value was 9.2% in 2018.
- What is the lowest low birth weight prevalence recorded in Americas (WHO region)?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.9% in 2000.
- How does Americas (WHO region) rank for low birth weight prevalence?
- Americas (WHO region) ranks 9th out of 13 groups with data for 2020.
- Is low birth weight prevalence rising or falling in Americas (WHO region)?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Americas (WHO region) data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory, published as part of Low birth weight prevalence (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 21 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO (WHO).