Low-birthweight babies in China
China: Low-birthweight babies was 5.0% in 2020. ▼ Falling
Low-birthweight babies in China, 2000–2020
Source: UNICEF-WHO Low birthweight estimates, UN Children's Fund (UNICEF). Measured in % of births.
Analysis
In 2020, low-birthweight babies in China stood at 5.0%.
That represents a change of up 0.2% on the previous year and down 4.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, low-birthweight babies in China peaked at 5.7% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 5.0%, in 2019.
China ranks 146th 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-birthweight babies in China, year by year
| Year | % of births | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 5.7% | — |
| 2001 | 5.7% | -0.7% |
| 2002 | 5.7% | -0.8% |
| 2003 | 5.6% | -1.1% |
| 2004 | 5.5% | -1.2% |
| 2005 | 5.5% | -1.2% |
| 2006 | 5.4% | -1.2% |
| 2007 | 5.3% | -1.2% |
| 2008 | 5.3% | -1.0% |
| 2009 | 5.2% | -0.9% |
| 2010 | 5.2% | -0.8% |
| 2011 | 5.2% | -0.6% |
| 2012 | 5.1% | -0.6% |
| 2013 | 5.1% | -0.5% |
| 2014 | 5.1% | -0.6% |
| 2015 | 5.0% | -0.5% |
| 2016 | 5.0% | -0.6% |
| 2017 | 5.0% | -0.5% |
| 2018 | 5.0% | -0.4% |
| 2019 | 5.0% | -0.0% |
| 2020 | 5.0% | +0.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 5.5% | 5.2% | 5.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.1% | 5.0% | 5.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.0% | 5.0% | 5.0% | 1 |
Countries ranked near China
More health data for China
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.15 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.0985 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 2,029 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 4,642 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 65-69, male, annual growth rate -5.47 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 65-69, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 65-69, male, per capita 0.0236 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 70-74, female, annual growth rate 4.79 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 70-74, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 70-74, female, per capita 0.025 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is low-birthweight babies in China?
- Low-birthweight babies in China was 5.0% in 2020, according to UNICEF-WHO Low birthweight estimates, UN Children's Fund (UNICEF).
- What is the highest low-birthweight babies recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 5.7% in 2000.
- What is the lowest low-birthweight babies recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.0% in 2019.
- How does China rank for low-birthweight babies?
- China ranks 146th out of 157 countries with data for 2020.
- Is low-birthweight babies rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from UNICEF-WHO Low birthweight estimates, UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), published as part of Low-birthweight babies (% of births). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Low-birthweight babies are newborns weighing less than 2,500 grams, with the measurement taken within the first hour of life, before significant postnatal weight loss has occurred.