Low birth weight prevalence in South Africa
South Africa: Low birth weight prevalence was 16.6% in 2020. ▬ Flat
Latest (2020)
16.6%
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
21st
of 157 countries
All-time high
17.2%
in 2000
All-time low
16.6%
in 2012
Years of data
21
2000–2020
Low birth weight prevalence in South Africa, 2000–2020
Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 16.6% for low birth weight prevalence in 2020. That is the lowest value across all 21 years on record.
The figure is down 0.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, low birth weight prevalence in South Africa peaked at 17.2% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 16.6%, in 2012.
South Africa ranks 21st of 157 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Low birth weight prevalence in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 17.2% | — |
| 2001 | 17.2% | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 17.2% | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 17.1% | -0.6% |
| 2004 | 17.1% | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 17.0% | -0.6% |
| 2006 | 16.9% | -0.6% |
| 2007 | 16.8% | -0.6% |
| 2008 | 16.8% | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 16.8% | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 16.7% | -0.6% |
| 2011 | 16.7% | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 16.6% | -0.6% |
| 2013 | 16.6% | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 16.6% | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 16.6% | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 16.6% | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 16.6% | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 16.6% | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 16.6% | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 16.6% | +0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 17.0% | 16.8% | 17.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 16.6% | 16.6% | 16.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 16.6% | 16.6% | 16.6% | 1 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 19 Botswana 16.8% compare
- 20 Lao People's Democratic Republic 16.7% compare
- 22 Benin 16.4% compare
- 22 Central African Republic 16.4% compare
- 24 Saint Lucia 16.3% compare
- 24 Trinidad and Tobago 16.3% compare
More health data for South Africa
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.2 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.1386 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,152 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 3,333 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 0-14, female, annual growth rate 0.4769 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, female, per capita 0.1279 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, annual growth rate 0.5816 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, per capita 0.1293 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is low birth weight prevalence in South Africa?
- Low birth weight prevalence in South Africa was 16.6% in 2020, according to World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
- What is the highest low birth weight prevalence recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 17.2% in 2000.
- What is the lowest low birth weight prevalence recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 16.6% in 2012.
- How does South Africa rank for low birth weight prevalence?
- South Africa ranks 21st out of 157 countries with data for 2020.
- Is low birth weight prevalence rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- 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 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).