Low-birthweight babies in Ghana
Ghana: Low-birthweight babies was 14.4% in 2020. ▼ Falling
Low-birthweight babies in Ghana, 2000–2020
Source: UNICEF-WHO Low birthweight estimates, UN Children's Fund (UNICEF). Measured in % of births.
Analysis
In 2020, low-birthweight babies in Ghana stood at 14.4%. That is the lowest value across all 21 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.3% on the previous year and down 4.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, low-birthweight babies in Ghana peaked at 15.8% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 14.4%, in 2020.
Ghana ranks 38th of 157 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 21 years of available data.
Low-birthweight babies in Ghana, year by year
| Year | % of births | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 15.8% | — |
| 2001 | 15.8% | -0.2% |
| 2002 | 15.7% | -0.2% |
| 2003 | 15.7% | -0.2% |
| 2004 | 15.7% | -0.3% |
| 2005 | 15.6% | -0.4% |
| 2006 | 15.5% | -0.4% |
| 2007 | 15.5% | -0.6% |
| 2008 | 15.3% | -0.7% |
| 2009 | 15.2% | -0.8% |
| 2010 | 15.1% | -0.8% |
| 2011 | 15.0% | -0.8% |
| 2012 | 14.9% | -0.7% |
| 2013 | 14.8% | -0.6% |
| 2014 | 14.7% | -0.4% |
| 2015 | 14.7% | -0.4% |
| 2016 | 14.6% | -0.4% |
| 2017 | 14.6% | -0.4% |
| 2018 | 14.5% | -0.4% |
| 2019 | 14.5% | -0.3% |
| 2020 | 14.4% | -0.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 15.6% | 15.2% | 15.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 14.7% | 14.5% | 15.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 14.4% | 14.4% | 14.4% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Ghana
More health data for Ghana
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.37 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.6224 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 986.1 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 8,361 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 50-54, male, annual growth rate 2.86 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 50-54, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 50-54, male, per capita 0.0186 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 55-59, female, annual growth rate 3.35 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 55-59, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 55-59, female, per capita 0.0162 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is low-birthweight babies in Ghana?
- Low-birthweight babies in Ghana was 14.4% in 2020, according to UNICEF-WHO Low birthweight estimates, UN Children's Fund (UNICEF).
- What is the highest low-birthweight babies recorded in Ghana?
- The highest recorded value was 15.8% in 2000.
- What is the lowest low-birthweight babies recorded in Ghana?
- The lowest recorded value was 14.4% in 2020.
- How does Ghana rank for low-birthweight babies?
- Ghana ranks 38th out of 157 countries with data for 2020.
- Is low-birthweight babies rising or falling in Ghana?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Ghana 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.