Low birth weight prevalence in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Low birth weight prevalence was 6.8% in 2020. ▼ Falling

Latest (2020)
6.8%
Change on year
down 1.4%
World rank
120th
of 157 countries
All-time high
7.5%
in 2000
All-time low
6.8%
in 2020
Years of data
21
2000–2020

Low birth weight prevalence in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 2000–2020

024682000201020202000: 7.52001: 7.52002: 7.52003: 7.42004: 7.42005: 7.32006: 7.32007: 7.32008: 7.22009: 7.22010: 7.22011: 7.22012: 7.12013: 7.12014: 7.12015: 72016: 72017: 6.92018: 6.92019: 6.92020: 6.8

Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.

Analysis

The most recent figure for low birth weight prevalence in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is 6.8%, measured in 2020. That is the lowest value across all 21 years on record.

The figure is down 1.4% on the previous year and down 5.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, low birth weight prevalence in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland peaked at 7.5% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 6.8%, in 2020.

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 120th of 157 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

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

Low birth weight prevalence in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, year by year

Annual values for Low birth weight prevalence (%) in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 2000 to 2020.
Year Value Change
2000 7.5%
2001 7.5% +0.0%
2002 7.5% +0.0%
2003 7.4% -1.3%
2004 7.4% +0.0%
2005 7.3% -1.4%
2006 7.3% +0.0%
2007 7.3% +0.0%
2008 7.2% -1.4%
2009 7.2% +0.0%
2010 7.2% +0.0%
2011 7.2% +0.0%
2012 7.1% -1.4%
2013 7.1% +0.0%
2014 7.1% +0.0%
2015 7.0% -1.4%
2016 7.0% +0.0%
2017 6.9% -1.4%
2018 6.9% +0.0%
2019 6.9% +0.0%
2020 6.8% -1.4%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 7.4% 7.2% 7.5% 10
2010s 7.0% 6.9% 7.2% 10
2020s 6.8% 6.8% 6.8% 1

Countries ranked near United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

  1. 119 Cuba 7.1% compare
  2. 120 Monaco 6.8% compare
  3. 120 Belgium 6.8% compare
  4. 120 Chile 6.8% compare

See the full ranking of 208 places →

More health data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

All data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland →

Frequently asked questions

What is low birth weight prevalence in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
Low birth weight prevalence in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was 6.8% in 2020, according to World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
What is the highest low birth weight prevalence recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
The highest recorded value was 7.5% in 2000.
What is the lowest low birth weight prevalence recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
The lowest recorded value was 6.8% in 2020.
How does United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank for low birth weight prevalence?
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 120th out of 157 countries with data for 2020.
Is low birth weight prevalence rising or falling in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
Over the last ten years it is down 5.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 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.

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Low birth weight prevalence in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Statizoid, drawing on World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory. Retrieved 24 August 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/low-birth-weight-prevalence-percent/united-kingdom/

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About this data

Indicator
Low birth weight prevalence (%)
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