Low-birthweight babies in East Asia & Pacific (excluding high income)
East Asia & Pacific (excluding high income): Low-birthweight babies was 8.4% in 2020. ▼ Falling
Low-birthweight babies in East Asia & Pacific (excluding high income), 2000–2020
Source: UNICEF-WHO Low birthweight estimates, UN Children's Fund (UNICEF). Measured in % of births.
Analysis
The most recent figure for low-birthweight babies in East Asia & Pacific (excluding high income) is 8.4%, measured in 2020.
The figure is up 3.5% on the previous year and down 2.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, low-birthweight babies in East Asia & Pacific (excluding high income) peaked at 8.8% in 2003 and was at its lowest, 7.9%, in 2016.
That places East Asia & Pacific (excluding high income) 21st out of 31 groups 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 in East Asia & Pacific (excluding high income), year by year
| Year | % of births | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 8.7% | — |
| 2001 | 8.8% | +0.7% |
| 2002 | 8.8% | +0.3% |
| 2003 | 8.8% | +0.2% |
| 2004 | 8.8% | -0.4% |
| 2005 | 8.7% | -0.8% |
| 2006 | 8.7% | +0.2% |
| 2007 | 8.7% | -0.6% |
| 2008 | 8.6% | -0.4% |
| 2009 | 8.6% | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 8.6% | -0.3% |
| 2011 | 8.4% | -2.8% |
| 2012 | 8.1% | -2.8% |
| 2013 | 8.3% | +1.7% |
| 2014 | 8.1% | -2.5% |
| 2015 | 8.3% | +2.4% |
| 2016 | 7.9% | -4.0% |
| 2017 | 7.9% | +0.3% |
| 2018 | 8.1% | +2.3% |
| 2019 | 8.1% | -0.2% |
| 2020 | 8.4% | +3.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 8.7% | 8.6% | 8.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 8.2% | 7.9% | 8.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 8.4% | 8.4% | 8.4% | 1 |
Countries ranked near East Asia & Pacific (excluding high income)
- 18 Guyana 17.2% compare
- 19 Botswana 16.8% compare
- 20 Lao People's Democratic Republic 16.7% compare
- 21 South Africa 16.6% compare
- 22 Suriname 16.5% compare
- 23 Benin 16.4% compare
- 24 Central African Republic 16.4% compare
More health data for East Asia & Pacific (excluding high income)
- Population ages 35-39, female, annual growth rate 2.31 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 40-44, female, per capita 0.0353 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 40-44, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 40-44, female, annual growth rate 1.78 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 35-39, male, per capita 0.0424 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 35-39, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 35-39, male, annual growth rate 2.76 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 35-39, female, per capita 0.0396 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 35-39, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 25-29, male, per capita 0.0341 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is low-birthweight babies in East Asia & Pacific (excluding high income)?
- Low-birthweight babies in East Asia & Pacific (excluding high income) was 8.4% in 2020, according to UNICEF-WHO Low birthweight estimates, UN Children's Fund (UNICEF).
- What is the highest low-birthweight babies recorded in East Asia & Pacific (excluding high income)?
- The highest recorded value was 8.8% in 2003.
- What is the lowest low-birthweight babies recorded in East Asia & Pacific (excluding high income)?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.9% in 2016.
- How does East Asia & Pacific (excluding high income) rank for low-birthweight babies?
- East Asia & Pacific (excluding high income) ranks 21st out of 31 groups with data for 2020.
- Is low-birthweight babies rising or falling in East Asia & Pacific (excluding high income)?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this East Asia & Pacific (excluding high income) 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.