Preterm birth in UN_Africa

UN_Africa: Preterm birth was 4.44 million in 2020. ▲ Rising

Latest (2020)
4.44 million
Change on year
up 1.2%
Rank
4th
of 17 groups
All-time high
4.44 million
in 2020
All-time low
3.82 million
in 2010
Years of data
11
2010–2020

Preterm birth in UN_Africa, 2010–2020

01.0M2.0M3.0M4.0M2010201520202010: 3.8M2011: 3.9M2012: 4.0M2013: 4.0M2014: 4.1M2015: 4.1M2016: 4.2M2017: 4.3M2018: 4.3M2019: 4.4M2020: 4.4M

Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.

Analysis

In 2020, preterm birth in UN_Africa stood at 4.44 million. That is the highest value across all 11 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.2% on the previous year and up 16.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, preterm birth in UN_Africa peaked at 4.44 million in 2020 and was at its lowest, 3.82 million, in 2010.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 11 years of available data.

Preterm birth in UN_Africa, year by year

Annual values for Preterm birth (number) in UN_Africa, 2010 to 2020.
Year Value Change
2010 3.82 million —
2011 3.90 million +1.9%
2012 3.96 million +1.6%
2013 4.02 million +1.5%
2014 4.08 million +1.6%
2015 4.15 million +1.5%
2016 4.19 million +1.0%
2017 4.25 million +1.5%
2018 4.32 million +1.6%
2019 4.38 million +1.5%
2020 4.44 million +1.2%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2010s 4.11 million 3.82 million 4.38 million 10
2020s 4.44 million 4.44 million 4.44 million 1

Countries ranked near UN_Africa

  1. 1 India 3.02 million compare
  2. 2 Pakistan 913,988 compare
  3. 3 Nigeria 774,061 compare
  4. 4 China 752,855 compare
  5. 5 Ethiopia 495,880 compare
  6. 6 Bangladesh 488,608 compare
  7. 7 Democratic Republic of Congo 487,473 compare

See the full ranking of 120 places →

More health data for UN_Africa

All data for UN_Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is preterm birth in UN_Africa?
Preterm birth in UN_Africa was 4.44 million in 2020, according to World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
What is the highest preterm birth recorded in UN_Africa?
The highest recorded value was 4.44 million in 2020.
What is the lowest preterm birth recorded in UN_Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 3.82 million in 2010.
How does UN_Africa rank for preterm birth?
UN_Africa ranks 4th out of 17 groups with data for 2020.
Is preterm birth rising or falling in UN_Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 16.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this UN_Africa 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.

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Preterm birth in UN_Africa. Statizoid, drawing on World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory. Retrieved 26 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/preterm-birth-number/un-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Preterm birth (number)
Source
World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory
Licence
CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO (WHO)
Coverage
120 places, 1,320 data points, 2010–2020
Last refreshed