Preterm birth in Australia
Australia: Preterm birth was 24,274 in 2020. ▲ Rising
Latest (2020)
24,274
Change on year
down 2.5%
World rank
44th
of 102 countries
All-time high
26,041
in 2018
All-time low
23,718
in 2010
Years of data
11
2010–2020
Preterm birth in Australia, 2010–2020
Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
Analysis
In 2020, preterm birth in Australia stood at 24,274.
That represents a change of down 2.5% on the previous year and up 2.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, preterm birth in Australia peaked at 26,041 in 2018 and was at its lowest, 23,718, in 2010.
Australia ranks 44th of 102 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 11 years of available data.
Preterm birth in Australia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 23,718 | — |
| 2011 | 23,791 | +0.3% |
| 2012 | 24,385 | +2.5% |
| 2013 | 24,406 | +0.1% |
| 2014 | 24,016 | -1.6% |
| 2015 | 24,556 | +2.2% |
| 2016 | 24,986 | +1.8% |
| 2017 | 25,254 | +1.1% |
| 2018 | 26,041 | +3.1% |
| 2019 | 24,898 | -4.4% |
| 2020 | 24,274 | -2.5% |
Australia compared with similar countries
- Australia's 24,274 is above the median for high income countries, which is 6,023, 4.0× the median. (45 countries reporting)
- Australia's 24,274 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 23,600, 1.0× the median. (14 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 24,605 | 23,718 | 26,041 | 10 |
| 2020s | 24,274 | 24,274 | 24,274 | 1 |
Countries ranked near Australia
- 41 Poland 27,197 compare
- 42 Spain 24,945 compare
- 43 South Korea 24,605 compare
- 45 Sri Lanka 24,148 compare
- 46 Kazakhstan 23,462 compare
- 47 Papua New Guinea 22,926 compare
More health data for Australia
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.83 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.9072 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 906.6 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 215 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2021)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.45 % 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 0.0279 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.35 % 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 preterm birth in Australia?
- Preterm birth in Australia was 24,274 in 2020, according to World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
- What is the highest preterm birth recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 26,041 in 2018.
- What is the lowest preterm birth recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 23,718 in 2010.
- How does Australia rank for preterm birth?
- Australia ranks 44th out of 102 countries with data for 2020.
- Is preterm birth rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Australia data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory, published as part of Preterm birth (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 11 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO (WHO).