Low-birthweight babies in South Asia
South Asia: Low-birthweight babies was 26.6% in 2020. ▼ Falling
Low-birthweight babies in South Asia, 2000–2020
Source: UNICEF-WHO Low birthweight estimates, UN Children's Fund (UNICEF). Measured in % of births.
Analysis
In 2020, low-birthweight babies in South Asia stood at 26.6%. That is the lowest value across all 21 years on record.
That represents a change of down 0.7% on the previous year and down 8.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, low-birthweight babies in South Asia peaked at 31.3% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 26.6%, in 2020.
That places South Asia 1st out of 31 groups 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 South Asia, year by year
| Year | % of births | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 31.3% | — |
| 2001 | 31.1% | -0.5% |
| 2002 | 30.9% | -0.6% |
| 2003 | 30.7% | -0.7% |
| 2004 | 30.5% | -0.7% |
| 2005 | 30.3% | -0.8% |
| 2006 | 30.0% | -0.8% |
| 2007 | 29.8% | -0.8% |
| 2008 | 29.5% | -0.8% |
| 2009 | 29.3% | -0.8% |
| 2010 | 29.1% | -0.8% |
| 2011 | 28.9% | -0.8% |
| 2012 | 28.6% | -0.8% |
| 2013 | 28.4% | -0.9% |
| 2014 | 28.1% | -1.0% |
| 2015 | 27.8% | -0.9% |
| 2016 | 27.6% | -1.0% |
| 2017 | 27.3% | -1.0% |
| 2018 | 27.0% | -0.9% |
| 2019 | 26.8% | -0.8% |
| 2020 | 26.6% | -0.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 30.4% | 29.3% | 31.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 28.0% | 26.8% | 29.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 26.6% | 26.6% | 26.6% | 1 |
Countries ranked near South Asia
- 1 India 27.4% compare
- 2 Bangladesh 23.0% compare
- 3 Comoros 23.0% compare
- 4 Philippines 21.1% compare
More health data for South Asia
- Population ages 75-79, female, per capita 0.0067 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 80 and above, male, annual growth rate 4.63 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 80 and above, female, per capita 0.0064 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 80 and above, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 80 and above, female, annual growth rate 4.12 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, male, per capita 0.0058 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 40-44, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, male, annual growth rate 6.75 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 70-74, male, annual growth rate 4.5 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is low-birthweight babies in South Asia?
- Low-birthweight babies in South Asia was 26.6% in 2020, according to UNICEF-WHO Low birthweight estimates, UN Children's Fund (UNICEF).
- What is the highest low-birthweight babies recorded in South Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 31.3% in 2000.
- What is the lowest low-birthweight babies recorded in South Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 26.6% in 2020.
- How does South Asia rank for low-birthweight babies?
- South Asia ranks 1st out of 31 groups with data for 2020.
- Is low-birthweight babies rising or falling in South Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 8.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Asia 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.