Low-birthweight babies in India
India: Low-birthweight babies was 27.4% in 2020. ▼ Falling
Low-birthweight babies in India, 2000–2020
Source: UNICEF-WHO Low birthweight estimates, UN Children's Fund (UNICEF). Measured in % of births.
Analysis
India recorded 27.4% for low-birthweight babies in 2020. That is the lowest value across all 21 years on record.
The figure is down 0.7% on the previous year and down 8.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, low-birthweight babies in India peaked at 32.5% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 27.4%, in 2020.
That places India 1st out of 157 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 21 years of available data.
Low-birthweight babies in India, year by year
| Year | % of births | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 32.5% | — |
| 2001 | 32.3% | -0.6% |
| 2002 | 32.1% | -0.6% |
| 2003 | 31.8% | -0.7% |
| 2004 | 31.6% | -0.8% |
| 2005 | 31.3% | -0.8% |
| 2006 | 31.0% | -0.9% |
| 2007 | 30.8% | -0.9% |
| 2008 | 30.5% | -0.8% |
| 2009 | 30.3% | -0.9% |
| 2010 | 30.0% | -0.8% |
| 2011 | 29.7% | -0.9% |
| 2012 | 29.5% | -0.9% |
| 2013 | 29.2% | -0.9% |
| 2014 | 28.9% | -0.9% |
| 2015 | 28.7% | -1.0% |
| 2016 | 28.4% | -1.0% |
| 2017 | 28.1% | -1.0% |
| 2018 | 27.8% | -0.9% |
| 2019 | 27.6% | -0.8% |
| 2020 | 27.4% | -0.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 31.4% | 30.3% | 32.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 28.8% | 27.6% | 30.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 27.4% | 27.4% | 27.4% | 1 |
Countries ranked near India
- 2 Bangladesh 23.0% compare
- 3 Comoros 23.0% compare
- 4 Philippines 21.1% compare
More health data for India
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.12 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.4372 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,332 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 44,822 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 65-69, male, annual growth rate 2.84 % 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 0.0145 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 70-74, female, annual growth rate 4.51 % 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 0.0109 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is low-birthweight babies in India?
- Low-birthweight babies in India was 27.4% in 2020, according to UNICEF-WHO Low birthweight estimates, UN Children's Fund (UNICEF).
- What is the highest low-birthweight babies recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 32.5% in 2000.
- What is the lowest low-birthweight babies recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 27.4% in 2020.
- How does India rank for low-birthweight babies?
- India ranks 1st out of 157 countries with data for 2020.
- Is low-birthweight babies rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is down 8.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this India 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.