Preterm birth rate in Europe (WHO region)

Europe (WHO region): Preterm birth rate was 7.57 in 2020. ▬ Flat

Latest (2020)
7.57
Change on year
down 0.1%
Rank
15th
of 17 groups
All-time high
7.59
in 2017
All-time low
7.49
in 2012
Years of data
11
2010–2020

Preterm birth rate in Europe (WHO region), 2010–2020

024682010201520202010: 7.52011: 7.52012: 7.52013: 7.52014: 7.52015: 7.52016: 7.52017: 7.62018: 7.62019: 7.62020: 7.6

Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.

Analysis

In 2020, preterm birth rate in Europe (WHO region) stood at 7.57.

That represents a change of down 0.1% on the previous year and up 1.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, preterm birth rate in Europe (WHO region) peaked at 7.59 in 2017 and was at its lowest, 7.49, in 2012.

Preterm birth rate in Europe (WHO region), year by year

Annual values for Preterm birth rate (per 100 live births) in Europe (WHO region), 2010 to 2020.
Year Value Change
2010 7.5
2011 7.5 -0.0%
2012 7.49 -0.1%
2013 7.5 +0.1%
2014 7.51 +0.2%
2015 7.53 +0.2%
2016 7.55 +0.2%
2017 7.59 +0.5%
2018 7.58 -0.1%
2019 7.58 +0.0%
2020 7.57 -0.1%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2010s 7.53 7.49 7.59 10
2020s 7.57 7.57 7.57 1

Countries ranked near Europe (WHO region)

  1. 12 Bahrain 11.32 compare
  2. 13 Nepal 11.2 compare
  3. 14 Brazil 11.15 compare
  4. 15 Türkiye 11.01 compare
  5. 16 Botswana 10.78 compare
  6. 17 Guatemala 10.48 compare
  7. 18 United States of America 9.98 compare

See the full ranking of 120 places →

More health data for Europe (WHO region)

All data for Europe (WHO region) →

Frequently asked questions

What is preterm birth rate in Europe (WHO region)?
Preterm birth rate in Europe (WHO region) was 7.57 in 2020, according to World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
What is the highest preterm birth rate recorded in Europe (WHO region)?
The highest recorded value was 7.59 in 2017.
What is the lowest preterm birth rate recorded in Europe (WHO region)?
The lowest recorded value was 7.49 in 2012.
How does Europe (WHO region) rank for preterm birth rate?
Europe (WHO region) ranks 15th out of 17 groups with data for 2020.
Is preterm birth rate rising or falling in Europe (WHO region)?
Over the last ten years it is up 1.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
Where does this Europe (WHO region) data come from?
The figures come from World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory, published as part of Preterm birth rate (per 100 live births). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Preterm birth rate in Europe (WHO region). Statizoid, drawing on World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory. Retrieved 02 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/preterm-birth-rate-per-100-live-births-2/europe-who-region/

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About this data

Indicator
Preterm birth rate (per 100 live births)
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