Preterm birth in India
India: Preterm birth was 3.02 million in 2020. ▼ Falling
Latest (2020)
3.02 million
Change on year
down 2.0%
World rank
1st
of 102 countries
All-time high
3.50 million
in 2010
All-time low
3.02 million
in 2020
Years of data
11
2010–2020
Preterm birth in India, 2010–2020
Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
Analysis
In 2020, preterm birth in India stood at 3.02 million. That is the lowest value across all 11 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.0% on the previous year and down 13.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, preterm birth in India peaked at 3.50 million in 2010 and was at its lowest, 3.02 million, in 2020.
India ranks 1st of 102 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 11 years of available data.
Preterm birth in India, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 3.50 million | — |
| 2011 | 3.46 million | -1.0% |
| 2012 | 3.42 million | -1.2% |
| 2013 | 3.38 million | -1.2% |
| 2014 | 3.27 million | -3.3% |
| 2015 | 3.25 million | -0.4% |
| 2016 | 3.24 million | -0.3% |
| 2017 | 3.17 million | -2.2% |
| 2018 | 3.16 million | -0.4% |
| 2019 | 3.08 million | -2.5% |
| 2020 | 3.02 million | -2.0% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 3.02 million is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 50,699, 59.5× the median. (19 countries reporting)
- India's 3.02 million is above the median for South Asia, which is 67,465, 44.7× the median. (5 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 3.29 million | 3.08 million | 3.50 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.02 million | 3.02 million | 3.02 million | 1 |
Countries ranked near India
More health data for India
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.12 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.4372 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,332 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 44,822 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 38 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.3809 % 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 0.0372 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -0.5922 % 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 India?
- Preterm birth in India was 3.02 million in 2020, according to World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
- What is the highest preterm birth recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 3.50 million in 2010.
- What is the lowest preterm birth recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.02 million in 2020.
- How does India rank for preterm birth?
- India ranks 1st out of 102 countries with data for 2020.
- Is preterm birth rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is down 13.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this India 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).