Preterm birth in United States
United States: Preterm birth was 366,225 in 2020. ▼ Falling
Preterm birth in United States, 2010–2020
Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
Analysis
The most recent figure for preterm birth in United States is 366,225, measured in 2020. That is the lowest value across all 11 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.1% on the previous year and down 6.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, preterm birth in United States peaked at 393,611 in 2015 and was at its lowest, 366,225, in 2020.
That places United States 8th out of 102 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 11 years of available data.
Preterm birth in United States, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 392,225 | — |
| 2011 | 388,382 | -1.0% |
| 2012 | 389,098 | +0.2% |
| 2013 | 388,563 | -0.1% |
| 2014 | 393,313 | +1.2% |
| 2015 | 393,611 | +0.1% |
| 2016 | 390,855 | -0.7% |
| 2017 | 383,192 | -2.0% |
| 2018 | 377,395 | -1.5% |
| 2019 | 373,910 | -0.9% |
| 2020 | 366,225 | -2.1% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 366,225 is above the median for high income countries, which is 6,023, 60.8× the median. (45 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 387,054 | 373,910 | 393,611 | 10 |
| 2020s | 366,225 | 366,225 | 366,225 | 1 |
Countries ranked near United States
- 5 Ethiopia 495,880 compare
- 6 Bangladesh 488,608 compare
- 7 Democratic Republic of Congo 487,473 compare
- 9 Brazil 310,651 compare
- 10 Philippines 190,462 compare
- 11 Tanzania 189,802 compare
More health data for United States
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.67 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.1867 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,069 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 4,015 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2023)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 0.056 % 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 0.0261 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.1919 % 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 States?
- Preterm birth in United States was 366,225 in 2020, according to World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
- What is the highest preterm birth recorded in United States?
- The highest recorded value was 393,611 in 2015.
- What is the lowest preterm birth recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 366,225 in 2020.
- How does United States rank for preterm birth?
- United States ranks 8th out of 102 countries with data for 2020.
- Is preterm birth rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this United States 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).