Prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns in Africa (WHO regions)
Africa (WHO regions): Prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns was 13.72 in 2020. ▼ Falling
Prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns in Africa (WHO regions), 2000–2020
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
In 2020, prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns in Africa (WHO regions) stood at 13.72. That is the lowest value across all 21 years on record.
That represents a change of down 0.5% on the previous year and down 5.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns in Africa (WHO regions) peaked at 15.52 in 2000 and was at its lowest, 13.72, in 2020.
That places Africa (WHO regions) 73rd out of 156 groups with data for 2020, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 21 years of available data.
Prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns in Africa (WHO regions), year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 15.52 | — |
| 2001 | 15.43 | -0.6% |
| 2002 | 15.36 | -0.4% |
| 2003 | 15.24 | -0.8% |
| 2004 | 15.13 | -0.7% |
| 2005 | 15.04 | -0.6% |
| 2006 | 14.93 | -0.7% |
| 2007 | 14.84 | -0.6% |
| 2008 | 14.72 | -0.8% |
| 2009 | 14.63 | -0.6% |
| 2010 | 14.56 | -0.5% |
| 2011 | 14.45 | -0.8% |
| 2012 | 14.36 | -0.6% |
| 2013 | 14.27 | -0.6% |
| 2014 | 14.17 | -0.7% |
| 2015 | 14.1 | -0.5% |
| 2016 | 14.01 | -0.7% |
| 2017 | 13.91 | -0.7% |
| 2018 | 13.85 | -0.4% |
| 2019 | 13.79 | -0.5% |
| 2020 | 13.72 | -0.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 15.08 | 14.63 | 15.52 | 10 |
| 2010s | 14.15 | 13.79 | 14.56 | 10 |
| 2020s | 13.72 | 13.72 | 13.72 | 1 |
Countries ranked near Africa (WHO regions)
More health data for Africa (WHO regions)
- Child deaths (aged 1-4 years), annual growth rate -2.55 % change on previous year (2024)
- Live Births Surviving to Age 1 46,408 (2100)
- Child deaths 912,105 (2024)
- Mortality rate age 1-11 months 20.6 (2024)
- Deaths age 1-59 months 1.70 million (2024)
- Child mortality rate 24.72 (2024)
- Deaths age 1-11 months 788,826 (2024)
- Mortality rate 1-59 months 44.81 (2024)
- Deaths aged 20 to 24 242,744 (2024)
- Deaths aged 10 to 19 392,831 (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns in Africa (WHO regions)?
- Prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns in Africa (WHO regions) was 13.72 in 2020, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns recorded in Africa (WHO regions)?
- The highest recorded value was 15.52 in 2000.
- What is the lowest prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns recorded in Africa (WHO regions)?
- The lowest recorded value was 13.72 in 2020.
- How does Africa (WHO regions) rank for prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns?
- Africa (WHO regions) ranks 73rd out of 156 groups with data for 2020.
- Is prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns rising or falling in Africa (WHO regions)?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Africa (WHO regions) data come from?
- The figures come from UNICEF, published as part of Prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 21 observations, free to reuse under UNICEF Terms of Use (attribution required).