Low-birthweight babies in North America
North America: Low-birthweight babies was 8.1% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Low-birthweight babies in North America, 2000–2020
Source: UNICEF-WHO Low birthweight estimates, UN Children's Fund (UNICEF). Measured in % of births.
Analysis
In 2020, low-birthweight babies in North America stood at 8.1%. That is the highest value across all 21 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.3% on the previous year and up 2.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, low-birthweight babies in North America peaked at 8.1% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 7.7%, in 2000.
North America ranks 23rd of 31 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 21 years of available data.
Low-birthweight babies in North America, year by year
| Year | % of births | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 7.7% | — |
| 2001 | 7.7% | +0.2% |
| 2002 | 7.7% | +0.4% |
| 2003 | 7.8% | +0.3% |
| 2004 | 7.8% | +0.3% |
| 2005 | 7.8% | +0.3% |
| 2006 | 7.8% | +0.4% |
| 2007 | 7.9% | +0.4% |
| 2008 | 7.9% | +0.4% |
| 2009 | 7.9% | +0.4% |
| 2010 | 7.9% | +0.3% |
| 2011 | 8.0% | +0.3% |
| 2012 | 8.0% | +0.2% |
| 2013 | 8.0% | +0.2% |
| 2014 | 8.0% | +0.2% |
| 2015 | 8.0% | +0.2% |
| 2016 | 8.0% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | 8.1% | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 8.1% | +0.2% |
| 2019 | 8.1% | +0.3% |
| 2020 | 8.1% | +0.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 7.8% | 7.7% | 7.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 8.0% | 7.9% | 8.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 8.1% | 8.1% | 8.1% | 1 |
Countries ranked near North America
- 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
- 25 Trinidad and Tobago 16.3% compare
- 26 Saint Lucia 16.3% compare
More health data for North America
- Population ages 60-64, male, annual growth rate -0.5906 % 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, annual growth rate 1.91 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 65-69, female, per capita 0.0299 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 65-69, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 65-69, female, annual growth rate 1.32 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 60-64, male, per capita 0.0311 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 60-64, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 55-59, male, annual growth rate -0.5946 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 55-59, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is low-birthweight babies in North America?
- Low-birthweight babies in North America was 8.1% in 2020, according to UNICEF-WHO Low birthweight estimates, UN Children's Fund (UNICEF).
- What is the highest low-birthweight babies recorded in North America?
- The highest recorded value was 8.1% in 2020.
- What is the lowest low-birthweight babies recorded in North America?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.7% in 2000.
- How does North America rank for low-birthweight babies?
- North America ranks 23rd out of 31 groups with data for 2020.
- Is low-birthweight babies rising or falling in North America?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this North America 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.