Preterm birth in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Preterm birth was 54,604 in 2020. ▬ Flat
Latest (2020)
54,604
Change on year
down 3.3%
World rank
28th
of 102 countries
All-time high
60,013
in 2016
All-time low
54,604
in 2020
Years of data
11
2010–2020
Preterm birth in United Kingdom, 2010–2020
Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
Analysis
In 2020, preterm birth in United Kingdom stood at 54,604. That is the lowest value across all 11 years on record.
That represents a change of down 3.3% on the previous year and down 5.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, preterm birth in United Kingdom peaked at 60,013 in 2016 and was at its lowest, 54,604, in 2020.
That places United Kingdom 28th out of 102 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the middle of the range.
Preterm birth in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 57,870 | — |
| 2011 | 58,745 | +1.5% |
| 2012 | 59,739 | +1.7% |
| 2013 | 58,296 | -2.4% |
| 2014 | 58,704 | +0.7% |
| 2015 | 59,525 | +1.4% |
| 2016 | 60,013 | +0.8% |
| 2017 | 59,006 | -1.7% |
| 2018 | 57,626 | -2.3% |
| 2019 | 56,446 | -2.0% |
| 2020 | 54,604 | -3.3% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 54,604 is above the median for high income countries, which is 6,023, 9.1× the median. (45 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 54,604 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 6,023, 9.1× the median. (39 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 58,597 | 56,446 | 60,013 | 10 |
| 2020s | 54,604 | 54,604 | 54,604 | 1 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More health data for United Kingdom
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.71 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.0265 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,134 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 461 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.7128 % 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 0.0247 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -0.7724 % 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 United Kingdom?
- Preterm birth in United Kingdom was 54,604 in 2020, according to World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
- What is the highest preterm birth recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 60,013 in 2016.
- What is the lowest preterm birth recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 54,604 in 2020.
- How does United Kingdom rank for preterm birth?
- United Kingdom ranks 28th out of 102 countries with data for 2020.
- Is preterm birth rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this United Kingdom 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).