Low-birthweight babies in Middle income

Middle income: Low-birthweight babies was 15.8% in 2020. ▼ Falling

Latest (2020)
15.8%
Change on year
up 1.4%
Rank
7th
of 31 groups
All-time high
18.3%
in 2001
All-time low
15.5%
in 2017
Years of data
21
2000–2020

Low-birthweight babies in Middle income, 2000–2020

051015202000201020202000: 18.2 % of births2001: 18.3 % of births2002: 18.2 % of births2003: 18.1 % of births2004: 18 % of births2005: 17.7 % of births2006: 17.5 % of births2007: 17.3 % of births2008: 17.1 % of births2009: 17 % of births2010: 16.8 % of births2011: 16.4 % of births2012: 16 % of births2013: 16.1 % of births2014: 15.7 % of births2015: 15.9 % of births2016: 15.5 % of births2017: 15.5 % of births2018: 15.7 % of births2019: 15.6 % of births2020: 15.8 % of births

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 Middle income is 15.8%, measured in 2020.

The figure is up 1.4% on the previous year and down 6.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, low-birthweight babies in Middle income peaked at 18.3% in 2001 and was at its lowest, 15.5%, in 2017.

That places Middle income 7th out of 31 groups with data for 2020, putting it in the top quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 21 years of available data.

Low-birthweight babies in Middle income, year by year

Annual values for Low-birthweight babies (% of births) in Middle income, 2000 to 2020.
Year % of births Change
2000 18.2%
2001 18.3% +0.3%
2002 18.2% -0.2%
2003 18.1% -0.5%
2004 18.0% -1.0%
2005 17.7% -1.4%
2006 17.5% -1.0%
2007 17.3% -1.3%
2008 17.1% -1.0%
2009 17.0% -0.6%
2010 16.8% -1.1%
2011 16.4% -2.5%
2012 16.0% -2.4%
2013 16.1% +0.4%
2014 15.7% -2.6%
2015 15.9% +1.3%
2016 15.5% -2.3%
2017 15.5% -0.4%
2018 15.7% +1.5%
2019 15.6% -0.5%
2020 15.8% +1.4%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 17.8% 17.0% 18.3% 10
2010s 15.9% 15.5% 16.8% 10
2020s 15.8% 15.8% 15.8% 1

Countries ranked near Middle income

  1. 4 Philippines 21.1% compare
  2. 5 Liberia 19.9% compare
  3. 6 Nepal 19.7% compare
  4. 7 Guinea-Bissau 19.5% compare
  5. 8 Papua New Guinea 19.4% compare
  6. 9 Jordan 18.9% compare
  7. 10 Madagascar 18.7% compare

See the full ranking of 188 places →

More health data for Middle income

All data for Middle income →

Frequently asked questions

What is low-birthweight babies in Middle income?
Low-birthweight babies in Middle income was 15.8% in 2020, according to UNICEF-WHO Low birthweight estimates, UN Children's Fund (UNICEF).
What is the highest low-birthweight babies recorded in Middle income?
The highest recorded value was 18.3% in 2001.
What is the lowest low-birthweight babies recorded in Middle income?
The lowest recorded value was 15.5% in 2017.
How does Middle income rank for low-birthweight babies?
Middle income ranks 7th out of 31 groups with data for 2020.
Is low-birthweight babies rising or falling in Middle income?
Over the last ten years it is down 6.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Middle 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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Low-birthweight babies in Middle income. Statizoid, drawing on UNICEF-WHO Low birthweight estimates, UN Children's Fund (UNICEF). Retrieved 06 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/low-birthweight-babies-percent-of-births/middle-income/

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About this data

Indicator
Low-birthweight babies (% of births)
Unit
% of births
Source
UNICEF-WHO Low birthweight estimates, UN Children's Fund (UNICEF)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
188 places, 3,948 data points, 2000–2020
Last refreshed

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.