Low-birthweight babies in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Low-birthweight babies was 10.3% in 2020. ▼ Falling
Low-birthweight babies in Sierra Leone, 2000–2020
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 Sierra Leone is 10.3%, measured in 2020. That is the lowest value across all 21 years on record.
That represents a change of down 1.5% on the previous year and down 11.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, low-birthweight babies in Sierra Leone peaked at 13.9% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 10.3%, in 2020.
That places Sierra Leone 75th out of 157 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 21 years of available data.
Low-birthweight babies in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | % of births | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 13.9% | — |
| 2001 | 13.7% | -1.8% |
| 2002 | 13.4% | -1.9% |
| 2003 | 13.2% | -1.9% |
| 2004 | 12.9% | -1.8% |
| 2005 | 12.7% | -1.8% |
| 2006 | 12.5% | -1.7% |
| 2007 | 12.3% | -1.7% |
| 2008 | 12.1% | -1.6% |
| 2009 | 11.9% | -1.5% |
| 2010 | 11.7% | -1.5% |
| 2011 | 11.5% | -1.6% |
| 2012 | 11.4% | -1.6% |
| 2013 | 11.2% | -1.3% |
| 2014 | 11.1% | -1.1% |
| 2015 | 11.0% | -0.8% |
| 2016 | 10.9% | -0.9% |
| 2017 | 10.8% | -1.1% |
| 2018 | 10.7% | -1.3% |
| 2019 | 10.5% | -1.5% |
| 2020 | 10.3% | -1.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 12.9% | 11.9% | 13.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 11.1% | 10.5% | 11.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 10.3% | 10.3% | 10.3% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
More health data for Sierra Leone
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.34 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.773 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,199 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 4,209 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 50-54, male, annual growth rate 3.63 % 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 0.0161 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 55-59, female, annual growth rate 3.11 % 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 0.0136 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is low-birthweight babies in Sierra Leone?
- Low-birthweight babies in Sierra Leone was 10.3% in 2020, according to UNICEF-WHO Low birthweight estimates, UN Children's Fund (UNICEF).
- What is the highest low-birthweight babies recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 13.9% in 2000.
- What is the lowest low-birthweight babies recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.3% in 2020.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for low-birthweight babies?
- Sierra Leone ranks 75th out of 157 countries with data for 2020.
- Is low-birthweight babies rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sierra Leone 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.