Low-birthweight babies in New Zealand
New Zealand: Low-birthweight babies was 5.9% in 2020. ▬ Flat
Low-birthweight babies in New Zealand, 2000–2020
Source: UNICEF-WHO Low birthweight estimates, UN Children's Fund (UNICEF). Measured in % of births.
Analysis
In 2020, low-birthweight babies in New Zealand stood at 5.9%. That is the lowest value across all 21 years on record.
The figure is down 0.3% on the previous year and down 3.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, low-birthweight babies in New Zealand peaked at 6.2% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 5.9%, in 2020.
New Zealand ranks 136th of 157 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Low-birthweight babies in New Zealand, year by year
| Year | % of births | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 6.2% | — |
| 2001 | 6.2% | -0.3% |
| 2002 | 6.1% | -0.4% |
| 2003 | 6.1% | -0.3% |
| 2004 | 6.1% | -0.3% |
| 2005 | 6.1% | -0.2% |
| 2006 | 6.1% | -0.1% |
| 2007 | 6.1% | -0.1% |
| 2008 | 6.1% | -0.1% |
| 2009 | 6.1% | -0.1% |
| 2010 | 6.1% | -0.2% |
| 2011 | 6.0% | -0.2% |
| 2012 | 6.0% | -0.3% |
| 2013 | 6.0% | -0.3% |
| 2014 | 6.0% | -0.4% |
| 2015 | 6.0% | -0.4% |
| 2016 | 5.9% | -0.4% |
| 2017 | 5.9% | -0.4% |
| 2018 | 5.9% | -0.3% |
| 2019 | 5.9% | -0.3% |
| 2020 | 5.9% | -0.3% |
New Zealand compared with similar countries
- New Zealand's 5.9% is below the median for high income countries, which is 7.5%, 78% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- New Zealand's 5.9% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 11.3%, 52% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 6.1% | 6.1% | 6.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.0% | 5.9% | 6.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.9% | 5.9% | 5.9% | 1 |
Countries ranked near New Zealand
- 133 Serbia 6.2% compare
- 134 Kyrgyzstan 6.0% compare
- 135 Albania 6.0% compare
- 137 Uzbekistan 5.8% compare
- 138 Ukraine 5.7% compare
- 139 Netherlands 5.7% compare
More health data for New Zealand
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.94 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.4815 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,116 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 33 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.1187 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0277 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.018 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is low-birthweight babies in New Zealand?
- Low-birthweight babies in New Zealand was 5.9% in 2020, according to UNICEF-WHO Low birthweight estimates, UN Children's Fund (UNICEF).
- What is the highest low-birthweight babies recorded in New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 6.2% in 2000.
- What is the lowest low-birthweight babies recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.9% in 2020.
- How does New Zealand rank for low-birthweight babies?
- New Zealand ranks 136th out of 157 countries with data for 2020.
- Is low-birthweight babies rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this New Zealand 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
CSV · JSON — 21 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
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.