Low-birthweight babies (% of births) in Democratic Republic of Congo
Democratic Republic of Congo: Low-birthweight babies (% of births) was 10.2% in 2020. ▼ Falling
Low-birthweight babies in Democratic Republic of Congo, 2000–2020
Source: UNICEF-WHO Low birthweight estimates, UN Children's Fund (UNICEF). Measured in % of births.
Analysis
In 2020, low-birthweight babies in Democratic Republic of Congo stood at 10.2%. That is the lowest value across all 21 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.8% on the previous year and down 10.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, low-birthweight babies in Democratic Republic of Congo peaked at 12.4% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 10.2%, in 2020.
That places Democratic Republic of Congo 80th out of 157 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 21 years of available data.
Low-birthweight babies (% of births) in Democratic Republic of Congo, year by year
| Year | % of births | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 12.4% | — |
| 2001 | 12.3% | -0.4% |
| 2002 | 12.3% | -0.7% |
| 2003 | 12.1% | -0.9% |
| 2004 | 12.0% | -1.0% |
| 2005 | 11.9% | -1.1% |
| 2006 | 11.8% | -1.0% |
| 2007 | 11.7% | -1.0% |
| 2008 | 11.5% | -1.0% |
| 2009 | 11.4% | -1.0% |
| 2010 | 11.3% | -1.1% |
| 2011 | 11.2% | -1.1% |
| 2012 | 11.0% | -1.1% |
| 2013 | 10.9% | -1.2% |
| 2014 | 10.8% | -1.2% |
| 2015 | 10.7% | -1.2% |
| 2016 | 10.5% | -1.1% |
| 2017 | 10.4% | -1.0% |
| 2018 | 10.3% | -1.0% |
| 2019 | 10.2% | -0.9% |
| 2020 | 10.2% | -0.8% |
Democratic Republic of Congo compared with similar countries
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 10.2% is below the median for low income countries, which is 15.6%, 65% of the median. (13 countries reporting)
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 10.2% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 14.8%, 69% of the median. (35 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 11.9% | 11.4% | 12.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 10.7% | 10.2% | 11.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 10.2% | 10.2% | 10.2% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Democratic Republic of Congo
More health data for Democratic Republic of Congo
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.56 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 1.03 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 133,650 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 390 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 2.56 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0895 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 2.59 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.0905 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is low-birthweight babies in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Low-birthweight babies in Democratic Republic of Congo was 10.2% in 2020, according to UNICEF-WHO Low birthweight estimates, UN Children's Fund (UNICEF).
- What is the highest low-birthweight babies recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 12.4% in 2000.
- What is the lowest low-birthweight babies recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.2% in 2020.
- How does Democratic Republic of Congo rank for low-birthweight babies?
- Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 80th out of 157 countries with data for 2020.
- Is low-birthweight babies rising or falling in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is down 10.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Democratic Republic of Congo 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.
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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.